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They say animals cannot get enlightened because they lack the necessary faculty. Only in human form it is possible. It has been said, even devas/angels have to take human birth to attain liberation. Made me wonder, if I have to make a prerequisites list for liberation, what would it include. I am starting with the assumption, it has to be human. I welcome challenges against this also. What else is absolutely needed? 1)Human (aka with body+mind+intellect to inquire) Does, health, functions of organs, energy, kundalini any of this are pre-requisites? Let's take an illustration. Some one is 98 years old. Bedridden in hospital. The faculty of seeing (physical organ - eyes) don't work so great. The person can't stand up. The only food is through fluids. The faculties of hearing don't work so great. He lived a life immersed in the joys and sorrows of the world outside. He was never on a spiritual quest and have not even heard of the word liberation or enlightenment. At this point, he some how comes to know about this liberation/enlightenment. He says, hey this is what I want. He is sincere and earnest in his seeking. Do we tell him, "Buddy, it's too late, why don't you just relax and try it next time around? See your sushumna is not open. It will take years of practice to open it up. You need to do pranayama and all. Or you should do karma yoga, or you should inquire diligently." With the body, the person stands no chance of doing pranayama, or any cultivation. 1) Technically nothing should stop him from getting enlightened, if he had the mind and intellect functioning. If we go by what masters say, he is already 'that' and only ignorance is the road block (like clouds), then he just needs to become aware of his true self. He should be able to do it anytime just before the last breath. I would like to see who would agree with this. 2) Those that say, the person stands no chance in the present form or body. He can only plant the seed, but it is impossible to attain the goal in the state(withering body) he is in. If we were to say, he stands no chance, this would put prerequisites for enlightenment, such as health, function of organs, etc. If this is the case, then let's list out what we think as prerequisites.

In day to day language, mind is the only distinction used, besides (from) body. Intellect (buddhi) seems separate. The perceiver or thinker? Is ego (ahamkara) a separate entity? Is this not part of the mind? The same question about the memory store, past experiences & beliefs (chitta). Is this also not part of mind? Can some one clearly explain the distinction between the four?