Knowledge to Action

Knowledge-To-Action Cycle

#SwamiTejomayananda

(Part 1)

Often we find a gulf between our actions and the knowledge we have gained through satsang. Many a time the Guru hears:‘I understand the teaching but when it comes practice, I don’t know what happens! As long as I am in satsang it is crystal clear that I am Consciousness (Chaitanya). I am not this body. I am transported into a different world! But once I leave satsang I am confronted by the solid reality of life. The Absolute Reality disappears!’

Why are people unable to follow the teachings of the scriptures? The Shanti Paath states: May our Knowledge be bright and brilliant. So Knowledge is there. However, when it is really needed, it disappears! There remains a vast gap between the understanding and the action. When actions are not in accordance with what is understood, we make the mistake of doubting the understanding. In fact we should know that we have understood correctly and believe in our knowledge. This is not being expressed in our actions because of a blockage and not faulty understanding.

The supply of water from an overhead tank filled with water is scanty not due to scarcity but because of a blockage. Once the pipe is cleared, the water starts flowing. So also the knowledge is there in our ‘overhead tank’ but it is not flowing properly.

Knowledge-To-Action Cycle

#SwamiTejomayananda

(Part 2)

Bhagavan explains that this is because all living creatures follow the tendencies of their own nature. Even a wise person acts according to his svabhava. In this context, wise means scholarly and educated but not enlightened. Only the enlightened person who revels in the Self does not have a problem.

We find that even though we resolve to change and control our temper, we revert to our nature and get angry! Nature stands between knowledge and action. This prevents the flow of Knowledge. Nature alone influences our conduct. Nature in Sanskrit is ‘vasanas’ or inherent tendencies, impressions from the past, which if not neutralized or exhausted become a blockage.

The question arises :Is knowledge useless? Does it have no role to play? Is Nature all powerful?

The answer is that though not useless, knowledge exists as information, as long as it is not assimilated to become our own knowledge.For example, the Guru and scriptures advice us to speak the truth. We are aware of this, but initially it is only information. It has not become knowledge. We cannot remember someone else’s knowledge. It will only reflect in our actions when it is well understood digested and assimilated.

Knowledge-To-Action Cycle

#SwamiTejomayananda

(Part 3)

A man had the tendency to lose his temper at the smallest excuse. The wife resolved that she would give him no cause for anger. So when he returned from work, she greeted him warmly, with a hot cup of tea. He burst out, “You don’t even know how to make tea. There is no sugar in it!”

She calmly said, “It is there.”

The husband retorted, “If it is there why can I not taste it?”

She responded, “You have not stirred it.”

If the sugar is not stirred and dissolved, the brew will be a decoction, not tea because the ingredients have not merged to become one. So also till the sweetness of knowledge remains undissolved there will be a gap between knowledge and behavior. We have gathered knowledge but it has remained undissolved like sugar. It has to be reflected upon and assimilated. Then see the difference.

The Veda Shastras state that the three-step path to realize the Self, is sravanam (listening), mananam (reflecting), niddhidhyasan (meditating). Only listening will not take us far. We have to reflect on what has been heard and finally contemplate on it. Then see the result!

Knowledge-To-Action Cycle

#SwamiTejomayananda

(Part 4)

Once I came across a book titled ‘ Why Smart People Commit Mistakes’. The answer is because the vasanas are so powerful that we are carried away by them. Mistakes are committed due to three reasons ignorance, wrong notions and the force of vasanas.

We should not assume that we are a victim of nature and nothing better can be expected from us. What Bhagavan is saying that at this moment it is true that our nature has become very powerful and it appears that knowledge is ineffectual. But we must think  who was responsible for building that nature? If we are victims of our own nature and can do nothing about it, the very message (upadesa) of the Shastras will be meaningless. The Shastras teach us, and provide to us the means by which we can change our nature!

(end)