Real Wisdom

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.

I happened to talk to HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj today and he gave some wonderful words of wisdom worth meditating upon.

As we were talking, Maharaj made some deep and profound statements - There is a vast difference in meaning between 'intelligence' and 'wisdom'. Intelligence anybody can have. But Wisdom is very rare in this material world." He continued, "Wisdom means to be wise. What is 'wise' mean? You know, this famous proverb in English - Early to Bed and Early to rise, keeps a man happy, healthy, wealthy and wise." He said further, "This is real wisdom. If we get up early and do our mangala arati, chanting etc, then automatically we can become wise. There is no special endeavor needed to become wise. In fact, by this way, one can become wise even if he is not intelligent.

These powerful words made me think. I have heard this proverb so many times in the past but Maharaj gave a whole new idea out of it. It is a general tendency in most of us to readily link that proverb to the 'health' aspect but mostly we do not focus on the other three items - happy, wealthy and wise. 

Maharaj would many times say in his discourses that getting up early is important for keeping good health. According to Ayurveda shastra, If we sleep beyond 4 'o clock in the morning, the body develops more mucus. And if we are awake beyond 9 pm then our blood starts boiling. Both of these are not good for our health. So for healthy upkeep of our body, getting up early in the morning is essential. But keeping the body fit is not enough. Event hough the body is fit, if the mind is focussing on all filthy and unwanted things in this world then it will again lead us towards suffering. Hence, in our shastras, the importance is stressed on getting up during brahma muhurta and at the same time perform humble devotional service like mangala arati, chanting etc so that by focussing on the Lord, our mind will also become pure.

Srila Prabhupada gives the same idea in his punch in the purport for SB 1.3.44 - No one can give rapt attention who is not pure in mind. No one can be pure in mind who is not pure in action. No one can be pure in action who is not pure in eating, sleeping, fearing and mating.

The health of our body and mind depends upon how much we use them in Krsna's service. If we use our body and mind in the service of Krsna as much as possible, then Krsna will think, If I give this person a healthy body and mind then he will use it properly in My service." So He will be forced to give us good health. 

Tail piece: Incidentally, when I searched in the Vedabase folio for the word "wisdom", almost every time Prabhupada has used the term "Vedic Wisdom". It goes without saying that whatever is prescribed in our Vedic scriptures is the real wisdom. 

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev,
Kalacakra Krsna das.