Gnan Quote by Dada Bhagwan
““Gnan’ (knowledge) is to know your own Self, and to not know that, is agnan (ignorance).””
About This Quote
Knowing oneself is true knowledge; ignorance is failing to recognize that self‑knowledge.
In simple terms: Self‑knowledge versus ignorance.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate self‑awareness.
Themes
self‑knowledge
ignorance
spirituality
Mood
contemplative
insightful
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditation
- personal reflection
- therapy
- education
- mindfulness
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
spiritual practice
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of yourself have you ignored?
- How does recognizing ignorance change your actions?
A Different Perspective
The path to self‑knowledge can be obstructed by ego and cultural conditioning.
![“It is difficult to know agnan (all other knowledge other than the knowledge of the Self, Worldly Knowledge), and easy to know Gnan [knowledge of the real self, the soul]. There is no end to agnan.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/97c/dada-bhagwan-31_gnan_it-is-difficult-to-know-agnan-all-other_310466.jpg)
![“Agnan (‘ignorance of the self’ based knowledge) takes one down and in that, the energies of the pudgal (non-Self complex, that which charges and discharges) keeps on coming. Whereas the Knowledge [self realized knowledge] that takes one higher, because it has to go against the pudgal [non-self…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f0/dada-bhagwan-31_energy_agnan-ignorance-of-the-self-based-knowle_1945099.jpg)
![“The worldly [spiritual] science is methodic (kramic) in nature; one progresses “step by step”; one has to ascent one step at a time. Whereas this here, is Akram Vignan, a path of step-less spiritual science; it is a science that has arisen after 10 Lac (a million) years. In this path, one travels…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/78b/dada-bhagwan-31_akram-vignan_the-worldly-spiritual-science-is-methodi_1477.jpg)
![“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s self. Everything in the worldly life is nothing but intoxication. The food is intoxicating, the senses are intoxicating. [Therefore] Go to the one, who…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b3/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-into_3662.jpg)
![“Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani [the enlightened one], one can become a Gnani [the enlightened one].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/102/dada-bhagwan-31_enlightened_through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-bec_4725.jpg)
![“Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari [living a worldly life] regardless of whether one is an ascetic or a family man. And where anger-pride-deceit-greed are absent, one is regarded as being asansaari…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7ec/dada-bhagwan-31_anger_where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-dece_5756.jpg)
![“Skills (learning) or lack of skills is all egoistic knowledge (ego based knowledge). Ego-free Knowledge is called (true) Knowledge [Gnan].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b36/dada-bhagwan-31_egoism_skills-learning-or-lack-of-skills-is-all_9081.jpg)
![“How can one go from good [auspicious state] to pure (state)? There are no words for it. It will happen when the Gnani Purush (the enlightened one) gives the awareness of the Self; it will happen when He bestows God’s grace upon you.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e9c/dada-bhagwan-31_enlightened_how-can-one-go-from-good-auspicious-stat_269702.jpg)
![“Gnan (Knowledge) that is realized and experienced is called ‘Gnan’ [(Real) ‘Knowledge’ (Knowledge with experience of the Self, The Pure Soul)]. Gnan (Knowledge) that is not realized is called agnan, (knowledge with ignorance of the Self). Measure of knowledge is that it is realized.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7d3/dada-bhagwan-31_gnan_gnan-knowledge-that-is-realized-and-expe_306834.jpg)