Ramana Maharshi says Mere book learning is of no use

[Guest guest]

Once some very learned Sanskrit scholars were sitting in the old hall

discussing portions of the Upanishads and other scriptural texts with

Bhagavan. Bhagavan was giving them proper explanations and it was a sight to

remember and adore! At the same time, I felt genuinely in my heart, ‘Oh, how

great these people are and how fortunate they are to be so learned and to

have such deep understanding and be able to discuss with our Bhagavan.

Compared with them, what am I, a zero in scriptural learning?’ I felt

miserable. After the pundits had taken leave Bhagavan turned to me and said,

“What?”, looking into my eyes and studying my thoughts. Then, without even

giving me an opportunity to explain, he continued, “This is only the husk!

All this book learning and capacity to repeat the scriptures by memory is

absolutely no use. To know the Truth, you need not undergo all this torture

of learning. Not by reading do you get the Truth. BE QUIET, that is Truth,

BE STILL, that is God”.

 

Then very graciously he turned to me again and there was an immediate change

in his tone and attitude. He asked me, “Do you shave yourself?” Bewildered

by this sudden change, I answered, trembling, that I did.

 

“Ah, for shaving you use a mirror, don’t you? You look into the mirror and

then shave your face; you don’t shave the image in the mirror. Similarly all

the scriptures are meant only to show you the way to realization. They are

meant for practise and attainment. Mere book learning and discussions are

comparable to a man shaving the image in the mirror”. From that day onwards

the sense of inferiority that I had been feeling vanished once and for all.

 

Source: RAMANA SMRTI Book