Another interesting point is this: It may be argued that since Maya produces Vidya, Maya is right and proper and deserving of respect; but the Vidya that arises out of it is also not permanent. As soon as Avidya is destroyed through Vidya, the Vidya too ends. The tree and the fire, both are destroyed when the fire finishes its work.

The Jnana derived from the mere hearing of Vedantha cannot be termed Direct Knowledge. Since the error of taking one thing as another is not removed by actual experience in such a learning process, how can it be treated as direct or authentic? No, it cannot be; it is indirect only.

Of course, by hearing about the Swarupa of the Brahmam (which is Sath, Chith and Ananda only), one may be able to picture it or imagine it; but one has to actually 'see' the Brahmam, the Witness of the Five Sheaths of the individual (the Annamaya, the Pranamaya, the Manomaya, the Vijnanamaya and the Anandamaya.)

You may know from the Sastras that he who has four arms and carries the Sankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma in them is Vishnu; you may even be picturing Him as such in Dhyana; yet, unless you have actually 'seen' Him by your own vision, the knowledge gained by the study of iconography can never be equated with Prathyaksha or Direct Perception.

Since the Form of Vishnu is considered different and external when understood through the study of the Sastras, what you really get is indirect inference, not Direct Experience. Though a person is ignorant of the fact that the Brahmam is His own self (not different or outside), can he not realise Himself as Brahmam as soon as he hears the exposition of a Mahavakya like "that thwam asi" which reveals that basic Truth? But he does not.

You may doubt whether the knowledge got from the Sastras about things different from you, like Heaven etc., has any value; but you should not declare so! For the same Sastras have said that you are the Brahmam Itself, that you are fundamentally Brahmam and nothing else, by means of Mahavakyas or Great Announcements. And they also warn you that Direct Experience is not got by the mere hearing of these Mahavakyas!