learn by experience....

learn by experience....

शास्त्रज्ञोप्यलोकज्ञो मूर्खतुल्यः॥

चाणाक्यसूत्रं ५४३

śāstrajñopyalokajño mūrkhatulyaḥ||

cāṇākyasūtraṁ 543

_________

Even if one is well read and even learned in Science and scriptures, if he does not know the ways of the world he is just equal to a fool, idiot and ignoramus..

So says the master Guru Chanakya..

Yes, we can learn the principles and theories of science, statecraft or for that matter almost anything through books and records.. 

But such learning has inherent limitations.. 

The basic principles as studied from books may be very correct.. But they have meaning and relevance only if they are applied for the benefit of all.. 

Such knowledge can be applied only if we know and understand the nature and mindset of the people.. 

The people and the environment could be understood only through interaction and observation.

Theoretical and academic knowledge cannot help us in this matter..

The attitudes and mindsets of the people are shaped on the history, geography, economics and sociology of ther respective target groups.. And no textbook can ever supply correct and complete data on this..

So if we are presuming that we are just perfect in our knowledge by going through many standard texts and famous books, we are almost equal to idiots.

One cannot learnn swimming by reading a book, for example..

_____________

It would be nice to recall the following subhashitam too..

It is a quote from Udyogaparvam of Mahabharatam..

आचार्यात् पादमादत्ते पादं शिष्यः स्वमेधया।

पादं सब्रह्मचारिभ्यः पादं कालक्रमेण च॥

ācāryāt pādamādatte pādaṁ śiṣyaḥ svamedhayā|

pādaṁ sabrahmacāribhyaḥ pādaṁ kālakrameṇa ca||

The student receives one fourth of his education from his preceptors..

one fourth from ones own perception, by application of mind and brain

one fourth from living in the company of fellow scholars and by comparison of mutual experience..

And the final quarter can be gained only through the efflux of time.. that is by living and experiencing..