'Supreme Knowledge'

 The 'Supreme Knowledge', the highest knowledge one can gain, is that of spiritual nature rather than the worldly transactional one. Here it is important to note that Indian Sages, saints and great Rishis have perfected this through practical means such as yoga and scriptural studies (nidhidhyasana) under an able teacher. The spiritual knowledge gained from study of scriptures like the Veda, Upanishads should be supplemented by practical exercises as enunciated by great Sages like Sri Moudgalya Rishi, Vashishtha Muni, Vishvamitra, Sandipani, Patanjali, Jaimini, Kapila,  Achyutapreksha, Guru Sri Raghavendra Swami, Patanjali Shastri, and many others. Besides, there are a number of Ashrams and Gurukula where Samskruta Bhasha is taught and Vedic studies are conducted. Temples played a very important role in this regard. The teachers insisted that the Vedic Texts are learnt by heart and loudly chanted with phonetic perfection. A little variation in sound while uttering the syllables and words or , if misplaced in order of presentation would create havoc! For instance, the word 'amruta' (elixir) becomes 'mruta' (dead) if prefix 'a' is missing! In fact, the teachers were aware of the alternate meanings of words that numbered almost twenty and taught grammar and composition carefully. Such an ancient system of study of Vedic Texts are still practiced in many parts of India and original scriptures (samskruta grantha) are preserved in Oriental Institute, Mysore, Sringeri (Karnataka), and Kashi (Varanasi), and many other places in Kerala. Many Western scholars have shown keen interest and efforts are made to preserve these scriptures these in recent years. 

  What is this 'Supreme Knowledge'? There are almost twenty four divisions of vidya, ('Knowledge') in the Vedic tradition such as Veda, Vedanga, Veda Shakhya, and Veda Pratishakhya. etc. Jnyan Vijnyan yoga of Chapter 7 and 'akshara brahma' (The Immutable Brahman) of Ch. 8. clearly state that the attainment to the highest 'brahmn' is very easy easy (sulabha) to an adept who constantly remembers the Lord and adores Him at all times. It is satata dhyan, chintana (thinking with focused attention), manthana (churning), nidhidhyasana are advocated here in order to attain to the highest, param padam. Here it is important to note that the Benevolent Blessed Lord reiterates that not only 'Knowledge' (Jnyan), but a  Knowledge with Experience, vishesha or vishishtha jnyan. Thus, no knowledge is complete with practical experience!