Page 27 - Wisdom Unfurled
P. 27

by reading nor by believing nor by reasoning, but by super-conscious perception. I may frankly confess that I have studied no books, for I never thought them worthwhile. I aimed at Reality, which I thought to be the only thing worth having, and left the study of books for the scholars and ‘pundits’. Whatever I say or write is on the basis of my own experience and anubhava on the path of Realisation irrespective of what Shankara or Ramanuja or others might have said about their own. I no doubt do read sometimes now – but that only by way of recreation – and try to retain as much as I can for the sake of easy expression. I remember one such thing, which I had read in Vivekachudamani by Shankaracharya, which means: “Books do not help us in Realisation, and when Realisation is achieved, books are useless.”
There is hell for the sinful, paradise for the ignorant, and brahmaloka for the innocent. But, for the wise and the learned, there is the artificial paradise of their own making, and for those who are weak this mortal world. But who may the weak be? They are only those who lack self-reliance and confidence. Shastras go into contradiction of each other but they are of value to us since they offer a chance to think upon and arrive at a solution. They have another merit besides, viz. that they offer means and methods for spiritual advancement for men of every taste, mentality and standard of mind. If I had proceeded along the path of Realisation through books, I could never have come up to that level of Ignorance, which is the basic property of the Divine. It is only the practical life that is worth having. We should not only know what Realisation is but should try to attain it as well.

































































































   25   26   27   28   29