Theorizing with Imperfect Senses - That Is Not Knowledge
In modern universities, education is generally measured by technological proficiency and academic speculation. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that spending one's life researching how to improve eating, sleeping, mating, and defending is actually a waste of human intelligence. True knowledge is not found in the changing theories of imperfect scientists, but in the perfect, descending wisdom of the Vedic literatures, which teaches the living entity how to understand their spiritual identity and surrender to the Supreme Lord.
The Illusion of the Bodily Concept
Animals are naturally experts in the basic activities of survival without ever attending a university. Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that dedicating human intelligence solely to the bodily comforts of eating, sleeping, and mating is not true education. Real knowledge must begin with the fundamental inquiry into one's eternal spiritual identity.
- According to Vedic civilization, anyone who is thinking, "I am this body," and doing accordingly - for the bodily pleasure he is working so hard - so that is not knowledge.
- Knowledge does not mean how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex life, and how to defend. That is not knowledge. These things are there in the animals. The animals also know very well how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex life and how to defend.
- Knowledge how to eat, how to sleep, how to defend, how to enjoy sex life, and volumes of books on this subject matter, these are not knowledge. They are known even by the cats and dogs.
- Real knowledge is: "So what I am." This is real knowledge. Unless we come to this point, that "What I am," that is not knowledge.
The Defects of Scientific Theorizing
Because every conditioned soul is plagued by four primary defects—including imperfect senses and the tendency to make mistakes—their speculations can never be accepted as absolute truth. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that presenting theories based on words like "perhaps" and "maybe" is simply cheating the public.
- All these theories, big, big theories - politician, scientist, philosopher - they simply say "perhaps," "maybe," "missing link." This is not knowledge. Therefore we are reading Bhagavad-gita: sri-bhagavan uvaca. There is no imperfectness.
- Contaminated, conditioned soul, their senses are imperfect. They cannot see things as they are. Simply they theorize: "It may be like that." So much they can say. So "It may be like that," that is not knowledge. Knowledge, definite. There is no mistake.
- Every man is imperfect, but he is talking just like perfect. That is called cheating. The so-called scientists, philosophers, they are theorizing, "It may be," "Perhaps." So what is this knowledge, "Perhaps," "It may be"? That is not knowledge.
- The so-called scientists, philosophers, they are theorizing, "It may be," "Perhaps." So what is this knowledge, "Perhaps," "It may be"? That is not knowledge. Say definitely. But nobody can say. They are blind.
Technological and Material Advancement
People are often very proud of the complex machines and vehicles they have invented for modern convenience. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda argues that utilizing precious human intelligence for sense gratification or destructive capabilities like nuclear weapons is a plunder of one's higher potential.
- Knowledge does not mean that how you can manufacture nuclear weapon. That is not knowledge. That is illusion.
- We may apply our intelligence to manufacture an automobile, radio or television for sense gratification, but we have to understand that this is not knowledge. Rather, this is plundered intelligence.
- We do not get proper education. Wrongly directed. They are changing. Changing is not knowledge. That is not knowledge. Just yesterday we were talking some theosophist: he is changing his view. Formerly it was right; now it is wrong.
- Simply abruptly taking something without any proper understanding, that is not knowledge.
The Fallacy of Impersonalism and Equality with God
Many philosophers, relying on their own mental speculation, conclude that the Absolute Truth is formless or that every living entity is God. Śrīla Prabhupāda fiercely rejects this Māyāvādī philosophy, asserting that genuine enlightenment means recognizing the eternal distinction between the supreme master and the subordinate servant.
- Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, beyond the sense perception. This impersonal concept of the Absolute Truth is in negation of the material duality. But that is not absolute knowledge. Absolute knowledge is that when we reach bhagavantam adhoksajam.
- The Mayavadi philosopher thinks that there is only one Supreme Truth and that he is also that Supreme Truth. Actually this is not knowledge but foolishness.
- Sankara has interpreted by his limited knowledge. So that is not perfect knowledge. Therefore we don't accept Sankara's philosophy.
- When one surrenders to Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is to be understood that he has actually attained knowledge. Otherwise it is ignorance. To think of Krsna and ordinary person as equal is not knowledge; it is illusion.
Conclusion
To pursue true enlightenment, a sincere seeker must abandon the false promises of material education. As Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully points out, creating more sophisticated ways to eat, sleep, and defend does not elevate humans above the animal kingdom; it merely binds them tighter to the cycle of repeated birth and death. Relying on the guesswork of imperfect scientists or the impersonal speculations of philosophers only leads to further illusion. True, absolute knowledge is found exclusively in the unadulterated teachings of Kṛṣṇa. By accepting this divine wisdom, understanding one's true identity as a spirit soul, and fully surrendering to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a person finally achieves the perfection of human intelligence.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category That Is Not Knowledge. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.