Of what use is all that learning?

Question

"You may study a number of subjects and learn many skills. But the value of all that learning is zero if you do not develop devotion to God. Unable to realise this truth, people become proud of their learning. Of what use is all that learning? What should I say in this august assembly about the end result of all such education? "

Source:- http://www.sathyasai.org/discour/2006/d060818.html

Answer 1

This does NOT sound like a call to ignorance, but a WARNING against the King of Sins (to most people): PRIDE.

Some people really remember that all knowledge comes from God. Some people have the humility to handle the Great Riches of Much Knowledge without arrogance.

Those that don't will fall into the Pride Trap...and it's a Long Drop down that cliff...

Answer 2

whew..heavy stuff!! Learning is necessary for our lives -in fact we cant help learning new things daily. Knowledge is all around us. Devotion to god is not an automatic process like learning for everyone. Some people have to be convinced , others have to experience miracles first hand and others are indoctrinated by their societies.So fundamentally these are two seperate concepts.What the speaker seems to be talking about is- pride in our learning. Should we take pride in the fact that the human race has learnt so much that we have gone to outer space? Absolutely yes. Taking pride in one's work makes us do it better.But, just because I can go to outer space, should I start interfering with stuff in space thinking I am god? - NO. Should I treat people who have no idea what space or space research is worse than others - NO. I think as long as we can make that distinction and acknowledge the fact that we can learn something from every person we will be just fine.

Answer 3

'What should I say in this august assembly about the end result of all such education? "

There is no end to that which is infinite, knowledge. All that learning is not zero, it is finite in itself, and infinite in its possibility. Pride is the mis-identification for the finite as completion, but gladness is knowledge of its good. We do not devote for God for Gods welfare, but our own. God would be glad for that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erick_Erickson

Stage One Oral-Sensory: from birth to one, trust vs. mistrust, feeding;

Stage Two Muscular-Anal: 1-3 years, autonomy vs.doubt, toilet training;

Stage Three Locomotor: 3-6 years, initiative vs.inadequacy, independence;

Stage Four Latency: 6-12 years, industry vs.inferiority, school;

Stage Five Adolescence: 12-18 years, identity vs.confusion, peer relationships;

Stage Six Young Adulthood: 18-40 years, intimacy vs.isolation, love relationships;

Stage Seven Middle Adulthood: 40-65 years, generativity vs.stagnation, parenting;

Stage Eight Maturity: 65 years until death, integrity vs.despair, acceptance of one's life.

Answer 4

You almost make it sound as though learning and devotion to God are mutually exclusive. I don't think that's the case at all. In fact, I think for many, the more that they learn, the more they become convinced that there is a Supreme Being.
People with learning can certainly be atheists, but so can uneducated ones. Learning, I'd say, is ALWAYS better then not learning. What you don't know CAN hurt you.

Answer 5

I definitely agree that a relationship with the one and only living God is the most important thing in the world.

What good is education? Hmmm... it's helpful, if you want to know how to keep your plants and animals alive... and the more you know, the better you are at Trivial Pursuit. And there's nothing like knowing enough to impress all of your friends, yet not knowing enough to get a real job... oh wait, that last statement answers the question, "What good is a Liberal Arts degree?"

Anyhoo, I personally love learning new things.

Answer 6

Learning is the process of the mind to break ignorance. To understand the functions and limitation of knowledge is to go beyond where intelligence is. To acquire knowledge and to use such knowledge in its proper perspective is intelligence. A true intelligent person is happy and living with God.

Answer 7

I dont believe any greater being exists. Whether he really does or not I dont know. Learning in itself is useless if you dont use it anyway. I believe the only subjects that young students shoudl be forced to learn are world changing historical events, up to algebra mathmatics, basic science of how things work and live, and english is good where it is.

Answer 8

Say nothing if you have nothing to say. That is always a good rule of thumb. But knowledge is power and ignorance is bliss. Without knowledge you can never truly know what you miss nor can you know whether you conclusions are valid in part or at all.

Answer 9

Never seem more learned than the people you are with.Wear your learning like a pocket-watch and keep it hidden.Do not pull it out to count the hours,but give the time when you are asked.

Answer 10

Truely, it seems an August Assembly over here ....

luv and SAI RAM,
jk
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/athmavidya