Knowledge vs Pleasure

सुखार्थी त्यजते विद्यां विद्यार्थी त्यजते सुखम् |
सुखार्थिनः कुतो विद्या कुतो विद्यार्थिनः सुखम् |

Sukhaarthi tyajate vidyaam vidyaarthee tyajate sukham
Sukhaarthina-ha kuto vidyaa kuto vidyaarthina-ha sukham

Meaning: One who craves pleasure (sukha) relinquishes (tyajate) attaining knowledge (vidyaa). And one who craves knowledge relinquishes obtaining pleasure.
What is knowledge to a pleasure-seeker? What is pleasure to a vidyaarthee? (it's of no value).

Our Indian culture has structured our life in such a beautiful way that if we follow it properly, then we get the best out of life at every stage of life. The 1st quarter of our life is our Brahmachaarya Ashram wherein the main focus is pursuit of knowledge. During this student stage of life, it is very strongly emphasized to have a minimum of luxuries so as to remove any and every distraction which can shift our focus from our studies. Complimentarily, it is good to have obstacles, troubles and challenges to make us stretch much more than our capacity.

We see the exact opposite nowadays in society. My revered Dada often says that, whenever someone is checking out hostels for their son or daughter, the first thing that they look out, is whether the food is good, and whether the room is comfortable. They want to see their child in a comfortable situation, so that the child can devote maximum time to studies. But that very comfort is a hindrance to their focus at that time. Cozy, cushioned mattresses make us sleep more. Lovely hot water not only arouses our senses but also make us spend more time in the bathroom. Electronic gadgets like cell phones, computers & music players keeps us distracted from our reading & writing. The worst effect is that we are never alone with ourselves, which gives us no time to contemplate, analyze, collect, and organize our thoughts.

One of my most respected teachers, Dr. Nigal once told us, "Jo log subah ki gulaabi thanDi ko chhod dete hain, unhe aage jaakar duniya gulaab deti hai."

And this shloka applies not just in student life, but all through our lives. Knowledge is an ever-lasting process, not limited to bookish knowledge or a certain age. Knowledge as we have seen earlier, extends to change and growth in our life. Knowledge is not a function of the brain, but a function of our mind - it's a matter of being. If we want growth, we need challenges; we need roadblocks, hurdles & obstacles - of the body, of the mind, and of the heart! Seeking pleasures & comforts at this time would hinder the very process of knowledge. In fact, a true knowledge-seeker would relish troubles more than pleasures.

Guru

यथा खनन् खनित्रेण नरो वार्यधिगच्छति |
तथा गुरुगतं विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति ||

Yathaa khanan khanitreNa naro vaaryadhi-gachchhati
tathaa Gurugatam vidyaam shushrushuradhi-gachchhati

Meaning: Just as a person gets water by digging the earth with a spade, so also does a student get knowledge, who serves his Guru.

Though we should be remembering our Guru at all times, Guru Poornima is one festival where we should always remember our Guru. Knowledge, as understood in Indian culture, is not jut acquiring information or understanding concepts. It is far more encompassing. Knowledge as in Vidyaa, connotes a realization which enhances and elevates our life to a higher state of being. Knowledge is not knowledge unless it makes a positive, qualitative difference in our current state of living. Information is what we acquire, and knowledge is what we become. To quote my favorite Morpheus: "Don't think you are, know you are!"

With this perspective in mind, this subhaashit emphasizes the importance of a Guru in our lives. A Guru is one who not only has endless knowledge, but also endless love for you. Guru is one who knows what's best for you, and works hard for the best of you to come out. He is one to whom you can go at any time with any of your problems, academic or otherwise. He has the discipline of our father and the love of our mother. That's why Acharya comes right after Maata & Pitaa in our Bodh Vachan. 

With all his love for us, the Guru never imparts knowledge on his own. He creates hunger in us & then educates when we have the ability and eagerness to consume. That is why, knowledge has to be extracted from the Guru, just as water has to be dug out from the earth. The water is there... in abundance... but we can not acquire it without our own toil.

Today, there is a growing support to the teacher-less teaching methodologies, especially due to the advent of the Internet and video-conferencing. These are definitely very good mediums of imparting information. But knowledge is a different ballgame. In fact, in Indian traditions, students went to stay at the Gurukuls not to study but to serve the Guru. It was in the process of serving the Guru that all knowledge was gained. Sure, they had classroom studies, but that was just one part of it. The education of life & the building of character lay outside the classroom.It was through the demonstrative life of the Guru that students learned the lessons of life. It was through the conversations with the Guru that the students learned. It was the spirit of surrendering our self to the Guru through which the students learned. And the knowledge gained thus, was true Vidyaa.

A glorious modern-day example of such a life-oriented institution is Tattvagnana Vidyapeeth, situated in Thane, Maharashtra in India. Their students are true vidyaarthees; they are seekers, spending 2 years of their precious time, searching the questions of life, under the guidance of their Guru.

True knowledge lies in finding our Guru, and surrendering our full selves to our Guru for life.

Qualities of a Student (Vidyaarthee)

काकचेष्टा बकोध्यानं श्वाननिद्रा तथैव च |
अल्पाहारी ब्रह्मचारी विद्यार्थी पञ्चलक्षणम् ||

Kaaka-cheshTaa bakodhyaanam shvaana-nidraa tathaiva cha
Alpaahaari brahmachaari vidyaarthee pancha-lakshaNam

Meaning: Agility of a crow (kaaka), concentration of a crane (baka), light sleep like a dog (shvaana), light eater (alpaa-haari), brahmachaari—these are the 5 qualities of a vidyaa-arthee.

Basically, this shloka tells us the 5 essential qualities desired out of an ideal student. A student should be very agile, alert & energetic like a crow. At the same time, he should have concentration like a crane. A crane can sit still for hours together waiting & concentrating on his prey. Sleep should be a like a dog. A dog wakes up at the slightest of sounds and is ever alert. 
 
Also very important is the quality of alpaahaari... i.e. light eater. Students should not be stuffing their stomachs to the brim, since it affects their agility & concentration. 

Most importantly, a student should have the virtue of brahmachaari... not just in the sense of being not married but being of a pure, unadulterated mind. Revered Pandurang Shastri Athavale explains a much more wider perspective of brahmachaari as one who walks on the path of Brahma or God. 

Even the concept of vidyaa is a lot more broader than the English term 'education'. Vidyaa connotes an education which teaches why to live, how to live, and which guides you to actually live that life. Ancient Indian literature mention 14 vidyaas, the pursuit of which makes you a Vidyaarthee. The rest (which cover almost all our academics, occupations and professions) are just kalas or arts.

But even for people who are engaged in any form of education—whether life-oriented or bread-oriented—these 5 qualities are a must, to achieve success. This is the mantra for success in any field of life.