Quintessence of dust

If Hamlet were our contemporary, he would no doubt ponder even more readily now than before, "What is this quintessence of dust?" Quintessence is the fifth part, an alchymeic portion that represents something that is saved out of the purification process. These days, 80 percent of the gross matter that constitutes our lives is being drawn out in a massive extraction process and what is left, hopefully, is the province of the soul. It takes is most precious portion and leaves the rest.

In this field of emptiness we now wander somewhat listlessly, knowing that it will end, or if it does not, we will end. That is why we are here, to close the book and try to understand the meaning of what we just read.