Ever since I can remember I have loved reading books.
I have more than 500 books in my library at home. Add another 80 odd Kindle books and there is enough material to keep me busy for one lifetime at least.
These are the books that I am yet to read. Add an indefinite number of books that I have read in my more than 50 years since I learnt the alphabet and you have a sizable number.
And yet this is not the best use of my time – especially now that I am approaching the 60s as far as age is concerned.
Quoting from the Old Testament, the book of Ecclesiastes:
And I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow …
I said in my heart: As it happeneth to the fool so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
In case you are wondering I have not done a thorough reading of the Old Testament. I read the quote above in a book by Bertrand Russell – The Conquest of Happiness.
Basically the Old Testament and all the spiritual texts of the major religions will tell you that only seeking and finding God is worthwhile. The rest is vanity and vexation of spirit.
So this is one takeaway from this article – that reading, scholarship and wisdom is not worth the time and effort compared to what is up for grabs in our human lifetime – finding and experiencing the Divine.
The second takeaway is a quote attributed to the Hindu sage, Sri Ramakrishna. He was once asked the question – “Many learned men read a lot of sacred books; how is it then that they remain ignorant in spiritual matters?”
The reply was – “The kite and the vulture soar high up in the air, but all the time their eyes are fixed on charnel pits in search of putrid carcasses. The minds of the so called learned scholars are attached to things of the world. Hence it is that they cannot acquire true knowledge. What good could a reading of a vast number of sacred works do them?”
I have heard it said that knowledge is power. But it is more true to say the applied knowledge is power.
Your spiritual quest has to be based on strong foundations. Discrimination and non attachment are key.
If you do not have these qualities – and I am not sure I do – then resign yourself to the fact that you will probably not attain enlightenment in this lifetime.
If you would like to attain the above qualities please go through the video below. It should get you started:
Also if you don’t choose your books wisely, reading can confuse you. You need to think as you read, you need to know clearly what your purpose is when you read. If you are reading for entertainment then it is fine. But if you want guidance then indiscriminately reading books can confuse.
Choose one guide or guru or teacher and don’t be led astray by books written by others.
And lastly you need to clearly pinpoint the books you are relying on for guidance and read them again and again. If not the whole book the at least selected portions should be read over and over. This is essential to keep the necessary instructions clear in your mind.
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Update: Comment from Asha Gangoli, an old patron
You say the writing of others might lead you astray. In which case your blog would become redundant!
No. I will never give up reading. Without reading the brain would rust.
Equally important is the need to converse. Wholesome conversation, even arguments, are brain sharpeners.
Having said that, the unfortunate fact remains that knowledge is a precursor of technology, and technology has been put to ill use. But that’s probably the shelf life nature has put on us. Knowledge and technology is what will ultimately put us on self destruct mode.
And the earth shall be free of us.
Christopher Marlowe’s “Dr. Faustus ” is about a man in search of limitless knowledge. Satan offers it to him in return for his soul. Having sold his soul, Faustus launches upon a life of sin and destruction. He rejects the good angel’s advice to repent and change his ways and is ultimately damned to the fires of hell.
This is a symbolic story of what happens when knowledge goes awry.
All said and done, GIVE ME MY BOOKS 📖!
Find this handy. Buy me a Coffee