Lower and Higher Knowledge
Lower and Higher Knowledge (Apara-vidya and Para-Vidya).
In the pursuit of wisdom, the Bhagavad Gita distinguishes between the world we see and the Seer who perceives it. This distinction is known as Lower Knowledge (Apara-vidya) and Higher Knowledge (Para-vidya). Pedro Nonell, a Spanish expert in the Bhagavad Gita and the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, explains that while Western science excels in the objective universe, the Spiritual Science of the East focuses on the subjective reality of the Self.
By understanding the Field (Kshetra) and the Knower of the Field (Kshetrajna), we begin the journey toward the ultimate knowledge of God and the realization of our true spiritual nature.
The Spiritual Science of Subjective Reality
For Swami Vivekananda the method and process by which a disciple traditionally acquires knowledge from a teacher is called education. This knowledge or Vidya has been classified into two types: Apara-vidya (lower knowledge) and Para-vidya (higher knowledge).
This division does not imply that one form of knowledge is superior to the other; rather, it indicates whether the focus is objective or subjective
Apara-vidya is the knowledge of the objective universe, while Para-vidya is the knowledge of the Subject, the Knower, not as an agent of the process of knowledge but as the Eternal Subject, the true embodiment of knowledge as Consciousness.
The materialistic sciences cultivated in the West deal with objective reality—that which is perceived, seen, and experienced.
Spiritual Science (Philosophy of Yoga), called the Science of all sciences (sarva-vidya pratishtha) in the Upanishads, cultivated in the East, deals with subjective reality, which is the Perceiver, the Seer, the Experiencer.
All chapters of the Bhagavad Gita end by quoting “the Science of Yoga”:
“Thus concludes the first chapter, entitled Arjuna's Yoga of Discouragement in the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, on the Science of Yoga as part of the Knowledge of Brahman in the Upanishad known as the Bhagavad Gita.”
The Yoga of the Field (Kshetra): the essence of Advaita
The setting of the Bhagavad Gita (Yoga Arjuna’s Despondency) is the great war of the Mahabharata, which took place between the Pandavas and the Kauravas on the sacred plain of Kurukshetra.
The latter, the Subject, is called Kshetrajna, the Knower of this field. Chapter 13- The Yoga of the Field and the Knower of the Field (Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita precisely delves into this concept. For this chapter deals with the distinction between the body (non-Self / non-I) and Atman (the Self / self).
The knowledge of Kshetra (objective reality) is Apara-vidya, and the realization of the Knower, the Self, the Atman, is Para-vidya.
The East has cultivated the science of Para-vidya, while the West, the science of Apara-vidya.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Apara-vidya?
Apara-vidya is "lower knowledge," referring to the study of the objective universe, material sciences, and everything perceived through the senses.
What is Para-vidya?
Para-vidya is "higher knowledge" or Spiritual Science. It is the knowledge of the Subject (the Seer), Consciousness, and the ultimate reality of God.
Who is Pedro Nonell?
Pedro Nonell is a Spanish expert, translator, and author specializing in the Bhagavad Gita, Advaita Vedanta, Sri Ramakrishna, and Swami Vivekananda.
What is the "Field" (Kshetra) in the Bhagavad Gita?
The Field refers to the objective reality, including our bodies and the external world. The "Knower of the Field" (Kshetrajna) is the Atman or the Self.
Conclusion
The integration of Lower and Higher knowledge allows a seeker to live effectively in the material world while remaining anchored in spiritual Truth. As Swami Vivekananda taught, education is the process of realizing the perfection already within us.
By distinguishing between the perishable body and the deathless Atman, we fulfill the purpose of the Science of Yoga. Ultimately, this path leads us beyond the limitations of the objective universe to a direct experience of God, where the perceiver and the perceived become one in eternal Consciousness.
- Introduction
- Ignorance and Knowledge
- Transmission of the knowledge
- Knowledge
- West-India
- Sacrifice and austerity
Download “Educational philosophy Gita Institute (PDF)”
Conocimiento inferior y superior Bhagavad Gita 
Conhecimento inferior e superior Bhagavad-Gita.
(c) Gita Institute & Pedro Nonell
