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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
known as possessed of "Vishaya Pratibhasa" knowledge or parrotlike knowledge (Bare apprehension).
When, despite knowledge of acceptability or non-acceptability of an object, right type of activity to accept it or to reject it does not prevail, then the knowledge is known as Atma Parinatimat (ineffective, but right apprehension). As an example, learned Scholars know well that the passions and attachment should be abandoned at any cost, still they are not seen as acting to that effect to bring about the desired result. Their knowledge is known as "Atma Parinatimat".
King Shrenika had acquired the proper sense or vision. He knew that "Ashravas" and "Bandha" should be avoided and Samvara and Nirjara should be practised. Still, however, he could not act accordingly and as a consequence he was degraded. Therefore, such knowledge does not carry proper significance. Such knowledge is popularly compared with "Brinjals" of the sacred texts. Most of you, I hope, do not know about "Brinjals of the sacred Texts". So let me clarify.
Some Hindu priest was preaching, "One should not eat brinjals as they contain small insects invisible etc." With reasonings he tried to convince the audience on this point. So most of the listeners took a solemn vow not to eat brinjals. Now while leaving, the preacher stood up and from his bag a few brinjals dropped down. The people were shocked with surprise to see this incident. They asked: "Venerable Sir, what is this?" The preacher calmly replied: "The brinjals of the sacred texts are non-eatables but the real ones are eatables".
Similar incident occurred in Baroda when one scholar was invited by His Highness Gaekwar to speak on vegetarianism and noninjury. The audience was deeply impressed with his erudition when he established with scholarly arguments that non-vegetarian diet is detrimental in all respects. The audience was almost deeply convinced and was determined to abstain from non-vegetarian food. The speaker was perspiring as it was hot summer. He snatched out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe out his perspiration, but to great shock and peal of laughter an egg peeped out of his pocket which smashed on the ground and broke. The speaker had to suffer great humiliation to leave the audience.
