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Can a spiritual man be worldly wise? || Acharya Prashant (2016)
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5 years ago
Worldly Wisdom
Spirituality
Truth
The Worldly Man
Mind
Wisdom
Separation
Scriptures
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that all spirituality is exclusively for the worldly man. He defines the worldly man as one who believes in the world, sees himself as a product of the world, and believes he appeared in and will one day disappear from the world. Spirituality is for this very person. He questions whether the Truth itself needs spirituality, implying it does not. Spirituality is described as closeness to Truth, but he points out that the very concept of closeness implies an initial separation. All closeness is just a relative distance, which indicates separation. Spirituality is for the mind that is facing a problem, seeking a solution, and trying to come to terms with its own limitations. It is for the restless mind that feels it does not know and wants to know. Therefore, all spirituality is applicable only in the worldly domain. There is only worldly wisdom, and that is spirituality. There is no such thing as an un-worldly, metaphysical, or transcendental wisdom. All wisdom is for the one who believes in and lives in the world. The speaker criticizes the compartmentalization of worldly and spiritual wisdom, stating that this division is a continuation of the suffering mind. True worldly wisdom is one's basic, natural potentiality; it is how one ought to have lived. To not be worldly-wise, to live as a stupid person, is abnormal and unnatural. Worldly wisdom means allowing one's senses and mind to operate with maximum cleanliness, power, and potential. Man is designed to operate at the level of the Truth, the Self, which is the maximum level. Operating at any other level results in suffering. Worldly wisdom is nothing special; it is one's nature. It means letting the eyes see without being fooled and the intellect analyze without prejudice. The only proof of one's spirituality is one's worldly life. It is not about quoting scriptures or performing rituals while one's life is in disarray. Wisdom is not about attaining God or finding paranormal freedom, but about living beautifully in the world. It is about not lying to yourself. The action of Truth is to live like a master in this world. This is the only way one's proximity to Truth is ascertained. Wisdom lies in seeing the divine right in front of you and in your heart, not just in quoting scriptures.