The Gurbani’s learned or educated fool (‘Parhiyaa Moorakh‘) is he who has no clue or careless about the Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).
. Devoid of the essence of the Wisdom of the Gur-Shabad, a learned or educated fool (‘Parhiyaa Moorakh‘) is ridden with the negative impacts of false-ego-sense (Haumai): arrogant, greedy, corrupt, false, selfish, Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree and so on. The Gurbani identifies such learned or educated ignorant (Moorakh or fool) as follows:
- ਪੜਿਆ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿਸੁ ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਾ ॥ ਨਾਉ ਪੜੀਐ ਨਾਉ ਬੁਝੀਐ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਵੀਚਾਰਾ ॥: No matter how highly educated one may be, if one cannot give up Trishanaa (desires…), greed and pride then one will be considered a fool — because he has understood nothing! Naam (Wisdom, Shabad, Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature…) is to be read, Naam is to be understood and reflected upon with the Gurmat is the right way. (sggs 140).
- ਪੁਸਤਕ ਪਾਠ ਬਿਆਕਰਣ ਵਖਾਣੈ ਸੰਧਿਆ ਕਰਮ ਤਿਕਾਲ ਕਰੈ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਹਾ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਉਰਝਿ ਮਰੈ ॥੨॥ : (The Pandits, religious scholar, Pujaaree, ਵਿੱਦਵਾਨ) perform the daily routine (ritual Nitnem-ਨਿਤਨੇਮ) of three times a day. He Reads (ਪਾਠ) religious books and explains them, and talks about the Grammar (ਵਿਆਕਰਣ) but do not understand (or practice) the teachings given in them so reading and listening to them is just a drama for Maya. But liberation is not possible without leading life by the ‘Gur Shabad’ (Giaan-Wisdom-Upadesh); he is entangled and trapped in useless rituals wasting precious time of life (and many other people imitating him also waste their time). ||2|| (sggs 1127).
- ਮੂਰਖ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਹਿਕਮਤਿ ਹੁਜਤਿ ਸੰਜੈ ਕਰਹਿ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥: The greedy Learned fools (Pundit, priest, clergy, religious scholars) gathers wealth through chicanery and clever arguments. (sggs 469).
- ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਬਿਦਿਆ ਬਿਕ੍ਰਦਾ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਟੇ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਚੀਨਈ ਸੂਝ ਬੂਝ ਨਹ ਕਾਇ ॥ ॥੫੩॥: The Manmukh sells his knowledge (learning, etc.); he earns poison (of Maya), and eats this poison (that brings him spiritual death). The fool does not Reflect on the Shabad. He has no understanding, no comprehension ||53|| (sggs 938).
- ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਥਾਕੇ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਨ ਆਈ ॥ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਜਾਲੇ ਸੁਧਿ ਨ ਕਾਈ ॥ ਬਿਖੁ ਬਿਹਾਝਹਿ ਬਿਖੁ ਮੋਹ ਪਿਆਸੇ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੭॥: By reading and reciting, (ਵਿਦਵਾਨ ਲੋਕ, scholars etc.) grow weary without obtaining Peace (ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ). They are consumed by desires (Maya), they have no understanding (or knowledge of Truth, etc.). They purchase poison (of Maya that brings annihilation of their spiritual life, ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ ਲਿਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਜ਼ਹਰ) , and they remain thirsty with their fascination for this poison (of attachment to Maya). Telling lies, they eat this poison (as it is their spiritual food, ਆਤਮਕ ਖ਼ੁਰਾਕ). ||7|| (sggs 120).
The only difference between the material illiteracy and the material education is as follows: the illiteracy is ignorance, whilst the education is learned ignorance!
Thus, both the material education and the material illiteracy are ignorant of their true Goal of life.
To the contrary, a Gurmukh is living liberated regardless if he is illiterate or educated. In short, a Gurmukh (Bhagat, Daas, Jan…) is a person who is Wise, brave, good, virtuous, stable, fearless, blissful (Anand), pious, Joyful, positive, Happy, balanced and poised etc. (ਵਿਦਵਾਨ, ਬਹਾਦੁਰ, ਭਲਾ, ਨੇਕ, ਗੁਣੀ, ਖੁਸ਼, ਅਡੋਲ, ‘ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ’, ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲਾ ਵਿਚ…).
- ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥ ਪੜਿਆ ਅਣਪੜਿਆ ਪਰਮ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੧॥: That mortal who remembers Gobind, whether educated or uneducated, obtains the highest spiritual state (i.e. expansion-development-progress-blooming of intellect or Budhi) ||1|| (sggs 197).
- ਪੜਿਆ ਹੋਵੈ ਗੁਨਹਗਾਰੁ ਤਾ ਓਮੀ ਸਾਧੁ ਨ ਮਾਰੀਐ ॥ ਜੇਹਾ ਘਾਲੇ ਘਾਲਣਾ ਤੇਵੇਹੋ ਨਾਉ ਪਚਾਰੀਐ ॥ ਐਸੀ ਕਲਾ ਨ ਖੇਡੀਐ ਜਿਤੁ ਦਰਗਹ ਗਇਆ ਹਾਰੀਐ ॥ ਪੜਿਆ ਅਤੈ ਓਮੀਆ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ਅਗੈ ਵੀਚਾਰੀਐ ॥: If an educated person be an evil doer the illiterate person (who is learning from him etc.) is not to be punished (because settlement is based on one’s deeds, educated or uneducated does not matter). As are the deeds a man does, so is the fruit (ਅਪਣੀ ਕਰਨੀ ਦਾ ਫਲ), name or reputation he acquires. (Then) such a play should not be played by which you lose the game of life or human birth in the world. Be it an educated person or a simple seeker, the deeds of both are considered for obtaining union (with one’s Mool or Jot Saroop). (sggs 469).
Also, Sahaj Avasthaa (Natural state of Being, Poise, Giaan Avasthaa or the state of Wisdom etc.) and Bhagti scores over empty scholarship. In other words, those who are established in Sahaj and those who have become Bhagat (a Bhagat = the one who is engaged in Bhagti) scores over foolish scholars!
- ਕਿਆ ਪੜੀਐ ਕਿਆ ਗੁਨੀਐ ॥ ਕਿਆ ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨਾਂ ਸੁਨੀਐ ॥ ਪੜੇ ਸੁਨੇ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਜਉ ਸਹਜ ਨ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਸੋਈ ॥੧॥: What use is it to read, and what use is it to study (Vichaar, reflecting)? What use is it to listen to the Vedas and Puraans? What use is reading and listening, if Sahaj (Natural state of Being, Poise, Giaan Avasthaa or Divine Knowledge…) is not gained therewith (i.e., Sahaj will come only with practice or implementation of what has been heard, listened and reflected upon) ||1|| (sggs 655).
- ਪੰਡਿਤ ਸੂਰ ਛਤ੍ਰਪਤਿ ਰਾਜਾ ਭਗਤ ਬਰਾਬਰਿ ਅਉਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥: No person can be equal to a Bhagat, whether he is a great scholar or a warrior or a Chhatrapati king. (sggs 858).
- ਸੇਈ ਭਗਤ ਜਿਨ ਸਚਿ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇਆ ॥੨॥: They alone are the (real) Bhagat (those engaged in Bhagati), who fix their mind in Truth. (sggs 1342).
- ਨਾਮੁ ਭਗਤ ਕੈ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਅਧਾਰੁ ॥ ਨਾਮੋ ਧਨੁ ਨਾਮੋ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ : Naam (Wisdom…) is the support the life force of Bhagat (those engaged in Bhagati). Naam is the wealth for him, and Naam is the (real) trade for him. (sggs 189).