Part 11 of the New Book Serialization!
The second dialog between the sage Vasishta and the Dreamer begins.
The dreamer asks about the difference between an avatar and a lunatic and Vasishta explains that the Absolute never assumes name and form.
Advaita Vision
Advaita for the 21st Century
“There is no criterion or scientific definition to distinguish a normally minded man from one of deranged mind. You have no means of testing the mental condition of a man except by his outward actions and behavior that are often deceptive.”
1. Interesting conversations indeed!
2. With reference to specifically the quote above, I would like to submit that modern scientific advances do point out the possibility of identifying non-invasive “Markers” that can be developed to distinguish the brain of a ‘person’ functioning from the position of an “ego” (with a strong sense of ‘agency’ for action) vis-a-vis the brain (in the body-organism) of a Jivanmukta who has no such claims of ‘doership’. There are also other markers which are unique to a Jivanmukta and do not depend on the amount of deviation from the baseline data of a so called ‘normal’ man. Further, the pathological condition of a lunatic’s brain, at least in a majority of cases in my opinion, should differ from that of a Jivanmukta.
regards,