Those who know only scriptures know nothing - Nisargadatta

[Guest guest]

"Those who know only scriptures know nothing.

To know is to be."

 

Nisargadatta

 

Note from the list moderators:

This quotation leaves the context where Nisargadatta Maharaj said and it

probably does make sense with proper understanding. But it doesn't mean one

shouldn't read the scriptures such as the Upanishads and Gita. The upanishads do

classify the scriptures as 'apara vidya' = knowledge that is transient and for

liberation, one needs to know 'para vidya' = the everlasting wisdom!

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

The Upanishads says "Nothing exists other than the SELF." Those who

read the scriptures can get this understanding faster than otherwise!

Interestingly, this is a quoation comes from the 'scriptures of

Nisargadatta Maharaj!!'

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

advaitin, Jan Sultan <swork@m...> wrote:

> "Those who know only scriptures know nothing.

> To know is to be."

>

> Nisargadatta

>

> Note from the list moderators:

> This quotation leaves the context where Nisargadatta Maharaj said

and it probably does make sense with proper understanding. But it

doesn't mean one shouldn't read the scriptures such as the Upanishads

and Gita. The upanishads do classify the scriptures as 'apara vidya'

= knowledge that is transient and for liberation, one needs to

know 'para vidya' = the everlasting wisdom!

[Guest guest]

--- Jan Sultan <swork wrote:

> "Those who know only scriptures know nothing.

> To know is to be."

>

> Nisargadatta

 

 

On the same token - those who do not know the scriptures also know -

'nothing'. The emphasis of maharaaj is 'only'.

 

Shankara also says in VivekachuuDamani

 

avij~naate pare tatve shaastraadhiitistu nishpalaa|

vij~naatepi pare tatve shaashtraadhiitistu nishpalaa||

 

When one does not know the truth (however much one studies the

shaastra-s) it is just useless. After one knows the truth, the study of

the shaastra-s is also useless.

 

Shaastra is a shabda pramaaNa - that include the listening to a teacher

like Nisarga datta Maharaj or studying his works.

 

A right teacher is one who points the authority to scriptures and not to

himself since it is a subjective science and individual experience

cannot be authority unless it is stamped or endorsed by scriptures.

Scriptures are nothing but the experiences of many many sages and saints

at the seat of meditation. They provide the working hypothesis to

precede our investigation. They also provide milestones to insure we are

in the same path. The discussion of the scriptures will only help in

recognizing these milestones. One need not look for milestones if one

has full faith in the teachers’ or shaastra's words and dash straight

without any need for looking for sidelines to see where one is in the

pathless path!

 

If you have that faith - you are blessed and even these discussions can

be either distractions or gas peddles depending on your frame of mind.

 

 

Hari OM!

Sadananda

 

 

=====

What you have is His gift to you and what you do with what you have is your gift

to Him - Swami Chinmayananda.

 

 

 

The New with improved product search

 

[Guest guest]

Dear SadanandJi:

 

In Uttar Geeta Bhagavaan Krishna says to arjunaa:

 

yathaa kharaa ca.ndana-bhaara-waahii bhaarasya vettaa na tu

saurabhasya

tathaa hi vipraH shruti-shaastra-puuraaNaH\, dnyaanena hiinaH

pashubhiH samaanaH .. Uttara giitaa ..

 

Meaning: These brahmins compared to the donkeys carrying the weight

of sandalwood, for not knowing the fragrance of those texts.

 

Saayanaacharya compares Brahmins as pillars bearing the weight of the

roof.

 

sthaaNur ayam bhaara-haaraH kilaabhuud\, adhiitya veda.m

navidnyaanaati yo.artham .. saayaNaacaarya ..

 

Acharya Sahankara in Vivake cuuDaamaNiH also says :

 

svasyaavidyaabandhasa.mbandhamoxaat

satyadnyaanaaanandaruupapaatmalabdhau .

shaastra.m yuktirdeshikoktiH pramaNa.m caantaHsiddhaa svaanubhuutiH

pramaaNam .. .. vivekacuuDaamaNiH 475 ..

 

Meaning - On realization of Ataman, the truth, wisdom and bliss,

through freedom frommm connection (with upaadhi) created by the bond

of ignorance, neither shastras, arguments, nor the teachings of the

guru, but only self-acquired or self-validated experience are of any

authority.

 

I thought you and the group might enjoy these.

 

Regards,

 

Dr. Yadu

 

 

advaitin, kuntimaddi sadananda

<kuntimaddisada> wrote:

>

> --- Jan Sultan <swork@m...> wrote:

> > "Those who know only scriptures know nothing.

> > To know is to be."

> >

> > Nisargadatta

>

>

> On the same token - those who do not know the scriptures also know -

> 'nothing'. The emphasis of maharaaj is 'only'.

>

> Shankara also says in VivekachuuDamani

>

> avij~naate pare tatve shaastraadhiitistu nishpalaa|

> vij~naatepi pare tatve shaashtraadhiitistu nishpalaa||

>

> When one does not know the truth (however much one studies the

> shaastra-s) it is just useless. After one knows the truth, the

study of

> the shaastra-s is also useless.

>

> Shaastra is a shabda pramaaNa - that include the listening to a

teacher

> like Nisarga datta Maharaj or studying his works.

>

> A right teacher is one who points the authority to scriptures and

not to

> himself since it is a subjective science and individual experience

> cannot be authority unless it is stamped or endorsed by scriptures.

> Scriptures are nothing but the experiences of many many sages and

saints

> at the seat of meditation. They provide the working hypothesis to

> precede our investigation. They also provide milestones to insure

we are

> in the same path. The discussion of the scriptures will only help in

> recognizing these milestones. One need not look for milestones if

one

> has full faith in the teachers' or shaastra's words and dash

straight

> without any need for looking for sidelines to see where one is in

the

> pathless path!

>

> If you have that faith - you are blessed and even these discussions

can

> be either distractions or gas peddles depending on your frame of

mind.

>

>

> Hari OM!

> Sadananda

>

>

> =====

> What you have is His gift to you and what you do with what you have

is your gift to Him - Swami Chinmayananda.

>

>

>

> The New with improved product search

>