Archive of Articles
Enlightenment, Authority, and Individualism
November 14, 2008
The Vedic (or Hindu) philosophers have three kinds of knowledge that reach toward the unknown. The first two kinds of knowledge are typical of philosophers: first, opinion or imagination, which results from the simple symbols that allow us to talk about things.
The second kind of knowledge is reason, which is what we get when we put two symbols together -- reason is the understanding that allows us to categorize our experience. This understanding is where rational beliefs and scientific thought come from.
But the third kind of knowledge, according to the Vedas, is more tangible, more practical, than most philosophical fare. Since human beings are limited and imperfect, their perception, theories, and speculations cannot be perfect. To understand perfection we must gain knowledge through hearing from higher authority -- from someone who is already enlightened. According to this tradition, accepting authority is absolutely necessary when we pursue goals beyond the senses and reason.
This third kind of knowledge the Vedic philosophers call "sabda."
Such authority as sabda, to quote one scholar, "refers not to a dictator but to a deliverer of primary knowledge. For instance, Shakespeare himself is naturally the authority par excellence on the works of William Shakespeare." Whatever action a great man performs, says the Bhagavad-gita, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
Great authorities -- the Einsteins, the Shakespeares, the Christs, even the blind lovers -- shun habit and step forth into chaos, "trailing clouds of glory." Those clouds of glory are the qualiadelic effect of enlightened people. They are the symbols that their actions become for the rest of us, and the words of wisdom they deign to bestow upon us. This is the authority of sabda.
Today we no longer see "enlightened people" in our midst. They exist, of course, but they are not really in our world view. (Mainly because in the West we haven't really kept a place for them in our order of things. See articles on Magical Realism.) Rather, we value individualism, which is an interesting substitution for authority. There is a close and troubled relationship between individualism and authority, so that is where we must begin.
We are taught from a young age to value individualism, but individualism is a tricky subject. In trying to think of the most individual person we know, we are likely to think of someone who is actually not an individual, but an eccentric. An eccentric is someone who is either incapable of, or has no interest in mastering the rituals that the rest of us participate in.
All great people stand on the shoulders of those who came before them. Individualism comes at the top, where the gifted are able to master and improve upon the rituals of their field. In all disciplines -- science or art, entertainment, business, religion, politics or sports -- individuals improve upon the conventions of their day, changing them in the process.
Michael Jordan changed basketball. Pablo Picasso changed art. Franklin Roosevelt changed American politics. Jesus, Mohammad -- you get the picture. Each, like many others throughout history, has (or had) well developed ideals, a big picture, a strong interest in the moment, and the ability to draw people into their own rituals. And the result is that they changed things, altered the paradigm, and transformed the tradition.
Within the symbol systems of their professions such individuals have the ability to express themselves better, to act out more freely -- even to approach the most serious of situations with some degree of playfulness. They have an attractive, clear vision which allows them to create special moments, meaningful both to themselves and their peers. They encourage exceptional behavior from all who come within their sphere.
Athletes, artists, politicians and others like these simply draw people into their wake as they pursue their interests. In truth, the quality that exceptional people share is the virtue of ritualing, for they continually venture into the unknowns with no one to guide them. They are masters of the qualiadelic experience.
Be Qualiadelic. Be Conscious. Change the routine.
Return to the archive of articles.