 desire to exhibit one's learning for the purpose of impressing others and thereby converting them to one's point of view. Such an intellectual performance based on scriptural knowledge may be dazzling for others, but it will be self-defeating if it inflames the very desire that scriptural knowledge is meant to extinguish: the desire to be an independent center of attraction as a competitor to Krishna.
The Bhagavad-gita (3.32) insightfully points out that even the knowledgeable fail to attain Krishna if their desires are misdirected towards imitating him instead of assisting him.
)
Based on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03, Text 32
Many people, especially intellectuals, use knowledge, even scriptural knowledge, as a play-toy for their intellect. Playing with the intellect involves memorizing, analyzing, synthesizing and verbalizing information. Often, such intellectual play is motivated by the vain (pun intended) desire to exhibit one’s learning for the purpose of impressing others and thereby converting them to one’s point of view. Such an intellectual performance based on scriptural knowledge may be dazzling for others, but it will be self-defeating if it inflames the very desire that scriptural knowledge is meant to extinguish: the desire to be an independent center of attraction as a competitor to Krishna.
The Bhagavad-gita (3.32) insightfully points out that even the knowledgeable fail to attain Krishna if their desires are misdirected towards imitating him instead of assisting him.
