Chanakya and Sheikh Saadi's Tips on How to Recognise a Foolish 'Scholar'

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam

28 February 2023

“The ignorant are speedily convinced, and the wise are soon persuaded by argument. But all the wisdom in heaven has a hard task to overcome the pride of an obstinate scholar. "

Ancient Sanskrit verse

So very true! This is obvious on this site. The way one obstinate 'scholar' tries to run others down and behaves in a condescending way, one can easily relate to the aforementioned Sanskrit adage.

In the Neeti Sutra of Neeti Granth, Chanakya described 11 qualities of a pseudo-intellectual or 'scholar' (chapter 7). The original copy is still safe in the custody of Taxila Museum, Taxila, Punjab Province of Pakistan; Chanakya taught there at the famous ancient university of Buddhist era, Taxila University along with Nalanda, Vikramshila (Bihar) and Dhannakatak in Central India.

1. He's obstinate and mullish.

 2. He has delusion of his knowledge (mithyam poorvabhasham).

3. He thinks that his way is the only way.

4. He tries to teach others what he himself needs to learn. In other words, he teaches best what he needs to learn the most.

5. The imprecations or cuss words that he uses for others can be justifiably used for him (if others are also as stupid as he is).

6. He has a few trusted acolytes who're as imbecile as he is ( otherwise who else will follow him?)

7. Together, they create Devanam priya'raajyam ( in today's parlance, fools' paradise).

 8. He is full of empty verbiage and repetitive.

 9. His arguments are always false and misleading.

10. He is often garrulous and incoherent.

11. The fool's equally foolish disciples think that their master is wisdom personified and they urge others to think likewise.

Sheikh Saadi, yet another great moralist and raconteur from the Islamic world added...

 The most risky people are those who with their little knowledge, try to interpret religious texts. They are like monkeys with knives. It's a zoological fact that if a monkey with a knife fails to harm others, it may cut its own tail with the knife!

I hope, intelligent readers have understood the insinuation and got it. Need I add more? 

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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.

 

URL:   https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/chanakya-sheikh-saadi-scholar/d/129216

 

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