October 3, 2025
Question: Are students of yoga allowed to question the Scriptures and the teachers?
Swami Venkatesananda: Yes, of course. Krishna specifically recommends questioning. But there are several types of questioning. The true seeker is on a quest, and for him questioning is most important. Another type of questioning is of the curious. There is no harm in this, for it will lead to a greater understanding of the truth. Then there is questioning based on doubt. Doubt may be destructive, though healthy doubt may save a genuine seeker from a charlatan. Destructive questioning is when an aspirant asks questions in order to show off his knowledge, and expose the ignorance of the master. This destructive questioning might elicit only gracious indifference on the part of the master.
In ancient days, books were not recommended; knowledge of the truth had to be learnt 'by the (h)ear(t)'. Hence the knowledge was known as sruti and the process sravana. The student approached close to the master (sitting close was upanishad) and became one big (h)ear(t) (which is what sravana meant). He imbibed the teaching through every avenue, through all the senses and through his very innermost being - verbally, and, what is even more important, non-verbally.
If the teaching is directly absorbed, well and good. Otherwise it remains the Master's truth (paroksha jnana). There is un-clarity in the student, he tries to ' chew' it within himself; he discusses it with fellow students; finally he asks the Master himself for clarification (all this constitutes manana). Then deep contemplation (nidhidyasana) enables the truth to be assimilated and it becomes the living truth not dependent upon belief in the words of another (aparoksha jnana). This whole process is yoga; all else is ego.
Belief arises from ignorance and an innate abhorrence of ignorance. Belief is like a shirt to cover the ignorance. If you want to grow, it won't do to shed your shirt or make a larger one, but to promote growth inwardly. Promote abhorrence of ignorance by keeping on the quest of Self-knowledge.
The philosophy of yoga does not indulge in prohibitions and injunctions, but promotes awareness.