That innocence with razor-sharp intellect

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

Acharya Prashant:

Only a very sharp intellect can rise above itself!

You look at the Prophets, Saints, you look at Kabir or Nanak. See how adept they were even in worldly matters!

‘Didn’t prophet Muhammad fight and win wars?’

What do you think winning wars is a child’s play? And he was winning wars with very scant resources. He surely must have been an excellent leader and a manager. He knew the world! He was a master of worldly affairs as well. He was not just chanting the name of Allah, hiding in some secluded place.

He knew the affairs of the world; he knew how to manage men. He knew how to assemble resources. He knew how to organize an army. He knew how to run a small government. He had Intellect!

Only when you have intellect can you rise above the intellect!

In ancient India, in the great universities - Taxila, Nalanda, where religion was taught; “Logic and Philosophy and mathematics were taught before religion was taught!”

If you do not know logic, how will you understand Ashtavakra? What do you think, ‘You can understand Sankhya Yog if you cannot comprehend logic?

You will fail!

Use your intellect to the fullest and know using your intellect when the time has come to put the intellect aside. If you don’t have intellect, you won’t know when to not to use the intellect. And do not put the intellect aside when it comes to the regular, mundane affairs of the world. When you go to a market to buy, to sell, to negotiate, use the intellect.

In Arabia, they say, “Have faith in Allah, but tie your camel!” Use the intellect. If you’re so foolish that you cannot take care of your belongings, then Allah is not going to help you!

Sharp intellect and innocence are one!

This would surprise you. But they’re actually one!

If you have a sharp intellect, then the intellect would tell you it’s own limitations, the intellect would tell you it is failing.

When the intellect tells you it’s own limitations,