Knowledge vs. wisdom

This story of Udd§laka and |vetaketu is from the Ch§ndogya Upani>ad.  Udd§laka sent his little son |vetaketu to a gurukula to take education.  For twelve long years |vetaketu stayed in the Gurukula and learnt a large number of scriptures.  Then he returned home, a young boy loaded with vast knowledge gained from the scriptures and he thought that it was a rare feat.  He treaded the earth with pomp and pride. 

His father Udd§laka could notice this and he thought of teaching his son a lesson which was much more profound and yet simple.  He asked his son to bring a bowl filled with water and pour a lump of salt in the water.  Soon the salt dissolved and disappeared in water.

‘My dear son!  Dip your finger in the water and find the salt in it’.

|vetaketu did accordingly.  ‘Dear Father!  I don’t find the salt’. 

‘Dear son!  Now, dip your finger in the water again and taste the water on your tongue’.

‘Yes, father!  It tastes salty’.  |vetaketu tasted the water from all parts of the bowl.  Taste was same.  He reported to his father accordingly.

Udd§laka said, ‘The position of the Reality is similar to this salt.  Even though it is not ‘easily’ visible to all senses, yet its presence cannot be disputed at all.

‘Similar is the case of Brahman.  Brahman is the only Reality.  It’s presence is unquestionable.  In fact, it is the only Reality that is changeless, ever presence and all-permeating.  All else is transitory, unreal and impermanent.

‘You are That, My dear |vetaketu!  ‘Tat-tvam-asi, |vetaketo!’ ‘You are Brahman.  You are nothing but Brahman, the eternal and all Blissful’.          

Note:  ‘Tat tvam-asi’ is one of the four mah§v§kyas which are propagated in the Upani>ads. Other three are: praj_§na/ brahma, aha/ brahm§smi, ayam-§tm§ brahma.