Is knowledge a roadblock to enlightenment?

Our ancient culture is all about seeking the absolute truth.

Let's explore the meaning of a statement today, which was shared by our dear friend Mr naik, who i met yesterday.

I was having a discussion on a similar topic with mitul, another friend of mine, just a few days back. That one needs to go beyond knowledge. But how, was not clear!

Mr naik shared some excerpts from a book that had a story around a swamiji who was told about this aspect. Sharing the insight...

"The one who worships knowledge, enters into greater darkness". Says isavasya upanishad.

This is a paradoxical statement. More knowledge means faster enlightenment, isn't it? How can a knowledge worshipper wade into darkness?

Let's see the "role" aspect of knowledge now.

Knowledge is related to the role. As a student, we acquire knowledge. A drop out does not. An engineer learns how to design a machine. An artist does not. Similarly a person who has a role of mumukshu, or the person seeking liberation, needs to know how to reach here. Not others.

In knowledge there is a learner, a subject and the act of learning. There are three.

One who keeps learning, seeking, searching, still has a role of learner.

The objective is not to give up roles, but only to be aware that there are my roles. Not the true identity.

It is clear that knowledge is not related to the true self identity. In self, there is nothing to know. It's who whole and complete. There is a single identity. The learning, learner and learned are all one.

Let's see the time aspect of knowledge now.

The moment you know something, it is already in the past. The act of observing, storing in memory, however fast, is still in the past. By the time you understand what is written here, it's already in the past! This is your own experience, isn't it?

Knowledge can not be in the present or in the future. In present moment, you start knowledge acquisition. In future, you have not even started. That is established now that knowledge exists only in the past.

Freedom

Once this is clear, the moment is a free moment, free from roles and knowledge itself! Knowledge that is attached to these roles. Knowledge attached to the past.

Here knowledge means, chitta and buddhi and ahamakara aspects of the mind acting together. The manas is also active, but it's to the level of feeling good about knowing something usually. It can also manifest as other feelings like sadness, if one is not able to understand something. It's mind at play here.

Hence, to realise the self, one must give up the knowledge that got the student here. This is a paradox. How is it possible to give up the knowledge?

Here the word give up relates to the attachment to the identity. Not forgetting knowledge. Not amnesia. This realisation is enough.

Sat chit anantam

Once in absolute present, with a still mind, one attains the state of sat chit anantam. The truth, the energy, and the infinity.

In this state, there is nothing to learn, nothing to chase, nothing to change. Nothing at all.

This is a state. Not a destination. That is the key.

Blessing.

May you always be in the present moment fully aware, immersed in the abundance of eternal aum sound, and accept the present as you pursue the mission of adding tremendous value to others lives with the good gifted talents. Full involvement. No attachment.

After reading this blog, Mr Naik shared this message with me. It is outstanding and I am so fortunate to have someone with this depth and understanding.

The following is a note on this issue which I had sent to a friend some time ago.

What is the purpose of pursuing Knowledge? To seek "Truth".

One’s Identity is shaped by one’s Knowledge. When one perceives “Truth” through the lenses of one’s Identity (role), “Truth” is inevitably “coloured” and therefore ceases to be “Truth”.

Acquiring more and more spiritual knowledge, in fact, reinforces one’s Identity (role) instead of diminishing it and therefore, it paradoxically defeats the very purpose for which it is pursued and leads us away from “Truth” (Illumination) and in that sense towards “Darkness’.

So, one has to conclude that knowledge does not lead one to "Truth", in fact, it leads us to “Darkness”.

But can one say that knowledge is not required at all? No. It is required to serve as a pointer. Therefore, knowledge is the means and not the end.

In fact, in Indian philosophy "Pratyaksha Praman" is held in the highest esteem. For this, one need not know the Vedas, Puranas, Shastras, etc. etc..

Here we are considering knowledge which is Spiritual. Knowledge which pertains to the physical sciences obviously is not helpful in pursuit of "Truth", although this knowledge has value in the physical world and may lead to illumination of some sort at a physical level.

This my humble attempt to explain why Vidya actually prevents us to experience "Truth".

As a matter of fact, the excerpt I have sent is the best explanation I have found to explain this fact. I can hardly better it.

Sincere Credit to Mr Naik for this insight.

The article images are given below. you may have to zoom and see them! Disclaimer. this article is only for sharing insights and for non commercial purposes.

The story reaches the climax in the last part, where the truth is revealed. Enjoy reading!