The Lunatic
I’m on the road this week… So here’s a great story…
Once, in August 1950, when Shri Atmananda stayed in Bombay for a couple of days on his way back from Europe, he gave audience to a good number of spiritual enthusiasts who flocked for short interviews with him. Among them was an educated young Parsi gentleman who was a lunatic for the past twenty years. But he had occasional sober moments, for an hour or two every day. Fortunately, it was during one of those sober moments that he came for the interview. As soon as he was led in and seated, Shri Atmananda asked him: ‘Well, what is it that you want?’
Visitor: Well, Sir, I am not come for any spiritual instruction. They say I am a lunatic, and I too believe it, more or less.
Shri Atmananda: Sorry, I am not a doctor myself. You must go to some doctor and take advice.
Visitor: No Sir, I have tried all that in vain. I heard that you are a great divine, and I am sure you can help me out of this malady.
Shri A: No, you are mistaken. I am not a saint and I have no powers to help you in this. Please go and seek remedy elsewhere.
Visitor: No Sir, I am desperate. I shall not return without getting something from you.
Shri Atmananda was in a fix. The gentleman’s face did not show any signs of disorder and he felt compassion for the man. So Shri Atmananda asked him, rather abruptly: ‘Well! What is your ailment?’

Sri Atmananda
Visitor: They say I am a lunatic.
Shri A: Is it true?
Visitor: Yes, it is true, more or less.
Shri A: How can you say so?
Visitor: Because I know it. I cannot think about anything consistently for some time.
Shri A: How do you know that?
Visitor: Well, I know that. I can see my mind running from object to object, in quick succession.
[THIS]: Shri A: But are you that changing mind, or are you that knowing principle which never changes?Visitor: Of course, I am that knowing principle.
[THIS!]: Shri Atmananda retorted with some force: ‘Be that knowing principle always, and don’t worry about your mind.’The gentleman opened his mouth wide and sat aghast for a minute, and said with luminous satisfaction: ‘Yes! Yes! I have got it. I want nothing more from you now. Allow me, Sir, to go, and I shall write to you from home.’
Shri Atmananda: Yes. You may go and be at peace.
He went straight home and wrote to Shri Atmananda regularly, after three days, one month, three months, six months, one year, and three years—all equally assuring that he was leading a steady, happy, contented and prosperous domestic life with his dear wife and children, of course with hearty endorsements from each of them regarding his normality.
This was indeed a miracle of the ultimate witness. Shri Atmananda had only just helped him to direct his own attention to that talisman in himself and he was saved.
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I’ll post a new topic each Friday afternoon, in one of two categories. One will be on shooting, and the other will be on living. Or: how I learned to live from what I learned by competing.
Thanks for coming in.