Why Self-Knowledge Is for Society: From Hurt Ego to Helpful Living

Question

There’s one thing I keep noticing. In our traditions—like some Jain and Buddhist groups—I’ve met people who first explain Rama as the Self, but later they end up worshipping their scripture and their Guru’s photo. Many lineages turn all knowledge toward bhakti, placing everything on God.
But we’re social beings; we have social duties to fulfill. From a spiritual lens, will you share how we can live well in society—how our conduct can be the best it can be?

Answer 

That’s exactly why we need Self-knowledge—so that we can live well among others. Right now we’re in ignorance; that’s why so many problems arise. Someone says something and our ego is hurt—what do we get from that? Suffering. Someone speaks harshly and we immediately go tit for tat—again, suffering.
So knowledge is for living together. If I went alone into a forest, who would offend me? What would I need knowledge for there—whether I eat this or that, who would it affect? But we aren’t alone. We live with family, society, nation, the world. How will universal brotherhood come? Only when we are in knowledge.

And this is just a glimpse—the beginning. The very first requirement is to lay the foundation. You build a house only after you lay the foundation; here the foundation is a pure, sacred mind. Until the mind is purified, there is no foundation, and the “house” of higher knowledge cannot stand.

Even a single drop of knowledge, when applied, brings joy. Suppose someone abuses you and you don’t retaliate—you accept, “Alright, that’s their choice; everyone is different.” That one drop of knowledge gives immediate peace. Or you offer a small help to someone—how much happiness that little help gives!

Now, imagine being established in Self-knowledge. To be established in it means that all kinds of right understanding begin to arise within on their own.