In earlier centuries all over the world, superstition was a way of life, often an occasion for pride. Not to believe things that are superstitious is the present way of life. Of course, one must have the discrimination to know what is superstitious and what is not.

An army officer, after retirement, ran the family industry. Being pious, he built a temple for Kali where he sung bhajans for hours on end. Among his establishments was a 175 bed hospital. Once he had an attack of suffocation which turned his body blue. He was rushed to his own hospital where, though they could not diagnose him, they restored him to health in a few days. These attacks recurred periodically. No other hospital could handle the case. Friends suggested it could be black magic. He refused the suggestion out of hand. After some time he received a letter that said “I did black magic on you, lured by big money. Now, whenever you sing at your temple it comes back on me. I am on the brink of death. Please pardon me and give my life back to me.”

Still his own attacks continued. Then he consented to meet magicians, but no help came from any quarter. Except for praying to Kali he would not seek any other help. His family and friends took him to several places on the sly. The ailment remained. Being a powerful, rich man, no one dared to offer him help which he might resent.

He was brought to Pondicherry a few times but he would not pray for help. Once he consented to listen about stories of relief. As he was listening, he inwardly felt relief and listened further. That led him to pray for help. After he left Pondicherry, the one who had told him those stories desired to know the result. Another reported, “Before he left Pondicherry, the thing left him on the same day.”

When people get into a mind set, they value that above everything. It leads to a position where they even unconsciously risk their lives. Opinion rules. Its rule is the ultimate law. Rarely do they reflect that to believe in superstition and to disbelieve in it are equally superstitious.