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In the material world there are so many gradations of education. Some people never finish grammar school or high school, whereas others go on and receive a university education, a BA, MA, PhD, and so on. But what is this raja-vidya, the king of education, the summum bonum of knowledge? It is Krishna consciousness.
Real knowledge is understanding "what I am." Unless we come to the point of understanding what we are, we cannot attain real knowledge. When Sanatana Gosvami left his government post and came to Caitanya Mahaprabhu for the first time, he asked the Lord, "What is education?" Although Sanatana Gosvami knew a number of languages, including Sanskrit, he still inquired about real education. "The general populace calls me highly educated," Sanatana Gosvami told the Lord, "and I am such a fool that I actually believe them."
The Lord replied, "Why should you not think you're well educated? You're a great scholar in Sanskrit and Persian."
"That may be," Sanatana Gosvami said, "but I do not know what I am." He then went on to tell the Lord: "I do not wish to suffer, but these material miseries are forced upon me. I neither know where I've come from nor where I'm going, but people are calling me educated. When they call me a great scholar, I am satisfied, but in truth I am such a great fool that I know not what I am."
Sanatana Gosvami was actually speaking for all of us, for this is our present situation. We may be proud of our academic education, but if asked what we are, we are not able to say. Everyone is under the conception that this body is the self, but we learn from Vedic sources that this is not so. Only after realizing that we are not these bodies can we enter into real knowledge and understand what we actually are. This then, is the beginning of knowledge.
In the present day most people claim to be devoted to some religion--Christian, Hindu, Moslem, Buddhist, etc.--but in fact they do not really believe in the scriptures. Those who do believe in the scriptures are, by and large, attached to pious philanthropic activities. They believe that religion means yajna (sacrifice), dana (charity) and tapas (penance). But generally in this age people simply say that they belong to a religion but in actuality do nothing...
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Customer Reviews
Nice book. Easy to read. I bought a large box and put on donated by with a local temple / mandir address. We all need to help spread our dharmaNice book. Easy to read. I bought a large box and put on donated by with a local temple / mandir address. We all need to help spread our dharmaRead less
Easy to understand. Now I know myself so much better. My hearts calling to mediate on "Narayan" without any guidance of anyone all makes sense. The Soul remembered and is desperately seeking "mokash... Read more Easy to understand. Now I know myself so much better. My hearts calling to mediate on "Narayan" without any guidance of anyone all makes sense. The Soul remembered and is desperately seeking "mokasha", the body is trying every bit to recognise Krsna in every thing and everyone that i see and interact with, remembering that he is everywhere and everyone. I am not coming back when i take samadhi next. Its to Godhead for ultimate bliss, in the meantime, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare Hare, Both my body and Soul chants.Read less
Excellent book a must have especially for people new to Krsna. I would highly recommend it :)Excellent book a must have especially for people new to Krsna. I would highly recommend it :)Read less
Yet to read it. This must be another of Prabhupada's excellent work.Yet to read it. This must be another of Prabhupada's excellent work.Read less
The material of the book is of a very good quality, looking forward to reading it. Krishna consciousness related literature is my favorite literature.The material of the book is of a very good quality, looking forward to reading it. Krishna consciousness related literature is my favorite literature.Read less