“Without this doctrine the continued return of man’s soul to this earth until such time as it becomes perfect, the changing fortunes of different persons would seem the result of mere chance or blind luck. How can that be allowed by a just Deity? No—it is our belief that when a man dies, his character, desires, thoughts and will, continue to exist until they enter a body of flesh once more and come among us in the form of a newborn baby. The good or evil actions committed in the former life will be suitably rewarded or punished in the present or even in future lives.

“This is how we explain fate. When I said that you would shipwrecked one day and are in danger of drowning, that is the destiny which God, in His hidden justice, has portioned out to you because of something wrong which you did in a former life. It is not the planets which force you to shipwreck, but the inescapable results of your former actions. The planets and their positions act only as a record of this destiny; why they should do so I cannot say. No man’s brain could ever have invented Astrology; it came to us from long ago, when it was revealed for man’s benefit by the great seers of ancient times.”

“We Europeans would laugh at such a position, for we do not look kindly upon predictive methods. We like to think that we are free individuals and not the hapless victims of an inexorable destiny.”

The astrologer shrugs his shoulders.

“In one of our old books, the Hitopadesa, it is declared: ‘No one is capable of opposing the predestinations of fate, which are written on the foreheads of men.’ He lets his words sink in. Then he continues:

“What can you do? We must bear with the fruit of our actions.”

But I am dubious about this statement and express my feelings.

“All is in the power of God. Nothing can escape Him. Who of us is really free? Whither can we go where God is not?”

After his telling that he took up the profession of Astrology nineteen years ago, he added that he also went most deeply into the study of the Divine Mysteries. In this study he had contacted the book of BRAHMA CHINTA.