From the Lower to the Higher knowledge (Aaatmbindu Upanishad)

 

     For this verse, it makes practical sense to start by explaining the last Pada first: 4 The higher knowledge is not an academic study. It is the actual experience one obtains through the practice of meditation. That is the only way to obtain direct experience or Aparoksha Jnana of the Self. In order to do this it is said her that the lower knowledge has to be given up. When the call comes to go deeper within, this vast body of knowledge has to be dropped from the mind. This happens daily during the practice of meditation, when all external crutches are abandoned. It does not mean throwing away the books of scriptures, but simply putting them aside and focussing on the practical aspect of the quest. Example 1: The Pole Vaulter 1-2 Perhaps the best example of this step, and one of Pujya Gurudev’s favourite illustrations, is that of a pole-vaulter. The vaulter runs with the long pole. At a certain point he pierces it into the ground and, clinging to the other end, jumps up with the pole as his support. When he has reached the highest point he has to let go of the pole and hurl himself over the horizontal bar. He cannot take the pole across with him. The pole that has served its purpose to take the vaulter to the high point, is discarded thereafter. It is the same with all the study of the scriptural as well as secular knowledge one has gained. This Apara Vidya is like the pole used by the vaulter. It is needed to take us higher and higher, up to a certain point. Example 2: The Husk & the Rice 3 This is the traditional equivalent of the ‘Pole Vault’ example. The husk is needed for most of the time after harvesting is done. It protects the rice grain. Only at the final stage, the rice has to be separated from the husk so that it can be consumed. Once the rice is reached by breaking the husk, the husk is discarded as it has no further use. A True Incident: This incident in Pujya Gurudev’s life illustrates this idea. Gurudev was taking a group of visitors to Gaya, the Buddha’s place of illumination. The visitors went to the tree under which the Buddha got enlightenment, while Gurudev stayed behind at the residence. When they returned Gurudev asked them, “Anything happened?” In this practical way Gurudev taught that it is not the tree that gave Buddha enlightenment, but he happened to be under that tree when he got enlightened. So as an inspiration it is fine to be under that same tree, but the Sadhana for enlightenment has nothing to do with the tree. The tree has to be ‘given up’.