It needs an intellectual independence opposed to the mental...

It needs an intellectual independence opposed to the mental congestion in ordinary minds to establish and assert one's own views against the views of a crowd; it needs a tempered individuality in an integrated personality. The essence or the spirit of such unique individuality is the latent native capability of the individual for leadership against the common slavish tendency of following the crowd. There are two kinds of mentality in a human being.

The one is the individual's endeavor to stand on his own and the other is being content to be controlled by someone else. One who wants to stand on his own, in his faith has the genuinely independent mind, and the goodness possessed by such individuals really deserves its reward, according to personal or individual merits. The treasuries of goodness and virtues presented by anyone can never reasonably or justly claim the least appreciation, if they are not his own.

Let everyone of us dispassionately and impartially analyze our own views, testing them from various points of view or reasoning, and let us accept only those views which successfully stand up to cross-examination by the side opposed to us. One thing which every sincere seeker of truth should know and must remember is that he should first remove any colored spectacles.

He must view everything without the least pride or prejudice for or against anything, and must readily acknowledge and own for himself whatever he finds to be genuinely true and reasonable. Without this essential condition first fulfilled nothing profitable can ever be gained by any amount of endeavor.

One who sits to judge should not, and must not, belong or even be the slightest bit inclined towards any one of the contesting sides, for it is only then the verdict will be just, truly a reliable and acceptable. Correctness in religious belief and the faithful translation of belief into proper action must be the first concern of every sensible man and woman.

The aim of a true religion is nothing but the disciplining of the human self to prepare it to have as much divinity as possible reflected into it or to manifest divinity through it. Discipline varies a great deal. Unless it is complete discipline will do more harm than good, both to the individual as well as to the society to which the individual belongs.