Ignorance is lack of knowledge. It can be lack of knowledge about the material world or lack of spiritual knowledge. Both are bad enough, but lack of spiritual knowledge is much worse out of the two. Lack of knowledge about the material world is common to everybody when they come into this world and it gradually improves and everybody gains some knowledge in the schools and in the world they live in. This kind of acquisition of knowledge will help to feed oneself and survive by way of earning their lively bread by doing a job to suit their qualifications. Lack of this kind of knowledge leads to poor socioeconomic life and living standards, which in turn may lead to jealousy and anger about other people or unattainable ambitions and goals. That way it becomes a problem to the person.

But lack of spiritual knowledge is the main reason for the downfall of a human being. Being ignorant is not so much a shame as to be unwilling to learn.

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.

What is actually spiritual knowledge and how to go about acquiring and what happens if one doesn’t, are the main issues. Spiritual knowledge is fundamentally to enquire about oneself and one’s origin and destination and everything that happens in between. we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves. If a person thinks that he does not know, it is the best policy that leads to learning. If a person thinks that he knows when he does not, is a disease(disease of arrogance and stupidity). Recognition of this disease as a disease is the cure for it. Ignorance is not a bliss in the spiritual matters and as no one is entitled to be ignorant, one should find way out of it and for salvation.

The human life is not just about being born, procreate and die after some merriment. The human life is a precious one given to acquire self knowledge, mend his ways of living, get rid of all the vices, to develop self control, to lead a pious life, and achieve salvation. As it is not possible to do all this in one life time one has to gradually buildup all the qualities that are required to attain the moksha, step by step, life after life.

Now comes the question how to acquire the relevant knowledge. Books can help to some extent. The clues to understand the hidden meaning or the Vedic words are with the teacher who knows how to teach. For that reason while reading the books the student can grasp the word meaning but he cannot read in between the lines to understand the essence. But complete knowledge can only be gained from knowledgeable Guruvu who is well versed in Vedic knowledge, who has experienced the “self” himself, and who does not impose his own ideas on the disciples and who knows the method of teaching as had been done for the millineums in the past. One wrong step or one wrong concept picked up somewhere on the line will form a basis for lot of setback and confusion and not knowing where to turn. So the first choice of teacher by the student has to be the right one. One should not be guided by the misleading friends. If the so called teacher starts teaching nothing but some kind of chanting of mantras or teaching some rituals it will not help the student to get the right kind of knowledge i.e the knowledge of the soul,or the Brahman or the connection between those two and the Jagath or the universe. If this connection between these three is not established beyond any reasonable doubt in the mind of the student, that means either the teacher is not good or the student is not upto the mark or unfit to learn the sacred text. The student should not have any of his own prejudices and preconceived ideas of his own and should sit in front of a teacher with an open mind. Perseverance and patience are important to reach the goal. The benefit of doubt has to be given to the teacher as he is selfless and has got only the interest of the student in his heart.

This is the only way to drive away the ignorance and to acquire the true knowledge which is the only knowledge that should be acquired. All the others are helpful but not essential.

It is generally said “Ignorance is bliss”. But the right way to think is Ignorance without errors(without erroneous thinking) is bliss. Knowledge is bliss. Ignorance with errors(with erroneous thinking or delusional thinking) is sorrow and misery.

Asathomaa sadgamaya
Tamasomaa jyothirgamaya
Mruthyomaa amruthamgamaya
Om santhi, santhi, santhihi.