Page 159 - Complete Works of Dr. KCV Volume 1

Lecture -8
The problem that is developed by Shri Ram Chandraji in the next chapter on the Knowledge is very interesting and, in some respects, very thought provoking. Firstly, all of us hold that knowledge is the goal of Life and secondly, that Knowledge is the only means by which we can cross over our bondages and miseries. It is so obvious a fact that we do not want to question the postulate.
"Jnanath Eva Kaivalyam" - it is only by knowledge that we attain Liberation. This is the sentence constantly heard from the great scholars and perhaps even by saints. Some people of course, have stated that:
"Bhaktya tvananyaya sakhyam aham evem vidho" Arjuna "Jnatum drastum ca tatvena pravestum ca parantapa:"
"Except by Bhakti or Devotion undertaken by you as instructed, that is, according to the principles of Yoga, you will not be able to see and enter into Me" says Sri Krishna.
We find ourselves in great difficulties in the modern world between the people who say that Jnana is very important and the only means, and the others who say that Devotion is very important and the only means.
Now, Shri Ram Chandraji enters into another problem - the problem of knowledge and ignorance. We all think that we start with ignorance because we are all ignorant. And we want knowledge to remove the ignorance, so that we may be able to act properly, live sensibly and rationally. Ignorance, therefore, is something to be got rid of and knowledge is the way by which we remove this ignorance. Now, these two terms have been used in Upanishads as "Avidya" and "Vidya". Avidya is ignorance and Vidya is knowledge. No doubt, the Upanishad writers or commentators had a different concept of the word Avidya from mere ignorance. I shall not dilate on that just at present, for it will take us off from the main point at issue. In any case we start with ignorance and, in fact ignorance is actually found in