Monk's advice

There was once a knowledgeable man with a large library
Every topic under the sun was member of his book treasury
He used to read widely and was engrossed by his erudition
Nature was differentiated into illusory group quite in tradition

The pundit used to gather around him others of the same ilk
And as a past time they would discuss about knowledge intrinsic
Their cleverness grew with the passage of time and held captive
Not knowing the chains they wrought they were not perceptive

Sometimes the debate grew into heated discussions and battle
Ego gloated over these interactions at they cause mind to unsettle
Any activity that causes an attraction to the so called outside World
Will be embraced by the Ego and cause creation's rampage widespread

Thus the scholar one day while walking along came across a monk
He was dressed in clothes threadbare, yet stood out from the throng
Wrapped in his clouds of illusory knowledge the pundit bumped sage
Snapping out of his reverie he glared at the monk with great rage

Do you know who I am? - he asked the holy one with boiling anger
First, pray tell me whether you know the answer - retorted stranger
Of course: I am the learned one, revered by all for his great intellect
My fame is widespread as the knower - he said to great effect

But the monk seemed unmoved and looked at him without emotion
Serenely he asked: Does Nature have any of knowledge's divisions?
Does the bird flying in the sky above know of its name or its category?
Or does Nature itself care if you know of it by one or other allegory?

But my knowledge is born out of study of truth - exclaimed the scholar
How can it be in error or irrelevant he questioned the serene master
All your knowledge is not self-evident: said the monk with a soft voice
You accept your parents as your own as you were told to without choice

Stop building a prison out of the mere lower forms of knowledge
It is evanescent and shall die before it has left your book's page
Seek truth and it shall remain, now and forever as your friend
So saying the monk left: transforming learned one into a student