There is a story in the Upanishads that a Brahmin’s son Shvetaketu returned after taking all the knowledge from the Guru. So his father saw that Shvetaketu was returning, having studied from the ashram. Naturally, the arrogance comes. Whoever learns a little bit of knowledge, arrogance arises. Shvetketu walks staggeringly, early in the morning at sunrise his father sees Shvetketu coming.
Coming back knowing everything. The six scriptures, eighteen Puranas, four Vedas, which were prevalent in those days, have brought the knowledge of them all. And also brought with it the ego of that accumulated knowledge. Now even his father doesn’t know anything in front of him.
As all children feel, when they get to know a little bit. The children of that day were just like the children of today. Shvetaketu entered the house with a strut. Father asked him, you have come knowing everything, it seems. He said definitely. You ask and see. Passed all the exams. All scriptures are memorized. I have come when the Guru has given the certificate. But his father asked whether you have known from your guru even that, by knowing whom everything is known?
He said, What is that thing, by knowing which all is known? There is no such thing that the Guru has told me, by knowing which everything is known. I am coming knowing only those things, by knowing which they are known.
So the father said, you go back. You returned home after working in vain. Your arrogance has told me that you are coming back to the ignorant of the ignorant. Because stuttering is a sign of ignorance. you go back You were buried under the burden of scriptures, but the ray of knowledge has not yet burst in your life. Come knowing that, after knowing whom there is nothing left to know.
The poor man came back, sad all in vain, years of labor.
Going to the guru, he said what did you teach? Father said that it is nothing, and I returned assuming that everything was known. Now, father has said that come knowing him, knowing whom all is known. What is that which is known by knowing all?
His master said it is you yourself. But you never asked me who am I? I told you what you asked. You asked, how are clouds formed in the sky, so I would have told. If you asked how the rivers flow, I would have told. If you asked how food is digested, I would have told. I told you what you asked. Have you ever asked who I am?
And unless one knows oneself, one does not get the knowledge which is known by knowing all. Or after knowing that there is nothing left to know again.
