Five Reasons The Culture Of Knowledge Reaches Perfection In Surrender To Vasudeva

“According to the Vedic scriptures, the most perfect man surrenders unto the Lord after many, many lifetimes of culturing knowledge. The culture of knowledge reaches perfection only when the knower comes to the point of surrendering unto the Supreme Lord, Vasudeva.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shri Ishopanishad, 17 Purport)

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Just what exactly is knowledge? Of what use is it? What purpose does it serve? Are there degrees of knowledge? For instance, is one set of information, perhaps contained in a book, superior or inferior to knowledge found in another book?

According to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the culture surrounding knowledge reaches perfection only in one place. The culture involves the acquisition, the belief, the practical implementation, and then the subsequent realization.

These steps are there in any endeavor relating to knowledge, but there are limitations. There is always a higher step to go. That is, until a person reaches Vasudeva, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The same truth is explicitly stated in Bhagavad-gita:

बहूनां जन्मनाम् अन्ते
ज्ञानवान् मां प्रपद्यते
वासुदेवः सर्वम् इति
स महात्मा सु-दुर्लभः

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.19)

1. Knowledge anywhere else does not lead to transcendence

One person studies to become a doctor. Another person attends law school. There are also various trades. Welding. Construction. Repairing appliances. Operating heavy machinery.

Any sane person would agree that the knowledge required in these areas has value. The proof is in the resulting compensation for people within those occupations. They could not land those jobs without knowledge. They at least need some proof, in the form of a paper or certificate attesting to their time spent in study or training.

The limitation is that such knowledge does not automatically lead to transcendence. A person is equally bound whether they are a doctor or a lawyer. The person sweeping the streets sleeps the same amount of time at night as the wealthy landlord. There is the same vulnerability and struggle through the three sources of misery: from the heavens, from other living entities, and from within.

2. The different states are like scenes in a play

The culture of knowledge can surely lead to changes in state. Previously, I had to live in a small room inside of a shared house. This was because I did not earn enough money to have my own place. After sufficient training and completion of formal study, I land a better job.

Then, I can move to a better situation. At least for me it is better. Increased comforts. Beautiful surroundings. Something to show off to friends and family.

The wise person notices that these states are like scenes of a play. A dramatic production, isolated for our situation. We are the lead performer, with different characters coming and going. There are highs and lows, ups and downs, but nothing real at the end. Everything gets annihilated, and this also applies to the universe itself.

भूत-ग्रामः स एवायं
भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते
रात्र्य्-आगमे ऽवशः पार्थ
प्रभवत्य् अहर्-आगमे

bhūta-grāmaḥ sa evāyaṁ
bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate
rātry-āgame ‘vaśaḥ pārtha
prabhavaty ahar-āgame

“Again and again the day comes, and this host of beings is active; and again the night falls, O Partha, and they are helplessly dissolved.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.19)

3. Material nature has not helped me thus far

The culture of knowledge lacking in surrender to Vasudeva remains on the material platform. Material nature has not been much help. This is for as far as I can remember, as my previous experiences are erased from memory. Vasudeva retains everything, but I forget.

श्री-भगवान् उवाच
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि
जन्मानि तव चार्जुन
तान्य् अहं वेद सर्वाणि
न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
bahūni me vyatītāni
janmāni tava cārjuna
tāny ahaṁ veda sarvāṇi
na tvaṁ vettha parantapa

“The Blessed Lord said: Many, many births both you and I have passed. I can remember all of them, but you cannot, O subduer of the enemy!” (Bhagavad-gita, 4.5)

I struggled during childhood. I was bewildered as a teenager. I longed for more success as an adult. As a busy parent, I pray that one day I will find peace and quiet again. If I ever do, my body will likely be unable to function properly. I will have no choice but to suffer, to wait until the very end, where I will likely follow the same cycle again. My vast knowledge did nothing for me.

4. He is the source of everything

Vasudeva is the source of everything. That is one component to the highest knowledge. I should know that there is always a beginning. The vast universe did not emerge from nothing. It could not be due to a random collision of chemicals, because otherwise the same randomness could accidentally create many suns, planets, stars, and so forth.

Moreover, there wouldn’t be intelligence embedded into every aspect of nature, to the level that many departments of science exist. The findings continue to increase. These are nothing but discoveries of laws and principles which have been around before anyone can remember.

The laws must have a lawgiver. There must be someone imposing the principles. That person is Vasudeva. Knowing Him is like knowing everything. He is the cause that led to the reaction. He is the cause of all causes, sarva-karana-karanam.

5. There is nothing superior to Him

The culture of knowledge culminates in surrender at the lotus feet of Vasudeva because there is nothing superior to Him. The goalposts do not move. There is nothing behind the curtain, so to speak. There is nothing else to know.

मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्
किञ्चिद् अस्ति धनञ्जय
मयि सर्वम् इदं प्रोतं
सूत्रे मणि-गणा इव

mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat
kiñcid asti dhanañjaya
mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ
sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva

“O conquerer of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.7)

At the same time, the glories of Vasudeva are endless. Though a person finally surrenders to Him, this doesn’t mean that activity stops. Rather, the nature of the activity changes. It becomes transcendental. The same potencies get utilized in the proper way, pointed in the right direction. This is another way to understand genuine religion, or dharma.

In Closing:

One way dharma to understand,
That when at Vasudeva to land.

Not meaning the end,
Since glories to extend.

Infinitely so,
With service to grow.

To that transcendence corresponding,
With more opportunities responding.