Category:Authoritative Knowledge
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda defines authoritative knowledge as that which is received from a source beyond the four defects of the common man: mistakes, illusions, cheating, and defective perception. He emphasizes that the Vedic system is based on sruti-pramanam, or evidence from hearing authorized scripture, rather than the "rascal" method of mental speculation or experimental invention. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that astikyam, a primary quality of a brahmana, specifically means to have firm faith in authoritative Vedic knowledge. He warns that the modern world is filled with false knowledge manufactured by "fools" and "bluffers" who present non-standardized methods of self-realization. Conversely, authoritative knowledge, as found in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, teaches foundational truths such as the eternity of the soul and its migration from one body to another. Ultimately, Śrīla Prabhupāda requests that we utilize the rare opportunity of human life to accept this descending knowledge and assimilate it with our intelligence, rather than following the sentimental or nonsensical theories of mundane thinkers.
- The Definition of Āstikyam: The term astikyam refers to the essential quality of having full faith in the authoritative Vedic knowledge, which is the foundational business of a brahmana.
- Śruti-pramāṇam: Real evidence is not found through direct perception of the blunt eyes but through sruti-pramanam—knowledge received through authoritative books and scriptures.
- Beyond Human Defects: Authoritative knowledge must be taken from authorities who are free from the four defects: committing mistakes, being illusioned, cheating, and possessing imperfect senses.
- Rejection of Manufactured Knowledge: The Vedic system rejects "manufactured" or "invented" knowledge as foolishness, emphasizing that one must receive truth from a perfect authority.
- Foundational Truths of the Gītā: The eternity of the soul and its migration between bodies are not mere theories but constitute the beginning of authoritative knowledge.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Āstikyam - Faith in Authoritative Vedic Knowledge.
Pages in category "Authoritative Knowledge"
The following 19 pages are in this category, out of 19 total.
A
- Actually we are understanding about the sun not by our direct eyes but through the authoritative knowledge, through the sastra, through the books. Sruti-pramanam. That is evidence
- Anyone discovers or says something nonsense, it is accepted. But the process of Vedic understanding is not like that. You have to accept knowledge from the authority. Therefore Vedic system has rejected the Carvaka Muni
- Astikyam means to have faith in the authoritative Vedic knowledge. That is called astikyam
- Authoritative Vedic knowledge
T
- The beginning of Bhagavad-gita is to teach that soul is eternal, it is migrating from one body to another, so there is next life. That is authoritative knowledge
- The conclusion should be to take authoritative knowledge from authorities - one who is beyond the four defects of common man: one who does not make any mistake, one who is not illusioned, one who does not cheat, and one whose senses are perfect
- There are many authoritative books of spiritual knowledge, but all of them are more or less supplements to the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam
- There is difference between false knowledge and authoritative knowledge. So far we are concerned at the present moment, whatever knowledge we are giving or accepting, they are more or less false knowledge. Not authoritative
- They too do not accept knowledge from the authority. They manufacture. How you can manufacture? You are a fool, so whatever you'll manufacture, so-called knowledge, that is also foolish
W
- We accept this book, Brahma-samhita, as very authoritative. This is our process of knowledge. We receive knowledge from the authority
- We are being accepted by learned circle, and who cares for these rascals? Nobody cares. Only some sentiment. There is no science, there is no knowledge. Here it is authoritative knowledge based on Vedic culture
- We are not inventing anything. We are talking on the basis of authoritative knowledge contained in the Vedas
- We request simply people that you accept this authoritative knowledge and try to assimilate it by your intelligence
- We should use this great opportunity, human life, to understand all these points which are mentioned in the authoritative books of Vedic knowledge like Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita