Mantra Nine 47
uhbove the senses there is the mind, and above the mind there is
Ihe intelligence, and above intelligence there is the soul.
Therefore, the aim of education should be self realization,
realization of the spiritual values of the soul. Any education
which does not lead to such a realization of life must be
considered avidyd, or nescience. And to culture such nescience
means going down to the darkest region of ignorance.

Such mistaken educators are known in the Vedic language
hy four names:

|. veda-vada-rata,

2. mayayd apahrta-jnana,

3. dsuram bhavam,

A. naraddhama.

‘I'he veda-vada-rata people pose themselves as very learned in the
Vedic literature, but unfortunately they are completely diverted
from the purpose of the Vedas. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said
that the purpose of the Vedas is to know the Personality of
Godhead, but these veda-vada-rata men are not at all interested
in the Personality of Godhead. On the contrary, they are
fascinated by such results as the attainment of heaven.

As is said in Mantra One of Sri Isopanisad, we should know
that the Personality of Godhead is the Proprietor of everything,
and we must be satisfied with our alloted portion of the
necessities of life. The purpose of the whole Vedic literature is
lo awaken this God consciousness in the forgetful living being,
and the same principle is presented in various ways in the world’s
various Scriplures for the understanding of foolish mankind.
Thus the ultimate purpose is to bring one back to Godhead.

But the veda-vada-rata people, instead of realizing the purport
of the Vedas, take it for granted that side issues such as the
attainment of heavenly pleasure for sense gratification—the
lust for which is the very cause of their material bondage in the
first. plaee—ps the ultimate end of the Vedas. Such people
misguide others by misinterpreting the Vedic literature, and
sometimes they condemn the Purdnas, which are authentic
