--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The foundation of this world is indeed…" description: "\"“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 ignora..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/dada-bhagwan-31_enlightened-one_the-foundation-of-this-world-is-indeed-k_2530145.jpg" --- # The foundation of this world is indeed knowledge (gnan)… ![“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…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/dada-bhagwan-31_enlightened-one_the-foundation-of-this-world-is-indeed-k_2530145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/dada-bhagwan-31_enlightened-one_the-foundation-of-this-world-is-indeed-k_2530145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/dada-bhagwan-31_enlightened-one_the-foundation-of-this-world-is-indeed-k_2530145.jpg) > ““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.”” [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [According Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/according-knowledge-1335026/) [Enlightened-one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened-one/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-knowledge-455403/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Gnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-gnan-859615/) [Knowledge Gnani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-gnani-1223625/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [“The world is not an impediment, it is your ignorance (of the Self) that impedes you. When does ignorance (of the Self) leave? It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-world-is-not-an-impediment-it-is-your-ignorance-of-the-self-that/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“It is knowledge (gnan) indeed that runs everything. All the actions (kriyao) are actually carried out by the knowledge (gnan). The result of following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/it-is-knowledge-gnan-indeed-that-runs-everything-all-the-actions/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“When just one single word comes in action then it is called ‘Knowledge’ (Gnan) and even after reading all the scriptures but not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/when-just-one-single-word-comes-in-action-then-it-is-called-knowledge/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The Knowledge (Gnan) is itself the absolute Self (Parmatma). Gnan (Knowledge) never becomes agnan (ignorance), but the applied awareness changes and that is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-knowledge-gnan-is-itself-the-absolute-self-parmatma-gnan/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “We can never have Knowledge (Gnan) without worship (bhakti). Such knowledge would be considered shushka-gnan \[unproductive knowledge\]. It cannot be considered True Knowledge.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/we-can-never-have-knowledge-gnan-without-worship-bhakti-such/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “Energy of pudgal \[that which charges and discharges, complex of intake and output\] is used in knowing the knowledge of ignorance based knowledge \[agnan,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/energy-of-pudgal-that-which-charges-and-discharges-complex-of-intake/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Samkit (enlightened view; right belief) is not Knowledge (Gnan); it is an understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/samkit-enlightened-view-right-belief-is-not-knowledge-gnan-it-is-an/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “Circumstances will change but (True) Knowledge \[Gnan\] will not change.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/circumstances-will-change-but-true-knowledge-gnan-will-not-change/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“You have brought with you (in this life) the ritual actions. The Knowledge (Gnan) part has to be done. Pure ritual is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/you-have-brought-with-you-in-this-life-the-ritual-actions-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Knowledge (gnan) is that which tells you ‘it is’ to ‘that what it is’ and ‘it is not’ to ‘that what is not’. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/knowledge-gnan-is-that-which-tells-you-it-is-to-that-what-it-is-and/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“There is only this much difference between a Gnani (the one who is Self-realized) and an agnani (one without Self-realization). The Gnani is constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/there-is-only-this-much-difference-between-a-gnani-the-one-who-is/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [For the little that one has reflected on the origin of our knowledge, it is easy to perceive that we can acquire it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-louis-leclerc-comte-de-buffon/for-the-little-that-one-has-reflected-on-the-origin-of-our-knowledge/) [Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-louis-leclerc-comte-de-buffon/) > [It is true that zeal is the soul of the virtues, but most certainly, Monsieur, it must be according to knowledge, as Saint Paul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/it-is-true-that-zeal-is-the-soul-of-the-virtues-but-most-certainly/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [“A person acts according to the knowledge internalized in his heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torah/a-person-acts-according-to-the-knowledge-internalized-in-his-heart/) [Torah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torah/) > [I make this chief distinction between religion and superstition, that the latter is founded on ignorance, the former on knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/i-make-this-chief-distinction-between-religion-and-superstition-that/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) ## More by Dada Bhagwan > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “The worldly \[spiritual\] science is methodic (kramic) in nature; one progresses “step by step”; one has to ascent one step at a time. Whereas… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-worldly-spiritual-science-is-methodic-kramic-in-nature-one/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani \[the enlightened one\], one can become… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-become-a-thief-and-through-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“If one does not know how to read the account (karmic) book, then he will start to have doubts, and doubts lead to unhappiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-one-does-not-know-how-to-read-the-account-karmic-book-then-he-will/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “Skills (learning) or lack of skills is all egoistic knowledge (ego based knowledge). Ego-free Knowledge is called (true) Knowledge \[Gnan\].” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/skills-learning-or-lack-of-skills-is-all-egoistic-knowledge-ego-based/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Continue with whatever it is that you have been doing, except for attachment-abhorrence. If ‘we’ stay in our state of Pure Soul, attachment-abhorrence will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/continue-with-whatever-it-is-that-you-have-been-doing-except-for/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“A variety of difficulties will come your way. But at the time of difficulty, you will be able to find a ready made medicine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/a-variety-of-difficulties-will-come-your-way-but-at-the-time-of/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Suppose you want to go to Juhu (suburb in Mumbai) from here, and you come across two paths, which of the two paths is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/suppose-you-want-to-go-to-juhu-suburb-in-mumbai-from-here-and-you/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The Soul (our true Self) has to be experienced, the Soul known through scriptures will not do. Work will not be completed through scriptural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-soul-our-true-self-has-to-be-experienced-the-soul-known-through/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“If God were the doer, when will there be an end?! (If) God is the creator and he made us, we become his toys,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-god-were-the-doer-when-will-there-be-an-end-if-god-is-the-creator/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“For those people whose association is harmful to the Self (kusangi), there is no better respectful fear (taap) than that of satsang (spiritual company).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/for-those-people-whose-association-is-harmful-to-the-self-kusangi/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Forgiveness is not to be given by speaking. Forgiveness is natural and spontaneously there. Spontaneous forgiveness is a sign of having attained the Self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/forgiveness-is-not-to-be-given-by-speaking-forgiveness-is-natural-and/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Remaining absolutely non-acquisitive (aparigrahi) amidst all possessions is the ultimate ‘test examination’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/remaining-absolutely-non-acquisitive-aparigrahi-amidst-all/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Explore all 2,468 Dada Bhagwan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More Enlightened-one quotes > [“When can one really say that pudgal (non-Self complex of input and output) is the doer? It is after one attains Self-realization. Otherwise, he would go in the wrong direction. After attaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/when-can-one-really-say-that-pudgal-non-self-complex-of-input-and/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/dehadhyas-the-belief-that-i-am-the-body-does-not-leave-without-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“What does the Lord say? "If you want liberation then go to the Gnani Purush (Self-realized One who can help others attain Self-realization) and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-does-the-lord-say-if-you-want-liberation-then-go-to-the-gnani/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“There is only this much difference between a Gnani (the one who is Self-realized) and an agnani (one without Self-realization). The Gnani is constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/there-is-only-this-much-difference-between-a-gnani-the-one-who-is/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The Vitarag path, the path of the enlightened ones, is such that there is a gain for both the giver as well as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-vitarag-path-the-path-of-the-enlightened-ones-is-such-that-there/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The Gnani Purush does not have any culmination in worldly life (sansaar-parinati) even for a moment, nor does He have any worldly intent (sansaar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-gnani-purush-does-not-have-any-culmination-in-worldly-life/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “We' \[The Gnani Purush\] do not fracture your ego, ‘we’ fracture your wrong belief. ” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/we-the-gnani-purush-do-not-fracture-your-ego-we-fracture-your-wrong/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Who is considered to have become a Vitaraag (free from all worldly attachments)? It is the One who remembers nothing else besides the Self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/who-is-considered-to-have-become-a-vitaraag-free-from-all-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“We' (Gnani Purush) have Seen the facts as they are, in our Knowledge, and that is what I speak about. There is no superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/we-gnani-purush-have-seen-the-facts-as-they-are-in-our-knowledge-and/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The present (time) is a very subtle thing. On one side there is the past and on the other side there is the future,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-present-time-is-a-very-subtle-thing-on-one-side-there-is-the-past/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“One cannot break the illusion of the state of doership by himself. Only the Gnani Purush (One who has realized the Self and is able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/one-cannot-break-the-illusion-of-the-state-of-doership-by-himself/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The science of absolutism or liberation (Vitaraag Vignan) begins upon the attainment of samkit (the right belief that 'I am pure Soul').”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-science-of-absolutism-or-liberation-vitaraag-vignan-begins-upon/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “Liberation is not possible even after a million lifetimes. Your work \[of liberation\] is getting done only because you have met a living Gnani… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/liberation-is-not-possible-even-after-a-million-lifetimes-your-work/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Where Knowledge of the Self (Gnan) prevails and where dispassion for worldly life (vairaag) reaches its pinnacle, that is when the state of absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-knowledge-of-the-self-gnan-prevails-and-where-dispassion-for/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Attachment (raag) is also karmic stock filled in the past life (bharelo maal) and so is dispassion for worldly life (vairaagya). The state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/attachment-raag-is-also-karmic-stock-filled-in-the-past-life-bharelo/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 97 Enlightened-one quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened-one/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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. 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