Knowledge comes but wisdom lingers...

Some time ago, one of my friends abroad gifted me a book. While I was scanning through the pages, I came across a wonderful phrase of the author. "If you desire happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will find that anxiety, depression and grief will leave you". I just stopped my gaze at that page and pondered what that meant.

How good it is if people can get rid of anxiety, depression and grief in such an easy method. Nowadays lot of people suffer from such sicknesses and perhaps spend lot of money and time for remedial measures. As I read through the pages I happened to read many mind boggling facts. I would like to extract them for your education and knowledge.

"Happiness and high - spiritedness come when the person is empowered with knowledge. Because through knowledge, one may fulfil his goals and discover what was previously hidden from him. The soul, by its very nature, longs for the acquisition of new knowledge to stimulate it and the mind".

"Ignorance is boredom and grief, because the ignorant person leads a life that never offers anything new or mind provoking. Yesterday is like today which in turn is like tomorrow".

Knowledge comes in many forms and you should have the knowledge of many things. One of the important things is the knowledge of yourself. "Know thyself", Socrates said that many centuries ago. Thoreau said "To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge".

Disraeli also held the similar view, "To be conscious that you're ignorant is a great step to knowledge" How many of you all know yourself? In fact as I feel, before you get to know any thing, you should be able to know yourself. Knowing one's own self is a bit difficult task.

We're never bothered to know ourselves, instead trying to know others. In Bhagawath Geetha, they teach how to realise oneself and then to attain the wisdom. Through that wisdom a human can realise the universe and its creations.

How to acquire knowledge

There're many ways to acquire knowledge. It's not only by reading a book, newspaper or a magazine. At present, the technology is very advanced and you can browse the internet to get any information of any scope you desire. You can also talk to people.

That's a good source of knowledge. Some people are like walking encyclopedias. They have vast spectrum of knowledge. For people, from birth to present, with time, acquisition of knowledge has geared up specially.

When you meet such an erudite person, never miss that opportunity to talk to him or her. They may tell you lots of things that you don't know. "Our knowledge is the amassed thought and experience of innumerable minds" - Emerson.

People are different in knowledge. They may be expert in variety of fields. When you talk to a person who is an expert on a particular field, you will gain more knowledge.

A book is definitely a very good source of knowledge. One scholar said that a book is like a very good friend of a person. "The book is a companion that doesn't praise you and doesn't entice you to evil. It's a friend that doesn't bore you and the neighbour that causes you no harm.

When you're pouring through the pages of a book, your senses are stimulated and intellect sharpens. Through reading biographies of others, you gain an appreciation of common people while learning the ways of the wise and noble people".

I can point out some benefits of reading in order to acquire knowledge.

1. Reading helps to get rid of grief. When you read you will forget your worries. It will relax your mind and distance from distraction.

2. Habitual reading will help you to keep yourself away from isolation and inactivity and other acts that have no impact.

3. It will prevent you from day dreaming.

4. When you read very often, you can develop your eloquence and clarity in speech. And you will gain the mastery over many words and learn the different constructions of sentences.

5. Reading increases memory and understanding.

6. You will benefit from the experience of others; the wisdom of the wise and the elegance of scholars.

As for some people, gathering knowledge is a hobby. They like to learn more and more. They're never tired of gathering knowledge. Some people do not pay attention to any thing other than seeking knowledge. They're in a thirst for knowledge. A learned person knows the value of knowledge, what great things he could do with knowledge.

Seeking knowledge for some learned people are as sweet as their favourite dishes. I'll put it in the words of a scholar

"The sleepless nights I spend in learning sciences, are more beloved to me than the company or caresses of the enchanting woman

My rapturous exhilaration when understanding a difficult concept, is more delicious to me than the most exotic drink.

More delightful to me than the sound of a woman's hand on the drum, are my hands on my papers in order to remove dust.

O' he who tries to attain my level by wishful thinking, how much difference there is between the one who finds the pain of climbing to be too much and between the one who climbs and reaches the summit.

I do toil through the night, while you sleep through it, yet you hope to surpass me?".

The knowledge comes in two forms. One is the theoretical knowledge you gain from reading and learning, and the other is the practical knowledge. Practical knowledge is also very important, without which you find it difficult to progress.

"Knowledge itself is power" - Francis Bacon