From IIM Ahmedabad To Happiness

Author(s): Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp Printers

Page 87

KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY
of renunciation in the soul, weaken and destroy the bonds of its karmas, and enable it to acquire its divine attributes and powers.
No soul desirous of its welfare can afford to remain ignorant of the scheme of things mentioned above. That knowledge which we use as equipment for bread-winning or world-gaining is not true knowledge. Right knowledge means setting man on the road to spiritual growth, development and realization, leading him, ultimately, not to the path of greater glory in the sense-world - wealth, power and pleasure – but to that of lasting inner happiness, satisfaction and joy beyond description.
Enough of theoretical workout. All theoretical speculations must, sooner or later, be replaced by practical achievement for the realization of the great ideal of perfection and happiness. It is clear that the cause of unhappiness, bondage and misery of the soul is purely and simply ignorance. It has been also seen that almost all the Redeemers and Saviours of the race, who have appeared in various ages and countries, have pointed out the primary means of redemption to consist in the knowledge of the Self. But this is true only in a general way, since it is one thing to know the truth and another to realize it; for the very first requisite for realization is a firm, unshakable belief in the truth. It is the state of one's belief which has to be affected, so that one may be able to purge the mind of the wrong impressions of inferiority. But belief cannot be changed except by reason, that is, knowledge. Hence, it is clear that knowledge alone is the weapon which can attack wrong impressions and destroy false beliefs. Let's take a practical instance to illustrate the principle. Suppose a child sees a rope in a dark room, fancies it to be a serpent, and is afraid to go into that room. How will you remove the erroneous impression of the child? Will you not lift him up in your arms, and take him to the fancied serpent, and let him satisfy himself in every manner that
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