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| Vidya Vidya means divine knowledge or wisdom. According to the ancient scripture, the Mundaka Upanishad, there are two kinds of knowledge - higher knowledge and lower knowledge. The saints, sages and spiritual masters also advise us that the knowledge that is recorded in mere words as spiritual advice, or in scriptures such as the Vedas and other spiritual books, comprise the lower form of Vidya. Only the Guru can teach the higher form of wisdom, or knowledge to the true seeker who has shed passion and desire for all worldly matters. The Upanishads continue to explain that real knowledge of the Self is that which sends away the ego. True life and immortality are obtained through this real knowledge. That knowledge of the Self (atmavidya) is the only path for the attainment of liberation, is the message of the Swetashwatara Upanishad : Tam-Eva Viditwaa Ati-Mrityum-Eti "Only by knowing the Self alone can you overcome death We see, therefore, that these ancient writings explain that only
Vidya can rescue us from ignorance. Ignorance is the basic cause
of all distress and anguish. According to the Bhagavad Gita, the
highest knowledge (atmavidya) is also brahmavidya (knowledge of
the absolute) and, at this stage, becomes supreme devotion (parabhakti).
Finally, Vidya is also a name of the Divine Mother in Her forms of Goddess Saraswati, Lakshmi or Parvati and as the personification of the true, spiritual knowledge. The ultimate in spirituality is self-realization or enlightenment and is often described as a state of untainted wisdom, as opposed to the worldly state of ignorance (avidya). However, vidya is the higher learning that transcends the world and consciousness and, as such, conventional knowledge. Vidya is the essential nature of pure Consciousness (cit) beyond thought, form and expression. Vidya is mentioned in many stotras (mantras of names) to the Divine Mother. Ksharam Tw'Avidyaa "Ignorance does not last forever |
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