Monday, July 6, 2015

Learning teaches humility

Vidhya dadati vinayam - Hitopadesa

Loose translation: Learning bestows humility

Huh! This is truly one for the books. What would be the point in putting in all those hours of work into learning something if you cannot even lord it over others who do not know as much as you do? Imagine being a doctor and not being able to say, "Am I the doctor or are you?" If you had to be humble, you might as well have remained ignorant.

Oh! So you were talking about the fact that the need to be arrogant would be lesser? That if I were learned, then people would automatically look up to me and I would not have to keep telling them how superior I am? So, when I speak to them, I could appear humble and still get respect without having to coerce respect from them by throwing my weight around? If that is what you meant, I am fine by it. I am not all that insecure a person that I would doubt getting respect and would preemptively throw my weight around to ensure that I get it.  Though, if someone fails to give respect...

What??? That was not all that you meant? So, exactly what did you mean? Learning would open my eyes to what is known; what is only believed; what is assumed; what applies only subject to certain conditions, and what those conditions are; and all that? That, knowing all this, I would not be assured of the fact that I am always right and would have the humility to listen and learn from other people? Rot! Your idea of learning seems to consist more of getting to know what you do not know than of getting to know things. Yeah, I know, I know, you will mouth off about "Knowing that you do not know is the first step to wisdom" and all that. Nonsense, I tell you. If that is your idea of learning, then you are a fool. I certainly do not agree and, what is more, almost the entire educational system of the world supports me - so there!

You really rise from height to height, do you not? Learning would expose me to the ocean of knowledge that is out there and would teach me that I had but drunk a drop or two of it? That it would make me feel that having drunk a drop more than the next guy would not feel like such a huge achievement that I would feel pride? Which is how Learning will teach me Humility? THAT shows how little you know about Human Nature. Who is going to bother comparing himself with this ocean of knowledge? I will only compare with the next guy and find that I have drunk double the drops that he has. Of course, it is a matter of great pride!

WHAT??? As long as I continue to feel like that I cannot consider myself wise? That Learning does not merely mean knowing things but to develop my personality, my character - to acquire wisdom? You...ah, why do I bother? You are incorrigible!

P.S: A response to a 3-quote challenge, tagged by Rachna

18 comments:

  1. Thank you Suresh for opening my eyes to what is really meant by this Hitopodesa quote! I am so glad I read this post, otherwise I would have not only remained ignorant but also arrogant in my learning ;) Now I humbly accept that I am happy to learn these things about learning, wisdom, human nature etc :D

    Seriously though you really are very good at these kind of posts! And your P.S. reminded me that I too need to do these quote posts.

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    1. vidyA dadAti vinayaM, vinayAdyAti pAtratAM
      pAtratvAddhanamApnoti, dhanAddharmaM tataH sukhaM

      THAT was the full quote and it is translated as "Knowledge leads to discipline; discipline leads to worthiness; worthiness leads to wealth; wealth leads to good deeds; and good deeds lead to joy.

      Now, me, living in this world do not really think the 'wealth leads to good deeds' :) It seems more likely to lead to more hunger for wealth :) SO, I chose to use the other meaning of 'vinayaM' - humility :)

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  2. "Vidhya Vinay thi shobhe che". So, "Humility adorns Knowledge" goes the Gujarati proverb. But you have hit it with, "Who is going to bother comparing himself with this ocean of knowledge? I will only compare with the next guy and find that I have drunk double the drops that he has." A fun reading, and profound too. You do have a way to dabble with serious ideas.

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    1. Thanks, Shweta! This is a saying that has reflections in almost all language - including the "Empty vessels make the most noise" in English. And, yet, it gets hardly ever reflected in behavior :)

      Yes - I do try to put in some weight in my humor...and, yes, I try to put forth serious ideas with a pinch of humor. Glad to know I succeed, sometimes.

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  3. I've never felt the need to show off even if I know something more than the other person. Interesting take on the quote, though had to read it a couple of times to get it. (I hope I did). :)

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    1. When you are not confident that you know something is when you feel the need to put down or outshout the other person, Vinay!

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  4. Very few examples of this kind come to my mind.I guess the really learned remain hidden in the shadows.Only those who blow their own trumpet are seen and heard.

    And when humility is draped like a thin sheath to cover the arrogance underneath it becomes even more repelling.

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    1. That is because true learning is almost entirely a thing of the past, Indu! Learning now means only acquiring skills in order to make money. Those who remain of character are those whose characters ARE that way and not those who have learned to be that way.

      And, yes, hypocrisy is always repellent.

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  5. Exactly. why would you learn things if you cannot show off? and who doesn't? That was a fantastic read Suresh :)

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    1. And what am I doing on my blog if not showing off :) Thanks, Debs!

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  6. That's such a fabulous quote and thanks for explaining it so well. This is such a difficult concept to explain. In my experience as well, I've noticed that learning or rather feeling that one is learned enough makes most people arrogant and defensive when challenged. By the way, just recently we encountered a doctor who tossed the exact same words at me. You know, most people feel very insecure about their knowledge. It is as if they are owners not mere propagators of it. It will do all of us a world of good if we tried to achieve all that you've mentioned via learning instead of using it as a tool to satisfy our ego or scream hoarse about our intellectual capabilities.

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    1. Good that you think I did a bit of justice to the tag Rachna!

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  7. A mindbogglingly wonderful write on a great quote, Suresh! Loved it:)

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  8. You explained it so well, Suresh. Yes, learning should make a person humble and not arrogant which fails many times. Rarely you see well learnt men being humble.

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    1. THAT is learning things, FIF! Learning, as in our scriptures, is a process of maturing the personality and not one of knowing information.

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  9. Being a punjabi, I am high on show-off. And I so agree with you, but I add an element of subtlety to it. :P

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    1. Ah! Cultural differences - we are all prisoners of that. in tambrahms, someone talking of his learning would be seen as boasting of non-existent virtues. If, however, you are in a community where you are taken at your own estimation, then unless you show off you won't get respect. :)

      That, though, is how we present ourselves to the world. How we feel internally is the more important thing and what I address here.

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