PREDICTION

With all the hype of the predicted ‘End of the World’ according to Western interpretation of the Mayan calendar, it might be as well to remember our history, which is full of such predictions.

Going way back to the 12^th Century it may be noted that an abbot of Calabria in Italy by the name of Joachim of Fiore, depressed everyone with a prediction of the end of the world in 1260. Dante accredited him with praise for his spirit of prophecy.

Albrecht Durer 'The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse'

As a Medieval mystic Joachim held thoughts that the ages of history ended in a ‘Last Judgment’. Every new age, he thought, was ushered in by a period of incubation, which necessarily saw great disturbances in the existing order of things. It was at such times of instability that bloody wars and chaotic conditions existed and preceded the unsealing of the next seal of the ‘Book of Seven Seals’.  It is said that each of the Biblical Apocalyptic 7 seals represents a new age of increased consciousness for humanity, following on from a period of upheaval.

Joachim prophesied 3 epochs in human history corresponding to the 3 Persons of the Trinity. The first was the ‘Age of the Father’ as recorded in the Old Testament, the second the ‘Age of the Son’ as recorded in the New Testament, and a future ‘Age of the Spirit’ would be heralded by a new order of monks and the demise of the existing corrupt Church.

After the upheaval comes a new sunrise.

Song of the Dawn

Salutation to the Rising Sun

Listen to the exhortation of the Dawn!

Look to this Day, for it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course, lie all the verities and realities of your existence;

The glory of action, the bliss of growth, the splendour of beauty.

For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision.

But today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this Day.

 [Excerpt from sacred Sanskrit text]