The Story of Shvetaketu
The story of Svetaketu from Chandogya Upanisad was composed eight or seven centuries BC, so it describes an ancient world we don't know almost anything about. However, is there anything in this story that might be applied to the modern times? If yes, please expound.
This story, even though is very old, can be very well applied to today's world. Having advanced technology and everything at our fingertips, people often think very highly of themselves, thinking they possess all the knowledge in the world, just like Shvetaketu thought when he returned home after studying with his spiritual guide. What people today don't understand, and Shvetaketu did not understand also is that it is not enough to possess knowledge, but knowing how to use it. Shvetaketu learned a lot, but he didn't think about the knowledge he had. Just like a modern man, who needs the information, gets the information quickly using AI, Google, YouTube etc., and forgets about it. Modern man doesn't think about the things he learns, which is very depressing because he has all knowledge at his fingertips. That is the part of the story of Shvetaketu that mostly reminded me about 21st century people, because it is important for me to point out the quantity of knowledge we have with only two clicks on the keyboard, and we never try and think about it, or study it deeper, or even memorizing it to expand our knowledge. It is just temporary information and temporary knowledge we use at the times of need. But only when you spend some time thinking about the information you have is when you will actually gain knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bobana!
ReplyDeleteThe story of Svetateku can be applied to modern society in so many ways. But the part that really stands out to me is when Svetateku lived alone with animals for many months, he even forgot what day it was. He existed completely in the present moment, and that was all he cared about. He didn’t think about the future or the past.
ReplyDeleteModern society, on the other hand, is programmed to always think ahead. We live fast, constantly running around, not truly enjoying anything, just striving for more and more. More money, more clothes, more degrees, better jobs, better vacations, more likes on social media. We rarely stay in the moment and truly feel it with our whole mind and body.
Svetateku learned that he didn’t need anyone’s approval to be fulfilled and happy. He realized that peace and stillness could bring him more joy than anything else. He learned which cannot be learned.
But people today often think differently. We tend to sacrifice our peace to feed our ego, trying to be better than others. But comparison is the killer of joy. We all play our own parts in this life, and we should move at our own pace, with peace and gratitude for what we have in this present moment.
Maša Raičević (1807/24)
The Story of Shvetaketu even though old, ancient so to say, among other topics is centered around one controversial human trait, arrogance. This trait is common and on rise in modern times, thanks to many factors. One of them is social media, that encouraged ego inflammation in individuals and endless feeling of self-importance. But, more related to the story, arrogance could be described as feeling of bigger importance based on one’s talents, knowledge and status. In case of Shvetaketu, his years of studying and time spent with the guru, made him think he knows it all, he is more important than rest and that his knowledge is limitless. But one encounter with his father, and one task from the guru was enough to make him grounded and to make him realise that there is so much more to learn and never to be learned it all. This part of the story and this specific theme i chose is in my opinion very important in modern society and especially in academic circles. In our maternal language there is a saying that could be briefly translated as “educated fool”. Many professors, graduates and academic citizents have this feeling of bigger importance and egoistic manners. Even though their years of work are not negligible, and their results are something worth of an applause and praise, that applause is something they live for. Little do they know on concious level, that type of behavior is rooted in deep, deep insecurity.
ReplyDeleteDuška Karadžić (1818/24)