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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 doctor fails in his treatment not because he does not know his profession； but only because he is not very well known。
a well recognized doctor impresses a patient at once。
with his impressive attire； the overbearing set up； his fees； his big car； the long wait for an appointment； the crowd； the standing in line …… you are already so impressed that whether he knows what he is giving you or not has very little effect。
the truth is that to be a good doctor you dont need a first class knowledge of medicine； what you need is an excellent knowledge of advertising。
the question is how well you can publicize yourself。
publicity pays more； not the medicine。
recently； a medical survey revealed that in france there are about eighty thousand physicians and about one hundred and sixty thousand quacks。
when the patient gets tired of the practicing physicians； he is cured by those who have no knowledge of medicine。
but they know the trick of how to treat a patient。
thats why you see so many kinds of pathies prevalent。
can you imagine …… all these different kinds of pathies abounding in this age of science？ even naturopathy works …… a bandaging of mud on the stomach works； an enema with water works； the witch doctors charms work。
even homeopathy； which consists of nothing but tiny sugar pills； works。
these all work； and so does allopathy。
so the question arises： how does a patient get well？ if a village quack prescribes a little dust and cures his patients； then we will have to think carefully； we will have to be concerned about whether to break such superstitions or not。
the man with a stethoscope around his neck and a big car is also able to cure patients through his scientific means。
but a magic is working there too …… the magic of the car； of the stethoscope。
i know one quack。
he has no degree from any university； and yet he has cured many patients i sent to him； patients who had otherwise been pronounced incurable by other doctors。
the man is smart； he has a remarkable understanding of human nature。
actually； thats how one happens to be a professional physician！ so