On Education/ Educated/ Knowledge/ Learning

ON EDUCATION/EDUCATED/KNOWLEDGE/LEARNING

• ON EDUCATION/EDUCATED/KNOWLEDGE/LEARNING
• Religion is preserved by wealth; knowledge by diligent practice; a king by conciliatory words; and a home by a dutiful housewife. (CNS: 5.9).
• Knowledge is lost without putting it into practice; a man is lost due to ignorance; an army is lost without a commander; and a woman is lost without a husband. (CNS: 8.8).
• It is not strange if a man reviles a thing of which he has no knowledge, just as a wild hunter's wife throws away the pearl that is found in the head of an elephant, and picks up a gunj (a type of seed which poor tribals wear as ornaments). (CNS: 11.8).
• As the man who digs obtains underground water by use of a shovel, so the student attains the knowledge possessed by his preceptor through his service. (CNS: 13.17).
• For one whose heart melts with compassion for all creatures; what is the necessity of knowledge, liberation, matted hair on the head, and smearing the body with ashes. (CNS: 15.1).
• The scholar who has acquired knowledge by studying innumerable books without the blessings of a bonafide spiritual master does not shine in an assembly of truly learned men just as an illegitimate child is not honoured in society. (CNS: 17.1).
• Men have eating, sleeping, fearing and mating in common with the lower animals. That in which men excel the beasts is discretionary knowledge; hence, indiscreet men who are without knowledge should be regarded as beasts. (CNS: 17.17).
• Acquiring knowledge reinforced by constant practice with the blessings of a bonafide spiritual master or Guru is essential for success in life.
  
  CONCLUSION
  The above presentation of a panoramic view of the maxims from the Chanakya Niti Sastra transpires that many gems of Chanakya’s wit and wisdom starting from the ‘Vedic Lore’ to Spiritualism and general code of conduct remain unfathomed by many among us, probably due to lack of proper appreciation and non-evaluation, for being implemented in our daily social life of worldly existence. For example, in the present Kaliyuga, should we not follow some of the nitis advised by Chanakya:
  Ø ‘there is no poverty for the industrious’, and be industrious;
  Ø ‘Perfection can be achieved only through devotion, which is the basis of all success’, and make devoted efforts for perfection;
  Ø ‘Save your wealth against future calamity’, and be prudent enough to save for charity and the calamity;
  Ø Cherish the ‘two nectarean fruits viz. ‘hearing of sweet words’, and, ‘the society of saintly men, ’ and imbibe these two qualities;
  Ø ‘they are fearless, who remain always alert’, and be alert and agile;
  Ø ‘wise act after due circumspection’, it is the mind alone that is responsible for bondage or liberation’; ‘those of broad vision see the Supreme Lord everywhere,’ ‘seek the spirit that is in the body by means of discrimination’, and realise the Self;
  Ø ‘A man may live but for a moment, but that moment should be spent in doing auspicious deeds,’ ‘‘the (good or bad) deeds of a man follow him’, and lead an ethical life;‘
  Ø We should not feel pride in our charity, austerity, valour, scriptural knowledge, modesty and morality, for the world is full of the rarest gem, and be egoless;
  Ø ‘Sastric knowledge is unlimited, and the arts to be learned are many; the time we have is short, and our opportunities to learn are beset with obstacles, therefore. select for learning that which is most important, just like a swan’, knowledge virtue and wealth (are) gradually obtained’, and, therefore, steadily make concerted efforts to acquire selected knowledge of importance as per aptitude and capability.
  Ø ‘He who nurtures benevolence for all creatures within his heart overcomes all difficulties and will be the recipient of all types of riches at every step,’ and be kind, non-violent and benevolent to make a better world to live in.
  
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  REFERENCES
  SRI CHANAKYA NITI-SASTRA: THE POLITICAL ETHICS OF CHANAKYA PANDIT: Miles Davis (Patita Pavana dasa), ISCKON (1981).
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  Mr. V. P. Bhatia is (Retd. Assistant Director from the Central Ministry) an MBA(HRM) and Vedic scholar, doing research on ‘Vedic Ethics and Values’ with Dr. Ravi Prakash Arya,email:vpbhatia39@yahoo.com____________