Sunday, March 04, 2007

Knowledge and Enlightenment

The poet Kabir says:
What good is it if the scholar pores over words and points of this and that but his chest is not soaked dark with love?
What good is it if the ascetic clothes himself with saffron robes but is colourless within?
What good is it if you scrub your ethical behavior till it shines, but there is no music inside?
Disciple: What’s the difference between knowledge and enlightenment?
Master: When you have knowledge, you use a torch to show the way. When you are enlightened you become a torch.
from Anthony de Mello, The Prayer of the Frog

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