The modern civilization is that He's actually a dog, a cat, but he dresses himself very nicely to become gentleman. So śāstra says no. We have to test whether He's human being or a cat and dog, what He's. So if we see that people are engaged only in these four business—eating, sleeping, mating and defending— He's cat and dog. Above them, they're inquiring. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. They're inquiring about the Absolute Truth. They are above these cats and dogs. This is the test: what subject matter He's inquiring. Just like there are big, big scientists, they're making research, "If petrol can be substituted?" So in the eyes of the common man he may become a very great scientist, but those who are advanced in spiritual consciousness, they will take him no better than cat and dog—because his subject matter is how to eat, sleep or mate or defend. The subject matter . . . we have to understand what is the subject matter of this person. In the English proverb it is said: "A man is known by his company." So similarly, if the subject matter is animalistic, āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithuna, then, however he may be big man, we will take him amongst the categories of cats and dogs.
Then who is, who is above? That above—who is inquiring about the Absolute. Jijñāsuḥ śreya-uttamam.