It
is a very basic and significant question, and only when we think deeply
about it will we understand its mystery. The Vedas, the Bible, the
Upanishads and the Koran have long been available to us, so why do we
need saints and holy masters? It seems to mean that as long as man
cannot practically experience spiritual knowledge for himself, there
will always be a need for enlightened souls in this world. In other
words, we need the assistance of enlightened masters because we don't
understand the deep and secret meanings of the scriptures. I have met
religious scholars who are so learned that if you give them one word
they'll complete the whole verse for you. You can take a line from any
part of the Ramayana, and they will complete the whole section for you,
including all the couplets and verses. They have mastered the
scriptures. Accomplishing this feat can affect a person in two ways: He
can think that he knows all there is to know, and that he doesn't have
to be taught anything, or he can feel that there is something else he
ought to know which is beyond the scriptures. Scientists do research and
experiments, but none of them will say that he has discovered all there
is to know. If they thought like this, then there would be no more
inventions and no more Nobel prizes. Science keeps on developing and
discovering new things. If this did not happen, it could not advance.
Socrates' admirers used to say to him, "Sir, you have attained great
heights, you are very wise and intellectual. How did you become so
great?" Socrates answered," Because I know that I know nothing"
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