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mahavira was sensible： he remained naked …… and in a hot country like this； the more the heat leaves the body； the cooler it feels inside。
but if a follower of mahavira were to arrive in tibet naked； he would deserve to be admitted to a mental asylum。
to appear in tibet like this would be absolutely unscientific； stupid。
but thats how it always happens。
when a tibetan lama es to india； he never bathes。
once i stayed with tibetan lamas in bodh gaya。
they were stinking so badly it was a torture to sit near them。
when i asked why they were like that； they replied； 〃we follow the rule of bathing only once a year。
〃 this is where i make the distinction between superstition and science。
that which is a science in tibet is a superstition in india。
here； these lamas are stinking without realizing their bodies are perspiring heavily and that there is much dust all around。
we have no idea； but there are some countries where there is no dust at all。
when khrushchev first came to india he was taken to agra to see the taj mahal； and on the way he saw a whirlwind of dust taking shape。
he had the car stopped； got out and stood right in the middle of the whirlwind。
he was so happy。
he said； 〃i am so lucky； i have never had such an experience before。
〃 we wouldnt feel lucky to be caught in so much dust。
but where he es from there are piles of snow； not dust。
it was a fascinating experience for him； as it is for us when we are in snow。
how excited we feel when we walk on snow in the himalayas。
so dont get into breaking things simply believing them to be chains； without first taking into consideration the age； the conditions； and their usefulness。
a scientific mind is that which always hesitates。
a man with a scientific mind never makes a decision in haste； saying； 〃this is right and that is wrong。
〃 rather he always says； 〃perhaps this may be right； but let me search more and more。
〃 even at the end of his search he never es to a decision and says with finality； 〃okay； this is wrong； so destroy it。
〃 life is so mysterious that nothing can be said in such definite terms。
all we can say is； 〃so far； we have known this much； and based upon this knowledge such…and…such a thing appears to be wrong〃 …… thats all。
a man with a scientific attitude will say； 〃based on the information available so far； such…and…such a thing does not seem to be right today； however； with added information it may appear right tomorrow。
something which is right today may prove to be wrong tomorrow。
〃 such a man never makes a hasty decision about what is right and what is wrong。
he always keeps on searching with an inquiring and humble mind。
there is fun in holding on to a superstition； and there is also fun in breaking it。
the fun in holding on to a superstition is that it spares us the trouble of thinking …… we believe what everyone else believes。
we dont even want to ask the reason behind it； or why its so。
who wants to bother？ one simply follows the crowd。
its convenient to have superstitions。
and then there are people who are out to crack superstitions …… that too is very convenient。
the man who cracks them appears to be rational； without actually being rational。
its not easy to be rational； to see things rationally is to strain every nerve。
this man looks into things so closely it bees difficult for him to make any categorical statement。
and so his statements are always conditional。
he will say； 〃under such conditions it is valid not to bathe in tibet； while under other conditions it is utterly superstitious not to bathe in india。
〃 the man who thinks rationally will speak this kind of language。
on the other hand； a social reformer shows no concern for what he is saying： he is concerned with destroying things； he wants to destroy certain things。
i say： go ahead and destroy …… there are many things which have to be destroyed …… but the first thing that has to be destroyed； however； is thoughtlessness。
the tendency to act without first giving something rational thought is the primary thing that needs to be destroyed。
so what it means is： if you destroy something without first giving it proper thought； then such destruction has no value。
the tendency to think rationally has to be created； and the tendency to believe thoughtlessly has to be destroyed。
this will lead us to see different contexts； deeper meanings。
then we will make an intensive search； we will think and reason。
then we will consider all the possibilities。
psychoanalysis is very popular in the west； and the interesting thing is that psychoanalysis is doing exactly the same kind of work as the good old witch doctor did in the villages。
nowadays； in france； there is an active sect created by cuvier。
cuvier works on the same principles as the witch doctor did； except that cuvier is a scientist and he uses scientific terminology …… other than that everything is the same； there is no difference。
you will be amazed to know that when a sadhu； a mendicant； an ordinary man of the village； with no knowledge of medicine； gives a pinch of ash to a sick man in the name of god； we call it superstition。
and yet； it works as effectively； and people are cured in the same proportion as with allopathic treatment。
it is very interesting …… the same ratio。
many experiments are being carried out in this area。
a unique experiment was conducted in a london hospital。
a hundred patients with the same illness were divided into two groups。
fifty were given the regular injection； while the other fifty were injected with water。
and the amazing thing is that the ratio of cured patients in both cases was the same。
so the question was raised： whats going on？
in view of this experiment； it became necessary to examine the issue more closely。
and what became clear was that the idea； the feeling that medicine is being given； works more than the medicine itself。
also； even the medicine； the dispensing of the medicine itself； does not work so much as does the idea of how expensive the medicine is and how well known the doctor is。
a lesser known docto