________________
this sense of dignity and inner strength, the perfection which you believe you have acquired is like borrowed ornaments. Inner perfection, the knowledge of your true self, the awareness of your real identity, this is like a real gem. If you cut a real diamond into no matter how many smaller ones, each small diamond will have the same sparkle, the same brilliance, because that is its intrinsic quality. So, too, every atom of our soul is replete with the supreme strength of joy which is the characteristic of the Supreme Soul. To realise this strength of joy is the ultimate aim of life. Then should we not equip ourselves to attain this position: If our mind becomes enfeebled it will be like the railway engine which has exhausted all its supply of steam and thus does not have the power to pull the long line of wagons behind it.
I recall an incident which took place twenty-two years ago and which made a very deep impression on me. A certain doctor used to visit me often for religious discussions. He used to work in a mental hospital and one day he asked me if I would like to pay a visit. I laughed and said: “Isn't the world itself enough of a madhouse? Does one need to visit an actual mental asylum to be convinced of the existence of lunacy="
19
