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I also share this view, in common with the hippies. As far as their real significance is concerned, they are greatly symbolic and provide an inkling of the future.
The humanity which will inhabit this globe a hundred years hence will, without any doubt, become free from the cramping influence of all 'isms.' What, after all, is the reason behind this strong opposition of 'isms?' What is that which is working in the minds of hippies and all other youngsters who have raised the banner of revolt against all isms, all temples, all churches and all canons of established society? The cause, is not far off. It can be found in their continuous unhappy experience during this long period since the dawn of humanity. That experience is comprised of the fact that the more 'ism' is imposed upon a person, the less and less sensitive and the more deadened his or her soul becomes, so to speak. The more elaborate the structure of any 'ism,' the greater the degree of inner freedom that is lost.
An 'ism-gripped' personality is, so to say, a dead personality. So it can be said that many from amongst us die quite early in life though they may actually be buried much later. Someone may die at the age of thirty although he may await actual burial until age seventy. The day any rigid ideology takes hold of us, that very day our freedom, our individuality and our soul takes leave of us. The iron bars or the stony walls of a prison-house are obvious to the eyes, but quite unseen are the shackles of thought which chain us, and the less obvious these are in reality, the more dangerous they are.
Recently I was departing from one place. Many friends had taken the trouble to come to the station to see me off. There was another gentleman in the compartment in which I had to travel. He noticed that many people had assembled to see me off, so as soon as I entered and the train set in motion, he hastened to touch my feet and said, "Mahatmaji, please accept my salutations. It is a matter of great pleasure that I will be travelling in your noble company." I replied, "Have you satisfied yourself whether I am a Mahatma or not? You have acted rather hastily in touching my feet. Suppose,
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