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FRAGMENTS OF A PRISONER'S DIARY
ing whether the remaining five coincided with the real planets or were also imaginary bodies. At the very best, only five out of the nine planets enter into the calculations of Hindu astrology.
Granted that the planets do exert some nys. terious influence, that cannot be correctly calculated by Hindu astrology, because it leaves out four out of the nine factors involved. If you wish to point out in reply that predictions of Hindu astrology have always turned out to be correct, and that they are so even to-day, you will only prove the power of superstition. The predictions turned out to be correct because none ever suspected that they could be otherwise. This is a case of faith moving the mountain. Those who claim mathematical correctness for astrological calculations, must be constrained to admit that these were all wrong, having been based upon only about half the factors concernel. Do a bit of clear thinking, free of niystic preoccupation, and superstitious nature of astrological belief will be palpable.
Astrological calculations are said to be mathematical ; on the other hand, in the light of the knowledge of modern astronomy, these calculations could not possibly be mathematically correct. Nevertheless, predictions based upon them turned out to be true! This is a miracle. It cannot be explained otherwise. Remove the element of superstitious faith, and the correctness of the cal
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