Dear All,
We continue with the learning on the God / the state post God realization, as JNANAM.
Two kinds of knowledge exist - conditioned and unconditioned knowledge. Conditioned knowledge is the knowledge about the objects in the world, which keep on changing from time to time.
Ganges water-filled in different bottles. The knowledge of water in different bottle are conditioned by the different shapes of the bottle but the essential ganges does not have a shape.
Similarly, though the knowledge of objects vary, depending upon the changes in the objects but THE KNOWLEDGE PER SAY, IS ABSOLUTE.
The SELF is the light, the knowledge, which illumines itself and illumines various objects in the world, in various states of consciousness.
Another example - sunlight - which blesses the entire world with its light, not discriminating between the qualities of different objects and rationing its light accordingly.
Prajnana, Sujnana, Vijnana, Jnana
Prof. Anil kumar narrating his conversation with Swami in a book on Prajnanam Brahma.
Anil kumar : - This is also a Mahavakya (a Divine Axiom). It is not difficult to remember. I want all of you to keep this statement in mind and reflect upon it. It is a beautiful statement.
I don’t need to learn a complicated language at this age and complicate my life, no. I can manage with my language. I can manage with my ideas. I can make God understand and get replies to questions I have. So, I don’t need to know Sanskrit except for certain statements, which are very simple and easy to remember, like ‘Prajnanam Brahma’.
“Ah, Swami, please explain this Mahavakya, this great statement, a very profound statement, ‘Prajnanam Brahma’. What does it mean, Swami?”
He asked, “How do you understand it?”
He wanted me to explain in order to expose me to everybody. (Laughter) Very well, I take delight in this. Why not? If I am a source of entertainment for God and my students, what more could I want? (Laughter) If in my answering, everybody laughs at my expense, then very good! I want every evening to be like that, yes! At least I am not a killjoy.
In fact, I am entertainment for God. God laughs and the boys laugh. Why not? If laughter is the remedy, seriousness is the sickness. Bliss is God; misery is the world. So, why can’t we laugh?
Then Bhagavan said, “Tell me what you understand about ‘Prajnanam Brahma’.”
I said, “Swami, ‘Knowledge is God’. Prajnanam means ‘knowledge’ and Brahma is God. So it means, ‘Knowledge is God’.”
Swami said in His usual way, “You are completely wrong!” (Laughter)
Very good! I was not shocked, as I am always wrong. But I congratulated myself because my wrong answers provoked Him to speak further along these subject lines. Yes! So I always hope to give the wrong answers. Why not? All right, let Him say what He wants to.
Bhagavan explained, “There are four forms of knowledge. First is Jnana, second is Vijnana, third is Sujnana and fourth is Prajnana.”
“Oh I see. I didn’t know there were four types of knowledge.”
Swami began to explain, “First, Jnana, what is Jnana? All information, all knowledge, all worldly information is Jnana. Everyone has this. Material knowledge, secular knowledge, education, humanities, science, technology -- that is all Jnana.”
“Second, Vijnana. Vijnana is the knowledge based on investigation, cause and effect, experimentation, observation and inference. So, Vijnana is science and technology.
The third one is Sujnana. What is Sujnana? Sujnana is spiritual knowledge.”
“The fourth one is Prajnana. What is Prajnana? Prajnana is your very being. Prajnana is your very Self. Prajnana is awareness. Prajnana is ‘Constant Integrated Awareness’. That Supreme Self, knowledge of the Self, awareness of the Self, the very core of your life, the very being of your life, that is called Prajnana. That Prajnanam Brahma, that Prajnana is Divine. That’s the reason why Vedanta says, ‘You are the Children of Immortality. You are the Children of Eternity. You are the embodiments of Divine Atma.”
