Sri Guru Gita – 7 February 2014 – Episode 50

Jaya Guru Datta.
Sloka:
yajno vratam tao danam japa stirtham tathaiva ca
sarvesa meva jantunam sarve marga pratarakah

Rituals of the highest order (Yagnas), vows (Vratas), penances, worships, pilgrimages, the various path-ways for Sadhana (yogic practice) are all deceptive if one doesn’t concentrate upon one’s Guru. It means that he who doesn’t bear devotion to the Guru will be confronted with evil effects in his yogic practice.
Sloka:
Japa stapo vratam tirtham yajno danam tathaiva ca
Gurutatva mavijnaya sarvam vyartham bhavet priye

Siva proceeds to say to Parvati that if one does not know the quality of Guru, all ritualistic practices, prayers, penances etc are all useless.
We consider ourselves very knowledgeable thinking “I’m a great scientist” or “I am well-versed in the Vedas” or “I did a lot of rigorous study”, or “I’m a great artist”. There are people that say, “I worked very hard, I worked for 5 years to earn this degree”. But, what is Knowledge?
Science, arts and the like comprise a kind of knowledge. Similarly, Vedas, Puranas and scriptures also comprise a kind of knowledge. However, Science helps us understand and see things that are very far away, but it cannot help you see your inner self. Science tells you about several planets in the outer space. It also tells you about the precious stones and elements buried deep in the earth. People that know a lot about this are considered great scientists. But, remember that Science cannot help you see or understand your inner self. Not only that, it actually takes you even farther away from your self, because all this knowledge makes you egoistic. You think you’ve earned a lot of great knowledge.
On the other hand, Vedas and other scriptures help you see and understand your inner self and bring you closer to your Self. That is why, Vedic knowledge is greater than Science. Deep study of great scriptures takes you on an inward journey to reveal your true self to you. In that respect, it feels as if Science may not be real knowledge. We can also infer that Vedas and other scriptures contain real knowledge. But, even if you are well versed in both these kinds of knowledge, your ego leads you to believe you are very knowledgeable, thus drowning you in ignorance.
Regardless of how many PhDs you have, this is the fate. Why is this happening? Because, when one doesn’t concentrate on the Guru Principle, all knowledge leads to ignorance. That is why these are called “Bhramakas”, or things that drown you in illusion. Lord Shiva says that people that revel in such knowledge are fools. So, all these branches of knowledge that lead you toward illusion are together referred to as “lower worldly knowledge” (Apara vidya). The other kind of knowledge that leads you to understand your inner self is divine knowledge (Para vidya). This is obtained only by realizing the Guru Principle. Among those who studied the Vedas, there are some who do Anushthanam. What is “Anushthanam”? Yagnas, donations for a good cause, service to mankind, rituals, vows, pilgrim trips, penance etc are different kinds of Anushthanam. We’ll talk about Anushthanam next.

Jaya Guru Datta Sri Swamiji! _/\_!!

Sree sadgurubhyo namaha.