Swami Tejomayananda

Knowledge should bring about inner transformation in a person. There should be a positive change, a blossoming of the personality. Such a transformation can happen only with true knowledge, the discovery of Truth. Knowledge of the Truth transforms a person, whereas mere information does not. It is sad that although we talk of quality education, the quality of our life has not changed.

Adi Shankaracharya says that the purpose of knowledge is the elimination of falsehood. This implies that if we have realised something as false, we should immediately withdraw ourselves from it. Right knowledge transforms our thinking and action. We may have based our lives upon certain notions, but once we realise they are wrong we should let them go and not hold on to the false notions.
Once a man walking down a road saw something that was shining. Thinking it to be silver, he stopped, looked around and quietly picked it up and put it into his pocket, feeling very happy that he had found something precious. But when he looked at it closely, he realised how foolish he had been, for the shiny object was a piece of stone wrapped in silver paper. When he discovered that it was not silver his false notion gave way and he threw the stone away. Would he then boast about his foolishness? He will probably never talk about the incident. Even if he does, it would only be to illustrate how he was misled by his sight and greed.
Partial knowledge makes one arrogant. True knowledge alone gives humility. It brings an end to all our sufferings. Very often, our education, rather than removing our misconceptions about life, only seems to strengthen them.
What are these misconceptions? First, we think of ourselves as the physical body. When we talk about or introduce ourselves, we refer to our physical body as the person. This is not true. Second, we think money gives us security. Without money, we feel insecure. However, this is false. It is seen that even a billionaire may feel insecure and a pauper secure. At times, the more the money, the more fear one seems to have. So can money be a source of true happiness and security? Third, we think the more the comforts and luxuries we have, the happier we will be. But do wealth and luxuries always make a person happy? Do people living in luxury and comfort not suffer? Sincere people of learning should put forth all efforts to free themselves from all delusions.
Once a king felt very sick. Doctors from all over the country came to treat him. But no one could find anything physically wrong with him. Then a wise man who came to see the king told him that if he could manage to wear the shirt of a happy man, he would be free of illness. The king ordered his ministers to bring him the shirt of a happy man. Everyone was surprised, for they thought that the king himself must have been the happiest man!
The king’s ministers looked all over. Looking for such a shirt, one of them went to a party hosted by a rich businessman. He asked the host to give him his shirt. The host replied, “But who told you that I am happy? See my neighbour. He is richer than me. I am jealous of him. Go to him”.
So, the minister went next door. The neighbour said, “I am not a happy person. I have no children. What is the use of all this wealth?” Then finally one day, one of the ministers saw a man who was sitting on a rock on the bank of a river, looking very peaceful and happy.
He asked him, “Are you happy?” He replied, “Doubtlessly so!” The minister asked, “Will you give me your shirt?” He replied, “Shirt? What shirt? I have never worn one!”
The minister then explained the situation of the king and sought a remedy. Hearing this, the man asked him to tell the king that happiness and sorrow come from within. When one knows this, one need not seek objects in order to be happy. One should seek the true source of happiness within oneself.

— The author, head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, is an orator, poet, singer, composer and storyteller. To find out more about Chinmaya Mission and Swamiji, visit www.chinmayamission.com.
© Central Chinmaya Mission Trust.