The Two Wings of Excellence

The Yogavashishta mentions this:

उभाभ्यामेव पक्षाभ्याम् यथा खे पक्षिणाम् गतिः । 

तथैव ज्ञानकर्मभ्याम् जायते परमम् पदम् ॥

ubhābhyām eva pakṣābhyāṁ yathā khe pakṣiṇāṁ gatiḥ | 

tathaiva jñānakarmabhyāṁ jāyate paramam padam ||

This means that ‘Just as a bird flies high in the sky with the help of its two wings, in the same way, one attains the supreme state (ultimate reality/excellence) only through the combined help of knowledge (Jnana) and the performance of duties (Karma) ’

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We live in an era of intellectual hoarding, where we bookmark articles, stack books and listen to podcasts on a regular basis.

Centuries ago, Sage Agastya in Yogavasishta mentions a very simple thing. If a bird tries to fly using only one of its wings, it will flap furiously, spin in circles and eventually crash. To soar, the bird needs to use both wings working in perfect tandem.

The imagery of the lines is beautiful.

Knowledge serves as our direction. It is the compass that defines our "where" and "why," providing the clarity necessary to navigate life’s complexities.

However, knowledge in isolation leads to the trap of analysis paralysis. We often convince ourselves that the act of "preparing" is the same as the act of "doing." It is a comfortable illusion. But without application, information is merely intellectual entertainment. It lacks the weight of reality.

On the other hand, when we use the other wing alone, that is, we act without thinking, we are like a hamster on a wheel. We go very fast, but we stay in the same place. Without the guiding light of knowledge, action is nothing but blind routine.

That is where the words of the Yogavasishta remind us that true fulfilment in life comes from the combination of understanding and action. When our daily choices are backed by clear wisdom, it lifts us higher. This way our wisdom is constantly validated by real-world experiences.

We were not created to crawl through life weighed down by our unused potential or exhausted by aimless hustle. We were meant for more, we were meant to fly.

So when we balance our knowledge and action, we are on the path to understanding the true purpose of our life.

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Happy journey!