Transmission Beyond Scripture – In Gita Verse 18.67 This confidential knowledge may never be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me.
Bhagavad Gita Verse 18.67 underscores the importance of discretion when sharing profound spiritual knowledge. According to this verse, such confidential wisdom should not be disclosed to those who lack austerity, devotion, or engagement in devotional service, nor to those who harbour envy. This principle is crucial for maintaining the sanctity and effectiveness of spiritual teachings.
The ultimate secret of the Gita, shared for the benefit of sincere seekers, is extremely confidential. It is a key that opens the ultimate doors of life, a precious treasure that should not be given indiscriminately. These spiritual pearls should be reserved for those who are prepared and capable of appreciating their value. This concept is illustrated through the story of Jhunnun, a Sufi master, and a young man seeking the truth.
Jhunnun, upon being approached by a young man in search of God, provided a practical lesson to demonstrate the importance of discernment. He handed the young man a stone and instructed him to attempt selling it in various markets, starting with the vegetable market. The vegetable vendors offered merely two paise for the stone, seeing it as useful only for weighing vegetables.
Next, Jhunnun directed the young man to visit gold and silver shops. Here, the stone was valued at a thousand rupees, a significant increase from the vegetable market. Surprised, the young man returned to Jhunnun, questioning whether he should sell the stone. Jhunnun advised against it and sent him to the jewellers’ market.
At the jewellers’ market, the stone’s value skyrocketed, with offers ranging from ten thousand to ten lakh rupees. The young man, bewildered by the stark difference in valuations, ran back to Jhunnun, eager to sell the stone for the highest offer. Jhunnun, however, instructed him to wait and explained the lesson behind the exercise.
Jhunnun revealed that the young man’s initial condition was akin to that of the vegetable vendors, unable to perceive the stone’s true worth. Even the gold and silver shop owners, who offered a thousand rupees, did not fully grasp its value. Only the jewellers, who offered up to ten lakh rupees, had a glimpse of its true worth. Similarly, the truth the young man sought was like the precious stone, and without proper preparation and understanding, he would undervalue and misuse it.
Krishna’s teaching aligns with this story, emphasising that the ultimate secret should not be shared with those who lack penance. An ascetic, in this context, is someone who has tirelessly sought the truth, endured hardships, and is willing to sacrifice everything, including life, for it. Such a person places truth above all else, unlike a “Bhogi,” who prioritises life and comfort over truth, or a “Tapasvee,” who uses life as a means to achieve higher spiritual goals.
This profound knowledge should only be shared with those who have a deep yearning for liberation, who are ready to dedicate their lives to attaining it. Sharing such wisdom with someone out of mere curiosity or without the requisite devotion would be futile and potentially detrimental.
Devotion is another critical criterion. Without devotion, the seeker cannot fully grasp or appreciate the secret teachings. The relationship between a Guru and disciple is one of extreme closeness and trust, akin to the symbolic act of whispering a mantra into a disciple’s ear. This act signifies the intimate and confidential nature of the transmission of spiritual knowledge.
Krishna asserts that only those who are ready to transcend mere knowledge and embrace knowing, who can surrender and trust, are prepared to receive this confidential knowledge. Mysticism, unlike science, cannot be taught; it can only be caught through a deep, personal connection between the master and the disciple.
The East has significantly contributed to human consciousness through the master/disciple relationship, a phenomenon unique to mysticism. Unlike the teacher/student relationship in science, which is based on doubt and the accumulation of knowledge, the master/disciple relationship in mysticism is based on trust, love, and surrender. The disciple, in this relationship, seeks to unlearn and become innocent, ready to receive the master’s presence.
A master helps the disciple to unlearn and become childlike, as Jesus taught. This process of unlearning and becoming innocent is essential for entering the spiritual realm. The master/disciple relationship is the greatest love affair, where the disciple surrenders his ego and becomes one with the master. This union leads to the ultimate ecstasy, the goal of the master-and-disciple relationship.
Krishna highlights that a moment comes when the master and the disciple start vibrating in the same rhythm, enabling the transfer of profound, inexpressible knowledge. This transmission, beyond scripture, is immediate and direct, embodying the essence of true spiritual teaching.
Tags: Transmission Beyond Scripture
