Enlightened-one Quote by Dada Bhagwan
““The foundation of this world is indeed knowledge (gnan). It is on the basis of knowledge that living beings function! Is it Knowledge (Gnan) or ignorance (aGnan)? Ignorance too is knowledge indeed. It is the Gnani (the enlightened one) who has differentiated between the two. Otherwise, whatever knowledge a living being has, it simply functions according to that knowledge. Therefore, it is indeed knowledge that runs this world.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: Teachings of Dada Bhagwan, 1990s
The quote asserts that all existence operates based on knowledge, whether true or false, and that enlightenment lies in distinguishing between them.
In simple terms: All life follows knowledge; enlightenment sees the difference between true and false knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Seek clarity between true and false knowledge.
Themes
knowledge
enlightenment
perception
reality
spirituality
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
serene
Type
philosophical
spiritual
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- education
- spiritual practice
- leadership
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
dualism
cognitive awareness
philosophy of mind
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you determine if a belief is true or merely accepted?
- What practices help you see beyond apparent knowledge?
A Different Perspective
Distinguishing truth from falsehood can be ambiguous and culturally dependent.
![“We can never have Knowledge (Gnan) without worship (bhakti). Such knowledge would be considered shushka-gnan [unproductive knowledge]. It cannot be considered True Knowledge.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7be/dada-bhagwan-31_knowledge_we-can-never-have-knowledge-gnan-without_3016352.jpg)
![“Energy of pudgal [that which charges and discharges, complex of intake and output] is used in knowing the knowledge of ignorance based knowledge [agnan, all other knowledge other than knowledge of the self], and prayer is required to be done to know the knowledge of Gnan [Knowledge of the Soul…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2c7/dada-bhagwan-31_energy_energy-of-pudgal-that-which-charges-and_2689259.jpg)
![“Circumstances will change but (True) Knowledge [Gnan] will not change.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4e3/dada-bhagwan-31_circumstances_circumstances-will-change-but-true-knowl_2047268.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)
![“Dehadhyas (the belief that ‘I am the body’) does not leave without [the grace of] the Gnani Purush (the Self-realized One, who can help others realize the Self). The Gnani Purush is vitaraag (one who is free from all attachment). He constantly remains in Swa-parinati (the natural state of the…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/612/dada-bhagwan-31_belief-that-i-am-the_dehadhyas-the-belief-that-i-am-the-body_76247.jpg)
![“We' [The Gnani Purush] do not fracture your ego, ‘we’ fracture your wrong belief.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/078/dada-bhagwan-31_belief_we-the-gnani-purush-do-not-fracture-your_182024.jpg)
