When I was reading Tukaram’s poems at Sat-tal ashram on 05-12-1990, inspired by their meaning, I wrote the next two songs
இறையறியா ஞானம்
பதரை உரலிலிட்டுப்
பலமுறை குத்தினாலும்
ஓர்மணி அரிசிதான்
உமக்கவை தந்திடுமோ?
எவ்வளவு காற்றாலும்
இறையறியா உன்ஞானம்
மணியற்ற சாவிதானே
மனதில்நீ கொண்டிடுவாய்.
English Translation
Godless Knowledge
Repeatedly pounding the husk
Won’t give a single grain
However you learn
Without the knowledge of God
Learning too will become
A husk without a grain
Remember this in your heart
Comments
For me one can have knowledge without bhakti, but one cannot have bhakti without knowledge. Mere learning without bhakti is like pounding the husk. Similarly without proper knowledge bhakti will remain mere sentiment leading to blind faith. Knowledge helps to remove the ignorance. Without removing the outside cover one cannot eat raw paddy. If the outer cover is ignorance, knowledge helps remove it. But mere learning just for the sake of seeking information without bhakti will never lead to true knowledge.
27-5-14