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What is insanity? || Acharya Prashant, with youth (2014)
Acharya Prashant
1.3K views
7 years ago
Sanity
Normal Distribution
Ego
Perception
Arrogance
Happiness
Sadness
Joy
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that human sanity is often defined arbitrarily by the majority. Using the concept of a normal distribution curve, he notes that those who deviate from the mean are frequently labeled as insane or mad. He points out that throughout history, great thinkers, seers, and scientists have been declared abnormal or even killed simply because they perceived truths that the majority could not. He emphasizes that being different or having a sharp, meditative mind carries the risk of being labeled insane by an egocentric society that views itself as the center of the universe. He further discusses human arrogance and the tendency to view humanity as the vertex of creation. Acharya Prashant argues that our perception is extremely limited, noting that we only perceive a tiny fraction of the light and sound spectrums. He challenges the assumption that animals or even inanimate objects like grains of sand are inferior or lack language just because humans cannot perceive their communication. This self-enclosed system of belief, where humans assume their limited perception is the absolute truth, is described as sheer stupidity and a justification for exploiting nature. Finally, Acharya Prashant addresses the relationship between happiness and sadness, describing them as relative states that depend on each other. He explains that great sadness often prepares one for happiness, and vice versa, much like a swinging pendulum. He introduces the concept of joy as something beyond these dualities. Joy is described as an inner sense of fullness and balance that remains untouched regardless of external circumstances, allowing an individual to remain stable in both success and failure.