It’s far easier to sit on a greatly decorated stage and talk about the virtues of Rudrākṣa, and what kind of water to drink, and why copper is useful; and all kinds of pseudo-scientific nonsense. But to really speak upon a Kabir or an Ashtavakra requires a tremendous understanding which does not come to everybody. If you are a spiritual teacher and you are saying you have not read any scripture, that raises questions on your love for the Truth.
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Questioner: Isn’t reading scriptures just an acknowledgment of knowledge? Why should one read scripture, if one can learn from life itself?
Acharya Prashant: It totally depends on you rather than the scripture. It is not about whether or not scriptures are useful; it is about what you want from the scriptures. If you want knowledge from the scripture, you will get that. But if you want liberation, that’s another thing altogether. The scripture by itself, is in some way powerless. You decide what to make of it. So, I am neither against nor for scriptures.
With the right intention if you go to the scriptures, they are the biggest blessing you can ever get. But if the intention itself is mediocre, tainted, then what can the poor scripture do? The best it can do is warn you right at the outset. And many scriptures actually do that. The first few verses would be warning and disclaimers – “Idiots don’t proceed,” “If you are coming to me without having cultivated a certain detachment, don’t proceed,” “If you are coming to me with any desire except that of liberation, kindly don’t proceed.” So, all these warnings are there in advance, but why would you heed them if you are anyway not carrying the right intention?
