‘Knowledge in ignorance’ is an oxymoron,
the placing of contradictory words next to each other to convey a deeper
meaning.
To understand this oxymoron, let’s consider
the special way the Bhagavad-gita (18.22) uses the word ‘ignorance’ in the
phrase ‘knowledge in (the mode of) ignorance.’ Here ignorance refers to not the
absence of knowledge, but to a freakishly fragmented mode of perception that keeps
one ignorant of most of reality. Thus knowledge in ignorance is tiny.
Ignorance refers to not the absence of
knowledge, but to a freakishly fragmented mode of perception that keeps one
ignorant of most of reality
A prominent contemporary example of such
knowledge is scientific materialism. Modern science frequently uses materialism
as its starting presumption and thereby seeks material explanations for natural
phenomena. Using this methodology, it has made such strides that today
scientific knowledge fills thousands upon thousands of books.
How can this vast body of knowledge be
considered tiny?
Because it is vastly tiny – all its
vastness is restricted to a tiny fraction of reality: material reality.
Gita wisdom explains that the totality of
reality comprises of three levels: gross material reality, subtle material
reality and spiritual reality. All these levels of reality are sustained by the
supreme spiritual reality, Krishna.
Only when we expand our investigative lens
to encompass all of reality, especially its centerpiece Krishna, will we find
meaning in life. Otherwise, scientific materialism will sentence us to a
meaningless self-conception: we are nothing more than lumps of matter somehow
come alive to flap around while being pushed inexorably from a pre-birth
infinity of nothingness to a post-death infinity of nothingness.
Those who see the complete reality see the
vastness of scientific knowledge as testimony to the glory of Krishna. If the
study of just one of his energies is so rewarding, how much more rewarding will
be the study of the supreme source of that energy?
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