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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/06/28/stories/2002062800060800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

-

Religion

 

 

Knowledge that liberates man

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

JUNE 28.

 

Every subject has technical terms with which a student must familiarise himself.

It is not possible to master any subject without clarity about these

fundamentals. This is the case with spiritual knowledge also. The majority of

the common terms are familiar even to a layperson as they are intrinsic to daily

religious practices or in colloquial use. Scriptural texts also dilate on them

whenever an opportunity presents itself so that the spiritual aspirant can

understand the topic of discussion well.

 

The Bhagavad Gita, for instance, discusses the methodology adopted by the

scriptures to show the importance of scriptural tradition for gaining spiritual

knowledge. This subject cannot be learnt on one's own from books or by other

means. The revealed wisdom has been handed over from generation to generation

and the Lord is revered as the first Guru. Any preceptor thus essentially

becomes a communicator of this wisdom and always acknowledges the tradition,

which embodies this knowledge. But as far as the disciple is concerned his

reverence to his preceptor must be total as he learns the truth only through his

grace. Even Lord Krishna when He donned the mantle of a teacher to Arjuna often

referred to His exposition of truth not as His teaching but that which seers

taught and has come down in tradition.

 

In her discourse, Swamini Satyavratananda said Lord Krishna described the

ultimate truth to Arjuna as that knowledge which had to be known and knowing

which he would attain immortality. This state is variously referred as one of

peace, fullness in which there is no more dissatisfaction. The Absolute

(Brahman) is without a beginning and hence neither cause nor effect. If we

consider worldly phenomena it becomes obvious that every effect becomes the

cause of something else. Hence the terms "cause" and "effect" can be used only

in a relative sense depending on the standpoint. So the Absolute cannot be cause

or effect but the scriptures while introducing the subject speak of the Absolute

as the primordial cause of all creation. This is a necessary hypothesis for the

beginner but as the disciple starts understanding abstract concepts he can grasp

this subtlety. The search for peace is not a matter of choice. It is a universal

quest. While those who are evolved term it as liberati!

on from bondage (Moksha), the ignorant search for happiness, as they understand

it, which is also ultimately the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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