The Sacred Tradition

By Staff

Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 13:51

Whenever we hear the words Guru Sisya parampara we think immediately of a spiritual teacher sitting with his students, handing over any spiritual knowledge. But in India Guru sisya parampara is not only for spiritual knowledge but for all branches of knowledge as well.

Parampara means tradition coming from para to apara, higher to lower. It is a tradition of transferring knowledge of any subject from a guru to a disciple. In modem times when we hear the word tradition we revolt, but what is really meant by the word is only that it is a method of transferring the knowledge.

We may ask what is the need of this tradition? There are many reasons:

1. Knowledge has various aspects or stages. One stage of knowledge is gathering information about a particular subject. Information can be gathered by many means but gaining an insight into it is a different thing. That is, we hear sound but to hear music in it is something different. Furthermore, we may have the insight but it is not necessary that the person discover the truth of that subject as well.

The purpose of knowledge is to discover the truth of a thing. Nowadays people get many degrees in science, economics and so on, but they do not know the truth of the subject.

To discover the truth one requires an extraordinary ability. We all have the most wonderful and exclusive gift given only to man- the intellect. But,just because we have a gift does not mean we make proper use of it. To make proper use of it and develop it so that we do not condition the intellect but instead prepare it to gain the insight of the Truth, a teacher is a must. Even for the use of mechanical things a teacher and his guidance is required, then what to say about the intellect which is the subtlest and the most delicate of instruments. Such a special instrument requires the guidance of an extraordinary and dexterous person. With our own limited intelligence it is almost impossible to know the truth of life in its totality.

Tradition does not mean that we are conditioning the intellect or putting it under some control. With a conditioned mind the Truth cannot be known. In Vedanta we find how questions are put forth to challenge the teachings. Tradition is not controlling or suppressing anyone but it gives training to the intellect so that one may gain the insight and discover the truth for one self. Until and unless we know the truth for ourselves, any other knowledge of it will be indirect (paroksa) only.

To be continued

About the author

Swami Tejomayananda, the Chairman and spiritual head of Chinmaya Mission worldwide, is one of the foremost disciples of Swami Chinmayananda. He is an outstanding teacher of Vedanta and an accomplished poet, author, and composer.