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the department has even circulated photographs of them。
they have no idea that； currently； some highly recognized scientists are deeply involved in research into ghosts and spirits； and have attained so many results that sooner or later they will e to see that it was they； the educated men； who were superstitious； and that those they called superstitious may not have known anything about what they believed in； although what they were saying was right。
if you read ryon or oliver lodge； you will be amazed。
oliver lodge was a nobel prizewinning scientist。
throughout his life he was involved in investigating ghosts and spirits。
before his death； he left a document in which he said； 〃all the truths of science i have discovered are not half as true as ghosts and spirits。
but we have no knowledge of them because the superstitious educated do not care to find out about the discoveries happening in the world。
〃
if one man says he can read anothers mind； we will call it superstition。
in russia； where there are what we may call rigorous scientists； there is a man by the name of fiodev。
he is a great russian scientist。
sitting in moscow； he has municated his thoughts； without any visible means； to the mind of a person sitting a thousand miles away in tiflis。
this was examined scientifically and found to be correct。
scientists are engaged in this kind of research because sooner or later it will be useful in space travel。
in the event of a mechanical failure in a spaceship； which is always possible； through these means scientists can establish contact with the travelers。
otherwise the spaceship may be lost forever。
it is out of this concern that russian scientists are conducting intensive research into telepathy and have achieved some astounding results。
fiodev carried out his research with the help of a friend。
a thousand miles away in tiflis； his friend hid himself behind a bush in a garden with a wireless set in his hand； and he and fiodev stayed in touch with each other。
after a while he informed fiodev that a man had arrived and sat on bench number ten。
he asked fiodev to send this man a message to go to sleep within three minutes。
the man was wide awake； he was smoking and humming away to himself。
fiodev began sending him suggestions …… the same as i do …… that 〃you are relaxing； you are relaxing。
〃 from a distance of a thousand miles； for three minutes fiodev suggested intensely； 〃go to sleep； go to sleep；〃 and； concentrating on bench number ten； he continued suggesting the same thought； 〃go to sleep； go to sleep。
〃 in exactly three minutes the man sitting on the bench was asleep； the cigarette fallen from his hands。
but this could have been a coincidence。
perhaps the man sitting on the bench was tired and so he had fallen asleep。
and so the friend told fiodev that the man had indeed fallen asleep； but that it could be a coincidence； so he asked fiodev to wake him up in exactly seven minutes。
fiodev kept suggesting to that man to wake up； and in seven minutes precisely the man opened his eyes and got up。
the man on the bench was a total stranger； he had no idea what was happening； and fiodevs friend approached him and asked if hed felt anything unusual。
the man said； 〃yes； i certainly did。
i was very puzzled。
i came here to wait for somebody； and suddenly i felt that my body was about to fall asleep。
i lost control and went to sleep。
and then i felt strongly as if someone was telling me get up； get up。
get up in seven minutes！ i cant figure any of this out。
〃 the man had no idea what had happened。
munication of thought without any medium has bee a scientific truth； but an educated man would call it superstition。
it is possible that a sick man in one town can be cured from a faraway town； its not too difficult。
its also possible that a snakebite can be healed from a distance of thousands of miles； theres not much difficulty to it。
but there are many different kinds of superstitions。
and remember； the superstition of an educated man is always more dangerous than that of an uneducated man； because the educated man does not consider his superstition to be superstition。
for him it is a result arrived at after great deliberation。
now this friend says we have to break the chains of superstition。
first make sure there are any chains； otherwise you may break somebodys arms and legs in the process。
chains can only be broken if there are any。
what if there are none？ you must also make sure that what you believe is a chain that needs to be broken does not happen to be an ornament you may have to remake。
all these things require very careful consideration。
i am absolutely against superstition； all kinds of superstitions must be destroyed …… but this does not mean that i am superstitious about this destruction。
it does not mean one should go about destroying them without a clear understanding of them； that without due consideration one should simply be bent upon breaking them。
then such arbitrary destruction will also bee superstition。
every age has its own superstitions。
remember； superstitions have their fashion too。
in every age superstitions take on a new form。
man drops old superstitions and takes on new ones； but he never gets rid of them forever； he alters them and he changes them。
but we never realize this。
for example； once upon a time there was a superstition that the man who applied tilak； the forehead mark； was considered religious。
what has applying tilak to do with being religious？ but thats the way it was understood。
and someone who didnt apply the tilak was looked down upon as irreligious。
this old superstition is no longer in vogue。
now we have new superstitions； equally as foolish。
if a man wears a tie he is considered distinguished； otherwise he is considered ordinary。
it is the same thing； there is no difference at all。
the tie has replaced the tilak； while the man has remained the same。
where is there any difference？
the tie is no better than the tilak。
perhaps its even worse； because at least there was a meaning to applying the tilak。
the tie has absolutely no meaning in this country； although it may have a meaning in some other country。
a tie is useful in cold countries where it helps protect the throat against cold。
in those countries； a man who cannot afford to cover his throat against the cold must obviously be a poor man。
a man of means is able to cover his throat with the help of a necktie； however； when somebody puts a tie around his neck in a hot country such as this； then it seems a little scary …… one wonders whether such a man is affluent or insane！
to be affluent does not mean one has to suffer from heat or wear this noose around his neck。
a tie means a noose； a tie means a knot。
using it in a cold country makes sense； but in a hot country it is totally meaningless。
and yet； a man who has an idea of dignity …… the magistrate； the attorney； the politician …… is out there with this noose around his neck！ and these very people denounce the tilak wearers as superstitious！ one can well ask them； 〃isnt wearing a necktie a superstition too？ which scientific system are you applying； that you have tied this tie around your neck？〃 but since the tie is a superstition of this age it is acceptable； and since the tilak is a superstition of the past； it is unacceptable。
as i said earlier； as the tie has some meaning for people in cold countries； applying a tilak can also have meaning； but without first looking into it； it is utterly dangerous and wrong to call it a superstition right away …… you may not have given any thought as to why a tilak is applied。
people mostly apply it out of superstition； however； there was some scientific reason when people applied it for the first time。
actually； tilak is applied on the forehead at the spot between the two eyes where the agya chakra； the third…eye chakra； is located。
even with a little meditation this spot gets hot； however； it cools down with the application of sandalwood。
the application of sandalwood is a highly scientific technique； but now it is los