Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-18
Release
21. But that knowledge by which, one knows several manifold existences in all creatures as separate, know that the knowledge arises from rajas. O Arjuna, listen carefully. That knowledge is rajasic, which sees distinctions in all beings. That knowledge has fragmented itself, by the conception of diversity among beings and has bewildered the knower. Just as sleep places the veil of oblivion over the real state of things and makes one suffer troubles in a dream (536-540), so this knowledge spreads out Maya round the yard of Self-knowledge and makes the embodied Self go through the three states of wakefulness, dream and deep sleep. A child does not know the gold hidden in the ornaments, so this knowledge does not perceive unity, behind the names and forms. An ignorant person cannot recognise the earth of which earthen pitchers or pots are made or know fire by seeing it in a lamp state or yarn in the cloth shown to him or the canvas when he is shown a picture (painted on it), so his knowledge sees diversity in all beings, obscuring his notion of unity (541-545). Just as the fire appears distinct because of the diversity of fire-wood, or as the fragrance smells different on account of the diversity of flowers or as the moon appears as divided because of its reflections in moving waters, so the knowledge which sees distinctions as big or small in diverse things, is rajasic knowledge. If one wishes to avoid the house of a barbarian, one must know where it is. So I shall now explain to you, the characteristics of tamasic knowledge, so that you will be able to avoid it. |
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