Knowledge and its Utilization
Episode from Sri Ganapathy Swamiji's Life relating to
Acquiring and Utilization of Knowledge
As a child Satyanaraya (Satyam) was taught many spiritual disciplines by his mother Jayalakshmi Mata, his aunt Venkamma and many other holy saints and sages. In addition to spiritual instructions, Satyam attended school and got his certificates. When he completed high school he was staying at the home of his aunt Parvatamma. There was the need for earning money to help with the expenses of the house. Satyam was old enough to work and earn money to help with the expenses.
Satyam would go to various houses and give private tuition; he would help at the temple, read the scriptures and advice people on auspicious times for conducting various activities. Satyam also landed a job as a "temporary postal servant".
"Meyra Noor.......Meyra Noor (Light of my life ....light of my face)" an old man was calling someone, clapping his hands, making his way elbowing through the thick crowd on the main street. No one responded to his call. Calling out loudly again he hurriedly crossed the road.
There was a postman striding swiftly, carrying very big bags of mail on his shoulders, bending forward under their weight and panting. He was walking ahead. The old man was following him from behind. The old man increased his speed, caught hold of the mailbag on the back of the postman and stopped him. The postman in his official khaki dress turned around in disgust.
It was Satyanarayana. At once he threw the bags off his shoulders and looked at the old man with affection.
"How do you do, Khadar grandpa?" Satyam said pleasingly.
"My dear what is this? Why do you do this job?" asked the old man anxiously.
"What is there Grandpa? It is a livelihood." answered Satyam laughingly.
"What livelihood to a life giver and life sustainer!" he said in anguish. "Why did you get into this job, this nasty job of carrying these bags. You are a literate. You are a child of God. Who then has entrusted you this menial work? Please tell me what has actually happened?" the grandpa's anxiety was great and indignant.
"Grandpa! It is time. First I shall finish my work and then I shall tell you everything. I shall come to your shop at noon."
"My dear, until you come I will not sip even tea. Bear this in mind." so saying the old man helped Satyam who was already lifting the bags on to his shoulders.
The old man sat alone in his cycle shop waiting for Satyam after the workers had left for lunch. Satyam came in joyfully calling, "Grandpa!"
As he was sitting down Satyam spoke, "Grandpa Khadar, I know your love for me. First of all please listen, I shall tell you what happened. We have been facing a lot of trouble because I do not have a work. One of our relative, Krishnappaji is working as a postal inspector. He told me about the job and asked if I would like to do it, I could apply for it. I agreed and applied for the job. At present they give me fifty dollars for this job. I should work five hours a day. My position at the post is Extra Departmental Delivery Assistant."
"My dear boy, please tell me the truth, are you doing this work willingly?"
"Grandfather only such works as I should do come to me." Satyam replied.
"Lad how can you carry those heavy loads? For how long have you been doing this work? Do you go this way daily?"
"Yes I have to carry the mail bags from both post offices of Ontikuppal and Metagalli."
"What do you carry these loads from one town to the other on your shoulders?"
"But grandpa! Poverty is heavier than these loads."
The old man was thinking. He had known Satyam for the past four of five years. He used to come to the shop for the hire of a cycle. Gradually they grew close and Satyam also learned to repair cycles. The previous year the old man's son had fallen sick, even the treatment at the big hospital proved useless. Losing hope he had brought his son home. Then Satyam came there for inquiring. Satyam voluntarily said, "Grandfather, if you don't have any objection, can you put the holy ashes that I give into the mouth of your son?"
As a Muslim the grandfather would not normally accept the holy ashes offered by a Hindu priest, but now the situation was quite different. Even though he did not have any faith, only because of the love for his son, he thought of putting a pinch of it in his mouth. After half an hour of putting the holy ash in his son's mouth the boy not only sat up but even got up and ran. In return for all this the old man made all effort to give Satyam something. Satyam flatly refused. After that incident, one day he came to the old man at the time of Namaz (prayer). That very moment, the old man had the holy vision of the moon and stars. Later he heard from many people about the divine powers of this boy Satyam. Still he felt as if he were the boy's grandfather and the boy was his own grandson. The old man resolved to help the boy a little by any means.
"There is an old bicycle in my shop. I entreat you, even touching your feet, to take that second hand bicycle. Without saying a second word please make use of it. You will be relieved a little of this heavy burden on your shoulders. If I see you once again like this, this old man may breathe his last." There appeared a trace of sobbing in the old man's voice.
"Grandpa! I do not mean that others' property will not be useful to me but the time for taking it has not come yet. There must be some use that is acceptable based on scriptural guidelines (Sastras) before I can accept anything offered. At present I do not have the required arrangements for utilization of others' property."
"What do you mean by utilization? Did I ask what you did with what I have offered?"
"It is not that grandpa! Listen if you have inherited some property from your grandfather and father. Have you the legal right to sell it and get rid of it?"
"How can I? Should I not pass it on to my son as my father has passed it on to me?"
" Yes, law to has enacted a rule to that effect. Suppose you have some property that you yourself have acquired. What about that?"
"It is from my effort. If I consume it no one has the right to question me."
"Yes in the same manner my teachers have given me some "property" (spiritual knowledge). They themselves have decided how it should be put to use and it should be done in that very manner. I should not use that "property" given by the spiritual teachers for maintenance of myself or my relatives."
If I have revived your son or done some other good deed, all this is possible with the "Vidya" (spiritual knowledge) gracefully bestowed upon me by my preceptors. I do not have a right to make that knowledge a means of earning and enjoy it." Satyam continued his explanation.
"What do you mean? Provided you survive first, then only can you perform the work assigned by your preceptors. Is it not so?" grandfather asked.
"Yes it is true that I have to live. I cannot use the powers bestowed on me by my preceptors for my livelihood. I must make a living working with the abilities of a common man. If I do physical work delivering mail, or give tuition or work as a priest, these are all works carried out by an ordinary person like me for livelihood. There is no divine power involved. Beyond that I have no right to touch a penny."
"What you say is very strange! As I think of it, it seems to me that you are quite unwilling to take anything of our property and you are merely fabricating a story"
"Grandpa! Have I ever told you a lie!"
"No but my dear son, do not say no, do not say no." so saying the old man began to kneel down with much effort to touch Satyam's feet.
Suddenly rising and hugging the old man, Satyam seated him down and said, "All right grandpa! Let it be so! Let it be so." The old man's face lit up like the brilliance of fireworks. Satyam gently put in, "There is a condition."
"I don't mind whatever the condition is, once acceptance of taking the bicycle is certain." The old man's joy knew no bounds.
Certainly my acceptance is for certain. I do not go back on my word. But every month I shall give you some amount. You have to accept without refusing. You are not giving me the bicycle expecting that I would give money in return. This bicycle is an offering of love which you have given me. There is no contravention of this. It is for some other reason I say I will give you money on monthly installments. It is connected with my own principle. Would you spoil my discipline and rules? Tell me!"
The grandpa accepted Satyam's word. He picked up the bicycle and placed it outside. The seat was too tall for Satyam to mount so he was looking around for a prop for his foot. Understanding it, the old man came forward laughingly.
"My dear after the workers come I'll get the seat lowered. Now place your foot on this "block of stone" and get up on your cycle. Do not refuse." So saying he knelt down showing his back meekly. Satyam looked at him strangely and placing his foot lightly on the back of the old man mounted the cycle and moved forward. The old man got up immersed in joy. He felt his bent neck move effortlessly. "Hurrah! At the touch of the foot of this son of God my spondylitis affliction has vanished." He shouted in surprise. There was no bend in the nape of his neck now!
MORAL
There are two types of knowledge, spiritual knowledge and secular knowledge (knowledge of the physical world).
A person should use the knowledge obtained in school for earning a livelihood.
Spiritual knowledge should be used for helping others overcome their problems, with a view to bringing a positive change in their attitude and behaviours.
Money earned from the use of spiritual knowledge should be donated back in charity.
