Not by knowledge alone

IT IS IMPORTANT TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE, BUT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ACT UPON IT, OTHERWISE SUCH KNOWLEDGE REMAINS MERE THEORY

Even though we do possess knowledge about certain things, we don’t practise them. That is mainly because we lack the realisation that knowledge can be useful.

Starting with the example of being truthful, how many of us are truthful? Unfortunately, the number maybe very small. Why is that so? Don’t we know that being untruthful may give advantages in the short run but, ultimately, the truth comes out and we are necessarily punished.

The worst part is that some of us teach our young impressionable children the habit of lying. When they see us lying, they do the same. Not only are we hurting ourselves by lying, we condemn our children too to the habit of lying.

Let us have another example. From our childhood days, we are taught to be disciplined. Fortunately, many learn to get disciplined and they succeed in life.

The ones who are not, don’t have to look very far. One of the main reasons for their failure is the lack of discipline in their lives.

Let us take the example of bad habits like drinking, smoking and gambling. Don’t we all know that these are extremely harmful? But the worst part is that we are helplessly attracted towards these, and we don’t seriously try to stop ourselves.

Someone offers us a drink and knowing fully well what this could lead to, we don’t refuse. The same goes for smoking and gambling. We just do not wish to think of their long-term consequences. This is like an insect getting helplessly attracted to fire.

What should we do? Yes, it is important to gain knowledge, but it is more important to act upon it, otherwise such knowledge remains mere theoretical. We should make sincere efforts to inculcate good habits.

It is not going to be easy but can be done with some effort.

The advantages of doing so are enormous. Not only you lead a happy, peaceful and pious life on this planet, you can hope to have good times beyond this life as well.