,
Knowledge as Faith in Guru
and Surrender to Krsna

In the Fourth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita Sri Krsna
concludes that of all sacrifices, the best is the
acquisition of knowledge.

Sreyan dravyamayad yajnaj
Jiana-yajiah parantapa
sarvam karmakhilam partha

Jfiane parisamapyate

“O chastiser of the enemy, the sacrifice of knowledge
is greater than the sacrifice of material possessions.
O son of Prtha, after all, the sacrifice of work
culminates in transcendental knowledge.” (Bg. 4.33)

Knowledge is the best sacrifice because this
conditional life is due to ignorance. The purpose of
sacrifice, penance, yoga and philosophical discussion
is to acquire knowledge. There are three stages of
transcendental knowledge by which one realizes the
impersonal aspect of God (Brahman realization), the
localized aspect of God within the heart and within
every atom (Paramatma or Supersoul realization)
and the realization of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead (Bhagavan realization). But the very first
step in acquiring knowledge is coming to understand
that “I am not this body. I am spirit soul, and my
aim of life is to get out of this material entangle-
ment.” The point is that whatever sacrifice we make
is intended to enable us to come to the point of
real knowledge. The highest perfection of knowledge
