Famous people with Aspergers

Famous People with Aspergers Syndrome

Aspergers Syndrome is quite hard for even a qualified psychiatrist to diagnose, so there is some degree of guesswork in ascribing this condition to people who are deceased. Nevertheless, the following list has been put together from mutual agreement of learned minds (which probably isn't very reliable - see Wikipedia speculated list). I have also included additional tables of well-known people with other mental disorder (probably more reliable, though some dispute exists particularly over Sir Winston Churchill).

I believe a number of past and contempory spiritual teachers could also be ascribed the Asperger's condition, including Mahatma Gandhi, Adi Da and Sri Aurobindo. If indeed the Aspie condition is a result of a Kundalini awakening at birth, this would significantly raise the likelihood of spiritual masters being on the Autistic spectrum.

(For some reason this web page is incredibly popular!)

Aspergers	Bipolar	Dyslexia	Epilepsy
Albert Einstein Alan Turing Al Gore Andy Kaufman Andy Warhol Bill Gates Bob Dylan Carl Jung Hans Asperger Henry Ford Isaac Asimov Isaac Newton Jane Austen Mark Twain Michael Jackson Michael Palin Mozart (could be ADHD instead) Nikola Tesla Thomas Jefferson Vincent Van Gogh Woody Allen	Axl Rose Buzz Aldrin Ernest Hemingway Tchaikovsky Winston Churchill	Albert Einstein Alexander Graham Bell Hans Christian Anderson Henry Ford John Lennon Keira Knightley Leonardo da Vinci Noel Gallagher Quentin Tarantino Tom Cruise Whoopi Goldberg Winston Churchill (disputed) *Stutter:* Marilyn Monroe Sylvester Stallone Winston Churchill James Earl Jones	Alexander the Great Bodicea Hannibal Joan of Arc Julius Caesar Lenin Napoleon Peter the Great William the Third

Aspergers characters in film and TV series:

Commander Data from Star Trek Next Generation
Mr Spock from Star Trek Original Series
Rodney McKay from Stargate Atlantis
Seven-of-Nine from Star Trek Voyager
Chauncy Gardener, played by Peter Sellers in Being There is a particularly good portrayal
Jerry Espenson from Boston Legal (and also possibly Tourette Syndrome)

Aspergers and Spiritual Masters

As a "sprinkler of holy water" perhaps there is something special about Asperger's people. Dr Tony Attwood, a Brisbane-based world authority on Aspergers, has noted that most of the major advances in science and art have been made by people with Aspergers syndrome - Mozart, Einstein, to name a few. Is genius an abnormality? As I read about the lives and personalities of many noted spiritual teachers, I started to notice a correlation between their traits and Aspergers characteristics. I propose a hypothesis that many of the most noted spiritual masters that have walked on this planet have Asperger's or related Autistic afflictions, where their special interest in spiritual enlightenment. This is an observation, not a criticism - there is no doubt that the human race is better off for their presence and contribution.

The table below lists typical Aspergers characteristics, and notes whether these traits are observable in many spiritual teachers. Not all spiritual teachers display these characteristics. Investigations are underway to see if the "spiritual experience" can be explained by low levels of Serotonin. The link between Serotonin, depression and some Autistic conditions is well known, and it has also long been known that meditation results in changes in the brain chemistry, particularly in hormonal secretions from the pituitary and pineal glands. Is the spiritual experience a hallucination caused by abnormal brain chemistry, or does the alteration of the brain parameters really enable some gifted people to access levels of consciousness that are unavailable to most of us? Certainly Savants have intellectual gifts that most people would not believe if it had not been demonstrated (such as the ability to recite PI to 17,000 decimal places). I won't attempt to answer these questions here - I just wish to draw attention to the parallels between the personalities of great spiritual teachers, and Aspergers syndrome.

Characteristics observed in Spiritual Masters	Characteristics of those with Aspergers
Requirement for orderliness, tidyness and cleanliness and routine. Many students find that ashrams and monasteries have rigorous cleaning programs and it is insisted that students carry out the cleaning (it isn't acceptable for professinal cleaners to whiz through once a week).	For many with Aspergers, cleanliness is almost an OCD, though there are also examples of the complete opposite. Routine is part of the life of almost every Asperger.
Anti-social - few will marry or have a family. Most like to withdraw and sit and meditate. Attending shows, entertainment or engaging in social gossip is forbidden in monasteries and ashrams.	Aspergers have problems with social interaction. Figures suggest that 80% never marry or have a long term relationship.
A master will often have one or two favoured disciples with whom they have a very close relationship. Platonic bosom buddies.	Aspergers are known to form loyal long-term friendships.
Greater emphathy with animals and nature than other human beings - eg St Francis of Assissi. Concerned with the planet and environment, not the trivialities of the personal lives of their students.	This parallels Asperger behaviour.
Authoritarian leadership. Will order disciples around, often seemingly quite insensitive to their feelings, which may be explained as intentional behaviour to help the student grow and learn about themselves.	Aspergers people have low empathy towards others, and generally make poor managers and leaders.
Problems coping with complexity - I recall the story of a holy man who lived in a simple hut with no possessions except his loin cloth. One day someone gave him a carpet to sit on. The next week he gave the carpet back, explaining how it got dirty, so he had to borrow a broom to sweep it and keep it clean, and then a dog had grabbed the broom and he'd had to chase it to get it back, etc. Too much trouble. He couldn't cope with a small rug.	Aspergers either arrange their environments to be simple and orderly, or "give up" and live in a messy environment.
Stilted language - many spiritual teachers preach, rather than engaging in discussion.	This parallels Asperger behaviour.
Non-conformist, eg Sri Aurobindo, Mahatma Ghandi.	Aspergers are observed to have eccentric tendencies. They do not follow fashions or trends of those around them.
Dedicated interest in pursuing the spiritual path. For many it is simply *the* most important thing in their lives, and they are revered for this.	Almost all Aspergers have a special interest. If it is train-spotting then the Asperger will remain an eccetric. If the special interest becomes self-realisation they may go down in history as a great spiritual teacher.
Great ability to concentrate on one subject, or engage in deep meditation for hours.	This is part of the perserveration behaviour of Asperger people. This can also be of benefit to many in jobs such as Engineering and Computing where the ability to concentrate and nut out difficult problems can lead to high paying positions.
Sensory issues - some masters demonstrate the ability to withdraw from the enses and withstand what would be extreme pain (eg sticking red hot skewers through the tongue). Others are extremely sensitive to noises and light and need to be completely withdrawn from society in quite locations.	These parallel Asperger behaviour.
Rough sense of humour - some of the Western occult school teachers such as Gurdjieff were known for playing tricks. Monty Python type humour which can be a little off-beat.	Also commonly observed in Asperger people (some member of the Monty Python team are undoubtedly on the Austistic spectrum).
Some teachers are prone to sudden burts of anger, their unpredictable behaviour keeping the disciples on edge.	Aspergers have a problem with anger. Some learn to harness the energy, others are prone to outbursts with little warning to those around them.
Sensitivity to criticism - many teachers will build structures around them to ensure that they are never criticised or questioned, especially in public gatherings. Clashes can arise with the closest disciples resulting in a quick parting of company.	Aspergers can be deeply hurt by criticism.