Dear All,
Continuing with the example of Moth which Swami gave in the last post, today, we will deal with only one question and answer, as it assumes great importance in today's world where we all go about with our imagination that we are all educated and we all have knowledge.
Hence, today's post is kept as one of the smallest, yet very important learning imparted by Swami to all of us.
Devotee: Swami! What You said is the truth. We can take it that
ignorant people, when they behave like this, are of the brood of moths. But
when people who are well educated, who are great, who know — when these devote
themselves to spreading such stories, how can it be endured?
Swami:
Learning means learning about the Atma (Atma-jnana); it is not the knowledge of things
related to the world, which trains for a living and is useful as basis for a
living. To compare learning about the Atma with such knowledge (vidya) is a great mistake.
Great men are those who don’t abuse others, who search for the reality with
good intentions.
Spiritual matters cannot be understood by those without the
power of discrimination, by those who are puffed up with the authority they
have, or by those who are unaware of any knowledge of the Atma. So
consider those whom you described as educated and great as belonging to the
brood mentioned above and, without yielding place to such ideas and worries,
engage yourself in strengthening your belief.
Author's note
- In today's modern world, all of us / most of us are well educated.
- Society has taught us shrewdness, smart out look and very successful approach in our life.
- We are able to think logically, rationally and accept only things which are proven to us logically and scientifically.
- However, Swami clarifies in today's answer - "Spiritual matters cannot be understood by those who are without the power of discrimination".
- Real knowledge, Swami says, is not the knowledge of all worldly matters but the knowledge of SELF, knowledge of what we actually are, from where we have come into this world and where we have to reach ultimately, what is our final destination.
Love.
