Questioner (Q): During the journey of life, one comes across many stages where decision making is difficult and is not easy to tell ‘right’ apart from ‘wrong’. Whom do you depend upon, at these critical junctions?
Acharya Prashant (AP): I have a ‘mad’ servant. Let’s say; I have a mad servant. I didn’t know; he was mad because I too am mad, because of keeping his company. If you remain in contact with madness for too long, the madness rubs upon you. You too catch some of that madness. So I have a mad servant, and his company has made me a little mad. Maybe not as mad as him, but yet, not wise either. It never occurred to me that he is mad because I too am a little mad so I could never figure out that my servant is mad.
To figure out someone is mad first of all, you have to be sane. I was not sane because of his company. Do you see what kind of a loop this is? So, I sent my servant to bring food to me, and he is mad. You do not know what he can bring. But, I don’t think he is mad. So I entrust him with the task of fetching food for me. And while he is away, Grace dawns upon me unexpectedly and I, at least temporarily, recover from my insanity.
So, I am not as mad when the servant returns with the food items. Now, I am sane at least for a while. And the servant keeps these food items in front of me, and he says, "Pick whatever you want to, your choice." The servant is mad, and all the items have been brought by him. The servant is mad, all the choices that are in front of me are the choices that this mad one is presenting to me.
Now, my question is, which of these food items is the right item to eat? Sir, please. Which of these items is the right item to eat? It is a critical juncture as you have said.
