There is nothing more sacred than knowledge , declare all the scriptures . Knowledge secures salvation , declare that the upanishads . Such is the belief of great philosopher - thinkers like Buddha and Mahavira , who seem to insist on Man's acquiring right knowledge "samyag - jnana". This knowledge liberates a man from all the sorrows of life. It secures for him the much coveted freedom from the miseries of life. He wins the cherished peace of mind , though life may continue around him as before. The importance of this saving knowledge lies in this very significant fact that it secures the release of man here and now , in this very life , and not offer him what may be called post - dated cheque of freedom from birth and death , whatever may be the importance of such an idea. From early times knowledge has been taken as a sure means of freedom and immortality.
Immortality which appears to be the aim and the craze of man is in a way , a very interesting concept. Man fully well knows that everything in this world around him , including he himself , is perishable. Origin , growth , decay and death , appear to be the normal stages through which everything under the sun has to pass through. The body is too fragile to be in any way eternal . It is very frail and prone to fall at the very first severe attack or shock. It cannot withstand the onslaught of powers of nature , nor can it withstand internal anguishes. It lies prostrate before both.
Naturally , in its constitution , the spirit has to be different stuff altogether than the body. Only in that eventuality , could it be free from death and other accidents of the body which it lives in.
The universe would require an omniscient , omnipresent , perfect creator , who would need nothing else for his creation . He would need no helper in the process nor any matter , for he would be in a position to bring out everything out of himself. He would create universe out of himself , as does the spider weave his web out of himself . Matter is inanimate and insentient, and so the spirit which is its opposite in these respects, must belong to the side of creator.
Knowledge is essentially connected with the Dharma , for this knowledge is the result of the exploration of the very sustaining principles of the universe and the human life . This knowledge tells man all that he needs to know about his existence , experience , his lot , his relation with the Reality behind the universe." Know thyself " has been simplest advices given to man, but it would appear that this injunction.. wrapped up in his passions and delights , fully engrossed in his own surroundings and gloating over the small powers that has been bestowed on him , man has scarcely given thought to these questions. When things seem to go all his way , man usurps the place of the Maker , and when things go wrong , he finds the maker as a suitable entity to curse, a scapegoat for his failures , miseries and such an attitude of arrogance does lead man nowhere and he has to think of the problem of his existence , of the world that surrounds him , in all humanity , and must make an effort to find a solution , that appears to be on the whole , satisfactory . Death , the inevitable end of everything , must make man look inwards and seek answers in pure and intense mediatation over the problems involved. Knowledge , right knowledge of these problems , cannot be had in the ordinary manner , for the senses , the normal agency at the service of man , fails him here. He must develop and sharpen sixth sense.
