Knowledge which
sees as knowledge cannot be an agent? This should be interpreted to mean knowledge
by which one sees entities selves or souls as different from one another,
regarding them as different in different bodies.
The knowledge
that is led by the idea of separateness is passionate. Enveloping as it does
the manifold creation with the veil of separateness, it deludes even the wise
man.
Owing to
passionate knowledge, beings appear to be separate and the perception of unity
is also lost sight of.
That knowledge
which beholds multiplicity in created objects and differentiates them as being
small or great? According to their form and size? Is of passionate nature and
tainted. A man with passionate knowledge sees diversity everywhere. He beholds
the many only.
Everything is
different. There are trees here, cattle there, water here; there is a solar
system there, earth here, planets there, human beings here, animals there.
There is no connection of one thing with another thing; everything stands
independently by itself, as it were.
This kind of idea
that we entertain—namely, that everything is independent by itself and there
can be no connection, no relation whatsoever between one thing and another
thing—that knowledge is rajasic because it is the perception of a distracted mind that is divided
inside and, therefore, it sees division outside also.
Basically, even as we go through various
satsanghs, various classes on transcendental knowledge of Brahman, when we
approach the learning with a rajasic
mind, then what happens??
We keep ourselves separate and the knowledge/learning
as separate.
How much ever a Guru may teach such a person that he and Brahman are one, still, a Rajasic
Brahman will keep saying, “ Yes, I know, I have no doubt, Me and Brahman are one”, but he will
/ may not turn this knowledge into subjective experience!!
Verse 22
But
that which clings to one single effect as if it were the whole, without reason,
without foundation in Truth, and trivial—that is declared to be Tamasic (dark).
Whereas rajasic knowledge
at least recognizes the existence of many things, tamasic knowledge
clings to one thing only.
The knowledge
which regards that each and every object or being exists by itself and is
perfect by itself is Tamasic.
One single effect
such as the body and thinking it to be the Self or an
idol taking it for God and thinking that there is nothing
higher than that.
Some jains consider that the soul which
dwells in the body is of the same size as that of the body.
Some regard that Isvara is a mere piece of stone or wood.
Such knowledge is really not based on reason. It does not see things in their
true light.
It is narrow
(alpam) as it is not founded on reason. It produces very small results too. It
extends over a limited area and is not all comprehensive. This knowledge is
said to be Tamasic, as it is
found in tamasic persons who are
devoid of the power of discrimination.
Love.
