Climax of Cognitive expansion

We call today's society a Knowledge society, we know Knowledge is power, but how do we get this Knowledge? How to accept Knowledge is power?

Commonly we believe that Knowledge is obtained by perception, by seeing, by hearing, by touching etc. Nyaya Shastras go one step further and define three connectivities, which are necessary to gain Knowledge. They are;

• Connectivity between Vishya (object) and Indriya (sense organ)
• Connectivity between Indriya (sense organ) and Manas (Mind / Intellect)
• Connectivity between Manas (Mind / Intellect) and Atma (Consciousness)

Perception through sense organs is the first step, where in we sense the shape, size, color, texture, smell, taste, pitch, tone etc. to gain Knowledge about the object. After sensing, we correlate these inputs with our prior experience and use judgment to come to some sort of understanding. However, such Knowledge is always incomplete, because it is conditioned by prior experiences, limited to that particular place and that particular time. Such Knowledge is called as Savikalpa Jnana or Relative Knowledge which is obtained by first two connectivities and conditioned by three factors, Object, Place, and Time.

Knowledge which is beyond this subjectivity and conditioning is obtained only by elevating it to the level of Consciousness using the third connectivity. Such Knowledge is called - Pure Objective Knowledge or in other words Nirvikalpa Jnana. This process of elevation from relativistic level to pure and objective level is the true climax of cognitive expansion.

Modern Psychology cannot define this, since Atma is Supra clinical (beyond the capacity of clinical measurements). Having reached this Nirvikalpa Jnana state, there is no place for Samshaya doubting. In the very last Shloka of this chapter, Krishna is advising Arjuna to shun all doubts, cut the deep rooted ignorance with the sword of Jnana and to standup and perform his duties.

तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः।

छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत॥गीता ४-४२॥

Cut the ignorance Ajnana with the sword of Jnana,

Reject doubting, establish yourself in Yoga and stand up.