PUT KNOWLEDGE TO WORK

O mortal, let your love for the Supreme Lord blossom forth. Practice
spiritual wisdom, and consult the humble servants of the Lord (sggs 1180).
That Pandit is said to be well-educated, if he contemplates knowledge with Sahaj
(natural state of being, intuitive ease, etc.). Considering his knowledge, he finds the
essence of Reality, and lovingly focuses his attention on the God's Name. The Manmukh
(unenlightened being) sells his knowledge; he earns poison, and eats poison. The fool does
not think of the Shabad. He has no understanding, no comprehension ||53|| (sggs 938).
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Knowledge refers to understanding of spirit and matter and the distinction between the two. It's the understanding of oneself in God Consciousness, God being the All-pervading Universal Consciousness ("Sabh Gobind Hai Sabh Gobind Hai"). In other words, it's to know the difference between the right (Sat, real, eternal, permanent etc.) and the wrong (Asat, falsehood, ephemeral, etc.). The SGGS is the source of Infinite Wisdom that has immediate and eternal relevance. Other sources of knowledge include many religious scriptures, books, periodicals, tapes and videos, Internet, Mahaatamaas, and so on. As we can see, there is no scarcity of spiritual literature today, but the sad fact remains that the highest ideals are confined to mere words, and not found in people's lives. The Gurbani puts tremendous emphasis on "Karanee" (right practice or efforts) — it has made the declaration of "Karanee Pardhaan" meaning practice is supreme. Because, to eradicate our defilements and negative tendencies and to awaken the inner Truth, correct and constant practice is needed. Simply put, the Gurbani wants us to imbibe in the essence of the knowledge.

During Baabaa Nanak's tour of the middle-east, Kaazi and Maulvis got together and began discussing religion with him. Specifically, they asked whether Hindu is great or the Muslim. According to Bhai Gurdaas Ji, Baabaa Nanak's response was as fellows:

Upon gaining knowledge, the next important step — which is normally ignored — is to put it to work. Then it leads one to real devotion (Bhagti), which is beyond the limitations of time and space. This is why it's said that knowledge without Bhagti is incomplete and that perfect knowledge is only understood by a true devotee (Gurmukh). If the knowledge is not lived or assimilated, it becomes like a stagnant pond of water that only invites the build up of unwanted algae and foul smell with time. It's of no use to just stuff the intellect with knowledge. The Heart has to expand with it and become loving and compassionate (Gurmukh).

The science of knowledge include three items: the knower, the knowable, and the process of knowing. All these three become one when we realizes that One God has become everything . Then the real knowledge dawns on us, bestowing on us the vision of seeing the entire universe within the Aatmaan (Self) and the Aatmaan within the universe ("Sabh Gobind Hai Sabh Gobind Hai"). To put it otherwise, knowledge is nothing but the preliminary stage of understanding Bhagti perfectly. To put it in other words, basically, the true knowledge consists in realizing that existence in this world is temporary, and that freeing one's soul from the cycle of repeated suffering (of the "terrifying world-ocean" or Sansaar) is the ultimate goal. It is said that to be born as a human being is a unique privilege and an opportunity. Therefore, the Gurbani tells that wisdom lies in not frittering it away acting in ignorance but making the best use of this advantage.

Normally we give talks, lectures and discourses, write books etc., wanting others to apply the knowledge but not ourselves. Because assimilating the knowledge requires disciplining the mind, selflessness, commitment and sacrifice. Our ego (Haume) shows aversion for all this. If we have attained knowledge and do not translate it into our lives then it's likely that either we will end up just preaching others or selling it or both. Such people are like a recorded cassette, a tape recorder will play back what others have already said. Similarly these people will just spit out the words of knowledge someone else has said before, but they themselves cannot put the same knowledge to work in their own lives. Owing to the slavery to our Haume (false ego-sense), we are unable to become and act as Gurmukhs. Then what is the use of such empty knowledge? The Gurbani says:

The use of the word "Pandit" in the foregoing verse (and many more verses in the Gurbani) does not mean the Gurbani is only preaching the "Pandits" here as to what to do and what not to do. In fact, we are all included in it — Sikhs as well! Embedded in our lives and in the world are many conflicts caused by subtle gaps between the theory and practice of knowledge. Books are meant to be read and understood and not just wrapped up in designer's wrappings and worshipped; for they enshrine codes of conduct for human behavior rather than works of mythology or fiction. It's good to hear Kirtan (devotional singing), but more importantly it should make us to comprehend what's being heard. In turn, that knowledge must be applied to life situations, not just crammed as a burden into the head or confined to the tongue and the lips. When the life is lived in the true light of the received knowledge; then there is no more delusion. Thus, seeing life in the light of wisdom will amount to a change of lifestyle — habits, attitudes, latent tendencies (Vaasnaas), qualities, dispositions (Sanskaaras) etc.

Many give speeches just from book knowledge, many may read SGGS (or any other spiritual text for that matter) aloud mechanically or heedlessly or as a livelihood. Many may become a "Sunday Sikh" (or Sunday devotee) who go through some rituals in the Gurdawaaraa (or at any other religious places for that matter), and then think done for the week. Also, as repeatedly made clear in the Gurbani, the Divine Union (Yoga) does not come about by keeping certain external appearance or look of the physical body, or by visiting the places of pilgrimage, or by wandering around the world, etc. Such people cannot experience the Divine and save themselves, how they can save others? Read the SGGS diligently and open-mindedly and find out for yourself that the SGGS is not interested in all this circus of our Haume-mind. True Dharma is not a part-time job, it's a way of life — living a life of continuous remembrance of God, seeing One God in everything, meditation, selfless service, love, humility (absence of ego or Haume), compassion, grace, detachment, inner renunciation, and so on.

If the focus of our attention is only the outside world or matter, then our knowledge will be incomplete. We cannot experience inner peace as long as we have excessive fascination with the matter. In reality, the majority of us collect knowledge but do not apply in a practical way. For as long we do not apply knowledge in our lives, we will end up only hurting ourselves. Knowledge is meant to be applied or lived (experienced), letting the divine teachings shine forth in all of our actions. God cannot be known by intellect. God is something that has to be experienced, thus cannot be described in words. The current experience of the majority of is of the worldly pains and sensuous pleasures. Those who have experienced God are different (Gurmukhs).

Knowledge without practice is like trying to taste honey from a bottle shown in a picture of a newspaper advertisement! Spirituality is the practical (not theoretical) science of life. Therefore, if we put knowledge to work in our daily living, we will not be overwhelmed by any situation in our life. Because, the real knowledge teaches us the real nature of the spirit and matter, how to understand the life, and live fully in the best way possible. Thus, knowledge is not a load to be carried around, it must be brought into the heart and constantly practiced by the mind. Ordinary knowledge obtained by a school or college education pertains only to matter, thus incomplete for there is no knowledge about spirit. Accordingly, the majority of us have a completely materialistic view of the life. As a result, we give more importance to the material wealth than the spiritual Wealth, thus wasting energy looking for external pleasures or sensuousness.

Suppose we want to take a train to go to some place. First we need to know the basic information such as the train schedule, the platform number it departs from etc. After attaining that knowledge, the next step is to put that knowledge to work — purchase the ticket and board the train. If we just stand there with that information in our head, we will never get to our destination. One may have architectural drawing of his house, but he cannot live in the drawing. In order to live in that house, one needs to first build it. Also, we know that honey is sweet. But to know its sweetness we must taste it. Similarly, to directly experience or perceive God, we need correct and constant practice. Gurmat is a principle to be adopted in our lives.

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

To read Gurbani verses in Gurmukhi, click here to download Gurmukhi font.

Updated on Sunday, November 9, 2008 4:21 PM (PST)

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