116
Aptavani-8
Questioner: So is the Veda also not full of knowledge?
Dadashri: That knowledge is not useful for final liberation
(moksha).
It is a means to attain knowledge (sadhan gnan). There
is no knowledge of the goal, the Self (sadhya gnan) in it. Because
it contains the means to attain knowledge (sadhan gnan), it
means that it is based on the intellect (buddhijanya). And this
is why the Veda itself says, ‘this is not That’. The Atma that you
are searching for, cannot be here; it is indescribable (avarniya),
it is inexpressible (avaktavya), and it is not found in words. And
the Veda is in the form of words (shabdaroop). Therefore “Go
to Gnani”, where the Atma can come into your hands. He will
say, “This is That!”
Veda is knowledge that is based on the intellect. And this
Gnan is knowledge of the Self (chetan Gnan). Knowledge
based on the intellect (buddhijanya gnan) means: what is the
difference between the intellect and knowledge? That direct
knowledge is called Gnan. Indirect knowledge is called intellect
(buddhi). Veda is knowledge in the form of words, and so it is
understandable through the intellect (buddhigamya). Veda is
theoretical and Gnan is practical.
Questioner: Does that mean it can be experienced
(anubhavgamya)?
Dadashri: Yes. It is something that can be experienced
(anubhavgamya), and that is the real knowledge. Everything
else however, is theoretical. That theoretical is in the form of
words. And knowledge of Atma (chetan Gnan) lies ahead,
much further ahead of words. It is inexpressible (avaktavya),
and indescribable (avarniya). It is impossible to describe the
Atma; the Vedas could not do it at all!
Nevertheless, the Veda is one kind of guiding tool
(sadhan). It is not something that helps you attain the ultimate