Sa vidya ya Vimuktaye, knowledge is that which liberates.

This morning I would like to say a few things to you on this subject. This is a marvelous saying. It is the most original definition of knowledge. This is the definition of knowledge as well as its criterion. But perhaps you may not know the other side of the situation. We are not liberated. Whatsoever we have learned cannot have been right knowledge, it must be false knowledge. Our life has not known what liberation is, so the schools in which we have studied must not have been schools but anti-schools, because the very test and definition of knowledge is that it helps us in our life to attain the bliss of liberation.

What shall we call that knowledge which has not given that joy? In the whole world knowledge goes on increasing; schools, colleges and universities go on increasing, but man does not seem to have been liberated. Instead, man goes on becoming more bound and conditioned and falling further downwards.

Then, could it be that we have made some fundamental mistake? Could it be that this increasing knowledge is false knowledge? I would like to say to you that it is false knowledge. I have no doubt about it. I am certain that what we are propounding as knowledge in the world is false knowledge, because the soul of man does not seem to be becoming free through it, but instead it is enslaving and imprisoning man. The consciousness of man does not become elevated by it but seems to be falling down. The life force of man does not seem to be progressing towards divinity, but is falling downwards to animality.

Can we call people educated this way really educated? With good intentions we are working ceaselessly to spread this education. Good people are making great efforts to increase the number of schools, colleges and hostels so that man becomes educated. But the experience of the last two thousand years tells a different story.

On the one hand, knowledge increases; on the other, man seems to be deteriorating. On the one hand, education increases; on the other, the quality of life seems to be degenerating. On the one side, man’s intellect is developing; on the other, man’s soul seems to be falling apart. There is something fundamentally wrong. Something from the very beginning has gone wrong with our movement and direction, so in whatever direction we move it does not bring any bliss.