"Jnyanamuttamam"

   The Supreme Lord speaks of 'jnyanam uttamam"(supreme knowledge') in Ch. XIV of the Bhagavad-Gita. Why is there a division of knowledge such as higher and lower, uttamam or adhamam? The answer to this question is found in "kim tadbrahma, kimadhyatmam..." (Ch.VIII) and "jnyanam vijnyanasahitam" in Ch. IX,  All knowledge pertaining to worldly affairs is of 'Lower (apara or adhamam) nature. All knowledge pertaining to the other-worldly or spiritual/adhyatmic is 'Higher' (para) knowledge. 

  This question of 'higher' and 'lower' knowledge comes as a result of the human suffering and the clamor seeking liberation. Bhagavan Shree Krishna knows full well the nature of sufferings of the people as King. he only addresses this problem of Liberation, mukti/moksha here in the Gita. This aspect of human sufferings and liberation is beautifully narrated in the dialogue between Uddhava and Shree Krishna in the Uddhava Gita. The human suffering is indeed, the result of prarabhda karma, if not inflicted by the Lord. In Lakshmi Tantra, Devi Lakshmi clearly states that the children play and get hurt, suffer in course of their playing games; so also, the adults who suffer due to their indulgences in the worldly affairs. However, a jnyani will not suffer for, he knows the true nature of the world as well as his own Self. It is the ignorance, the desire, aspirations and dreams that drive the humans towards all sorts of indulgences that ultimately make him disappointed, sad, and suffer. Once a yogi realizes the true nature of this insatiable desires and limitations of time and space that cause disappointments, he will take to yoga and seek liberation.

   However, liberation is not possible in this complicated world of sense-objects unless one completely turns inward with the help of an attained guru. But, such attained persons are hard to find, Are we thus condemned to the fate of eternal bondage, blindness, slavery of senses and sense objects and never be liberated? It seems so when we see the nature of existence in a competitive world where there is a mad mad rush towards the unattainable! 

Bhagavan Shree Krishna advises Arjuna to get enlightened as to the true nature of the self and realize the futility of all attainments and worldly possessions. Renunciation is taught to Shee Ramachandra, Prince of Ayodhya by Sage Vashishtha in Treta Yuga. And, now in Dvapara yuga, the same renunciation is taught by Shree Krishna to Arjuna. This is what is important for us, if we have to get liberated from the cycle of repeated births and deaths.  One should realize the fact that there is nothing one can enjoy here on earth since it is a mrutyu loka where everything is subject decay, death, or deterioration and dissolution.. The humans are bound to suffer due to their ignorance, greed, and pursuit of happiness where there is none, whatsoever!