Education

Because you desired wisdom above all else, and did not ask for victory over your enemies, or riches, or long life, I will give you not only the wisdom you asked for to rule my people righteously, but also the things you did not ask for: riches, wealth, and glory, so that there will be no king like you before or after you.

Knowledge is what moves towards unity, and when it reaches the supramental level, it grasps the oneness, essence, and self-law of existence, and views and handles the many things from that light and fullness, somewhat like the Divine does from the highest point from which He embraces the world.

The distinction between knowledge and ignorance starts with the hymns of the RigVeda, where knowledge means being conscious of the Truth and what is right, and ignorance is being unconscious of the Truth and what is right, opposing it and creating false or negative effects.

'I' and 'mine' represent ignorance, while 'Thou' and 'Thine' represent knowledge.

One cannot attain knowledge unless one is free from egotism.

Brahman is beyond knowledge and ignorance, virtue and vice, merit and demerit, cleanliness and uncleanliness.

One attains Perfect Knowledge when one sees God in man.

We can attain peace of mind only by following what Gurbani teaches.

We have been given this human life to understand the all-pervading, omnipresent God. This knowledge can only be given by someone who has themselves realized God. Life becomes truly happy only after meeting such a God-realized person.

Learn to be empty of all things, both inwardly and outwardly, and you will realize that I am God.

After imparting the Veda, the teacher instructs the departing student: Speak truth. Walk the path of righteousness. Do not let negligence interrupt your self-study. Bring the teacher a cherished gift and never sever the thread of progeny. Never be careless about truth, never about righteousness, never about welfare, never about prosperity, never about the study and teaching of scripture.

'Bring me a fruit of that banyan tree.' 'Here it is, venerable sir.' 'Break it.' 'It is broken, venerable sir.' 'What do you see there?' 'These very fine seeds, venerable sir.' 'Break one of them.' 'It is broken, venerable sir.' 'What do you see there?' 'Nothing at all, venerable sir.'

Having gone at the age of twelve, he studied all the Vedas and returned at twenty-four, conceited, thinking himself learned, and arrogant. Then his father said to him:

There was Svetaketu, the grandson of Aruna. His father said to him: 'Svetaketu, go and live the life of a celibate student of sacred knowledge; for no one of our family, dear boy, remains unlearned in the Vedas, a brahmin in name only.'

He went to Haridrumata Gautama and said, "Revered sir, I wish to live with you as a student of sacred knowledge. May I approach you as your pupil?"

Satyakama Jabala addressed his mother Jabala, "Mother, I wish to live the life of a student of sacred knowledge. Of what lineage (gotra) am I?"

This alone is Śiva, this alone is Śiva, this alone is Śiva, this alone is Śiva — by my authority, by my authority, by my authority, by my authority.

There is nothing higher than the Guru — nothing higher than the Guru — nothing higher than the Guru — nothing higher than the Guru. Thus declares Śiva, thus declares Śiva, thus declares Śiva, thus declares Śiva.

The first syllable 'gu' illumines the qualities beginning with maya — the veiling forces of creation. The second syllable 'ru' is Brahman, the destroyer of illusion and confusion.

The syllable 'gu' signifies darkness; the syllable 'ru' signifies light. The Guru is verily that Brahman which devours ignorance — of this there is no doubt.