जादू के खेल

Summary

The text presents a narrative centered on a character named Professor Harish Halder, who introduces the concept of "dravyaguna" (material properties) as the basis for magic, contrasting it with traditional mystical practices. He argues that magic is not achieved through mantras or asceticism but through precise knowledge of material properties. He claims that by using specific items—a seed from an eight-year, seven-month-old amra tree planted under specific astrological conditions, a silbatta (grinding stone) made from white stone from the Dhavaleshwar mountain brought by Tibetan lamas, and a right-turning conch shell—one can grind these together to create a paste that can make a wall disappear. The narrator and Panchanan Bhai attempt to follow these instructions but fail to achieve the promised result. Later, Halder claims that planting the seed after wrapping it in cactus sap twenty-one times will produce a tree with fruit within an hour. The narrator follows this process, but the tree takes seven years to grow. Halder attributes the failure to improper application of the sap. The narrative then shifts to a discussion on the importance of resolve (sankalpa) in achieving success, citing examples from the Ramayana and Jain philosophy. It emphasizes that doubt and hesitation hinder success, while firm resolve leads to achievement. The text concludes with a reflection on the fundamental difference between living beings and inanimate objects, highlighting that the ability to experience pleasure and pain is what distinguishes life from non-life, a quality absent even in advanced robots.