________________
FRAGMENTS OF A PRISONERS DIARY
pscudo-philosophical doctrines. li will bloom openly into real spiritual values. When they will have tasted the joys of life they will not wish to run away from it as a misfortune, but will welcome it as a blessing. Then, the Western custom of celebrating birthday will also be adopted in India. Meanwhile, it is not, and therefore the story of my life inust begin without a date. Don't blame me for this defect; I am the victim of conditions not created by myself.
My parents are too wise to believe in astrology; so, they did not have even my horoscope cast. The belief that the life on earth is influenced by the novements of heavenly boilies is a part of human superstition. Other animals, bcing free from the habit of metaphysical speculation, do not require this queer faith which results from man's egocentrism glorificd as a spiritualist propensity. The absence of faith in our mental make-up is a sign of our spiritual freedom. We do not require priests and prophets to teach us how we should bchavc in lifc, and tell us what terrible things should happen to us if we failed to behave as directed by our self-appointed superiors. Had my parents, for example, been credulous like men, they most probably would have paid some deceitful pandit for the silly service of drawing some mysterious signs on a scroll of paper which should be taken for the forecast of the events of my life. Then, it would be my part to believe that my life
74
