Quotes/Vichiisms
A piece of previousexchanges is worth posting ( methinks)
"We cannot afford to waste a single minute" was aconstant refrain of Lokanatha Thatha. Having decided on aplatform "to share" how can I now waste preciousminutes and seconds? So here I go, with a total nonchalance,regardless of your moods/preparedness to listen-in.Gulpa was suggesting that I can include regular quote fromYoga Vaashishta, going by the ones referred to in my earlierpiece and since I mentioned that every one of Rama'spleas/unease, was a quotable quote. Lest the puritans jumpinto a conclusion and question my ability to quote on such agreat epic, let me assure that these are verbatim(wellalmost) from a book given to me by Ambu.It's my request that these can be from all epics/upanishads etc, and not confined specifically to Yogavaashishta. Here I go1. From Yoga..... " Those knowing the knowable, andresting in the all-pervading spirit, and acquiesing alikeall their wants and gains, enjoy life of tranquility". " fortune like a lamp both burns and blackensit's possessor, until it is extinguished by its owninflamation".2. From Adhyathma Ramayana. " O' Lord, you arebeyond mind and words cannot describe you, yet I dont knowhow I am blessed with seeing you in a mortal body. I amunlettered, and you are omniscient, and so please Lord,think of the befittest verse to describe yourself and acceptthose as mine" Shabari to Lord Rama.3. From Rudram... " Oh Rudra, I offer into your openmouth all those of whom we hate, and all those who hateus" In a differant style, in Durga atharvaseershamthere is this repeated prayer of asking for name ,fame, andriches, and for simultaneous destruction of all hatred fromone's mind.
Now the Vichiism of the week
"knowledge without humility is like a delicious mealin a used / soiled plate"
Vichu
With 2 small children and 1 big child, I feel eternally occupied. However, this week's Vichiism had something that I have a different take on, so I thought I will share it with you.
ReplyDeleteYou have mentioned of knowledge without humility as akin to having a delicious meal from a soiled/used plate. But I have observed almost as a rule that knowledge always leads to vanity and that some of the most humble people are incidentally also extremely boring company!! To extend it a step further, I am not sure that these mail exchanges would have half the flair or verve that they carry, if we were a family of very humble people.
Its unfair that progress/knowledge(at least as we percieve it) in the path that dissolves the "ego", should stir it up in the first place. I don't think its a linear progression of events where one has knowledge, then understands that he has the knowledge without vanity, and therefore now realises the truth. In all probability, one rids himself of the vanity of knowledge in his moment of his utlimate experience. I would sorely like to question God on that logic. I mean would it not have been so much easier, not to mention a lot more self-assuring and motivating to know that moving towards an 'ego-less' end is atleast yielding some results in that direction!!!
So taking your soiled plate example a little further, my point is that without wisdom or knowledge, humility doesn't hold much appeal.
So my Vichiism - (if this makes any sense) - Wisdom is the better part of humility :-)
Lots of love
Swati
Exchange of mail once a while where such gems can come forth, was what was in my mind. Having said that, it cannot be gainsaid that Ambu's msg, ( he seems to be in sync with the gen-next), has worked like a catalyst( I mean literally, as I dont see much participation from him!!!!!) in getting something off-ground. Inspite of your hectic routine you have shared your thoughts, is perhaps due to the fact that the enthusiasm seems to rub off. Hopefully, I will have the pleasure of a sustained encore (if there is such usage, I dont know, but you will understand what I mean)
ReplyDeleteWill you sweetherat, allow me a few more minutes, and have time and patience to go thru this and indulge me a little further?
There is this anecdote of a fellow suffering an acute inferiority complex, being told by a psychatrist after a long treatment, that he found the patient having no complexes, but was actually inferior.
Your point that humility without wisdom does not hold much appeal reminds me of this anecdote; A man without knowledge, is just that, if he is not humble, he is vain, and there is no cure/salvation for him.
While I agree that most of the humble people come out as "bores" , I strongly feel, that majority of them belong to the "not-so-knowledgeable" gang. Unfortunately arrogance grows in direct proportion to rate of acquiring knowledge. and inspite of it being camouflaged, it clearly comes thru.
If one's quest is great, this weakness in the precept, can be generally overlooked. But to my mind, with absolute knowledge, the arrogance part just vanishes, and any effort of any individual to constantly be aware of this in the process of acquiring knowledge, has to be recognised, and to stretch it further, it will be visible, when you are in contact with this person.
I dare say, that I hardly see any trace of arrogance in yours/ganesh/chakkus msgs, and I am quite sure that there is no attempt to camouflage with verbal finery, and this I feel like saying is akin to "humility". Any trace of false humility, is to my mind termed as sophistry, and this can be seen thru.
Do I make sense?
Vichu
Periappa wants to share his understanding of humility which he considers as an experience than a quality or an acquisition such as knowledge is. If we therfore encounter humility with anyone and he does not turn out to be a 'bore', we might probably take it that he is full with knowledge.
ReplyDeletePeriappa cannot recall any living person right now whose humility can be seen and of whom we know that he is knowledgeable. Krishamoorthy atimber comes across as closest to this ideal.
It appears that humility as an experience and knowledge as an acquisition are independent, both coming with God's grace and coming as a pair only to a very few blessed beings. Considering that children from our gen-next seem to possess humility as well as such levels of reflection as comes forth from their blog participation, we may consider our family truly blessed!
Love Swati