Why And Who Should Seek The Knowledge Of The Self?
Nārada approached Sanatkumāra and said, 'Teach me, Venerable Sir,' He said, 'Come to me with what you know. Then I will teach you what is beyond that.'
Venerable Sir, I know the Ṛg Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sāma Veda, Atharvaṇa as the fourth, the epic and the ancient lore as the fifth, the Veda of the Vedas, propitiation of the Fathers, the science of numbers, the science of portents, the science of time, logic, ethics and politics, the science of the gods, the science of sacred knowledge, the science of elemental spirits, the science of weapons, astronomy, the science of serpents and the fine arts. This, Venerable Sir, I know.
But, Venerable Sir, I am only like one knowing the words and not a knower of Self. It has been heard by me from those like you that he who knows the Self crosses over sorrow. To him he then said, 'Verily, whatever you have here learned is only a name.'
- Chāndogya Upaniṣad VII. 1. 1-3 (Translation by S. Radhakrishnan in The Principal Upaniṣads p. 468 - 469)
Why should we seek the knowledge of the Self?
We should seek the knowledge of the self because it is the only thing that can bring true eternal happiness i.e., bliss. It is uplifting. It helps one cross sorrow.
Siddhartha was a prince with all that he could think of brought to his disposal at once. He was always surrounded by people healthy and happy. But the day he saw old age, illness & death while having a ride outside his palace he understood that sorrow in this life is inevitable.
Then he started his quest to end this sorrow which culminated in the knowledge of the Self.
Who should seek the knowledge of the Self?
It is truly said that more we know, more we learn of our ignorance. Above words coming from Devṛṣī Nārada shows this the best way. He is a knower of so many different sciences, philosophy and what not. And yet realizes that all these are not enough to help him be happy.
Most of us fail to realize that there is this great knowledge waiting to be known because of our ignorance. We are so much indulged in the pride of our small intelligence that we clearly claim that there is nothing as such to be known altogether.
Simply put, if a wise person as Nārada needs to learn the knowledge of the Self, we all do as well.
Venerable Sir, I know the Ṛg Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sāma Veda, Atharvaṇa as the fourth, the epic and the ancient lore as the fifth, the Veda of the Vedas, propitiation of the Fathers, the science of numbers, the science of portents, the science of time, logic, ethics and politics, the science of the gods, the science of sacred knowledge, the science of elemental spirits, the science of weapons, astronomy, the science of serpents and the fine arts. This, Venerable Sir, I know.
But, Venerable Sir, I am only like one knowing the words and not a knower of Self. It has been heard by me from those like you that he who knows the Self crosses over sorrow. To him he then said, 'Verily, whatever you have here learned is only a name.'
- Chāndogya Upaniṣad VII. 1. 1-3 (Translation by S. Radhakrishnan in The Principal Upaniṣads p. 468 - 469)
Why should we seek the knowledge of the Self?
We should seek the knowledge of the self because it is the only thing that can bring true eternal happiness i.e., bliss. It is uplifting. It helps one cross sorrow.
Siddhartha was a prince with all that he could think of brought to his disposal at once. He was always surrounded by people healthy and happy. But the day he saw old age, illness & death while having a ride outside his palace he understood that sorrow in this life is inevitable.
Then he started his quest to end this sorrow which culminated in the knowledge of the Self.
Who should seek the knowledge of the Self?
It is truly said that more we know, more we learn of our ignorance. Above words coming from Devṛṣī Nārada shows this the best way. He is a knower of so many different sciences, philosophy and what not. And yet realizes that all these are not enough to help him be happy.
Most of us fail to realize that there is this great knowledge waiting to be known because of our ignorance. We are so much indulged in the pride of our small intelligence that we clearly claim that there is nothing as such to be known altogether.
Simply put, if a wise person as Nārada needs to learn the knowledge of the Self, we all do as well.
Comments
Post a Comment