The Ultimate Knowledge

    'To know' is the inherent nature of man. Man wants 'to know' and this curiosity is what leads a person to know more about the phenomenal objective world. In fact, human curiosity knows no end! Some people want to discover the far off lands, know more about people, objects, and show  much interest in all sorts of things. This has led to writing books, collection of rare objects, artifacts and we have storehouse of knowledge. However, all this worldly knowledge is of no use to use to get rid of the miseries of life, to live a happy peaceful life, and more than all these, to put a stop to the repeated births and deaths! Rebirth is an accepted phenomenon and we know our desires force us to resolve and act. this action begets the seeds of rebirth. Even a thought, a desire, is a cause even when there is no action on the part of the jiva! Hence, even 'to think', let alone act, is dangerous if one wants complete emancipation, liberation, mukti or moksha from repeated embodiment of the jiva! What is the solution? Bhagavan Shree Krishna gives a beautiful solution here.

   Bhagavan Shree Krishna says,

     Jnyanam te'ham savijnyanam idam vaktyamasheshataH | 

     yajnyatva nehabhuyo'nya jnyatam avashishyate || [Ch.VII Verse 2]

   Meaning, "I shall reveal knowledge that includes the scientific one having known which there will be nothing more to be known !

    What is that 'Knowledge Supreme', having known that, there will be nothing more to know? It is not very clear whether that 'knowledge' is of the material world, or of the spiritual nature! All that is scientific knowledge for us is worldly knowledge. We do not know anything about the spiritual knowledge since it is not imparted to us, so far. Moreover, it is considered of no use to eke out a living! Everybody wants some knowledge and training in some subject that will help to earn a decent livelihood. Under these circumstances, it is difficult to know what is this supreme knowledge that is enough for us! it is also surprising that Bhagavan Shree Krishna says that "very few are interested in this knowledge!" That knowledge He is speaking about is about 'Himself'! He says, "Out of a thousand seekers only one tries to attain Me, and among several such yogis, only a few will try to know Me as I am, in My true form! He adds, Not even the adepts, sincere Yogi or devata will ever know Me. It is not possible to know Me from the Vedic texts or spiritual writings. Why is it so? Why is it no one can ever know Him? The answer is given by the Lord. He says, "No one can know Me simply because, "I am not somebody or something 'other' to know!" If there are two, one can know about the other. If there is only one, and no other, the question of knowing does not arise at all!
   How to know Him is further explained through Sankhya and yoga in the Chapter II. The same doctrine is explained in the Upanishad by Sage Aruni Uddalaka to his deisciple Shvetaketu in a different way. Here, Shvetaketu is asked to realize the principle of 'tattvamasi'. Once a person realizes the fact that "all that are the adjuncts, such as, the body, mind and the senses, the intellect, the ego and all that are not the self, the true self is realized. The Lord says, "I am the Self of all." One has to discard the superficial worldly knowledge in order to know the true self. This 'Atma -sakshatkara' will redeem the jiva from eternal bondage.

    Thus, it is very clear that the supreme knowledge revealed by Bhagavan Shree Krishna here is that "He only exists, and nothing beside Him". All that exists is also 'Him' only. It is like one Moon reflected in a hundred pots filled with water. This is the concept of Bimba and pratibimba. All that exist here are just reflections of Him. He said "Eko'ham. bahusyam | Meaning, "I am one, I shall become many!" He, the Lord, only exists and all else that exist are His reflections! This knowledge will bring redemption to the suffering embodied souls! This is the supreme knowledge revealed by the Lord Himself. It is only at the end of one's journey of life on this Planet that the jiva will get redemption. Only a lucky person will realize this truth, that too, after repeated births and deaths!
bahooni janmanaamantE jnyanavaan maam prapadatyE |
Vasudeva sarvamiti sa mahatma sudurlabhaH | 
  Meaning, "It is at the end of several births and deaths that a jnyani will ever know Me as "Everything is Vasudeva, that is Me and such a person is rare, indeed!" [Ch. VII, Verse 19].