Once we have received knowledge from our teachers, we should diligently commit it to memory. Do not neglect or forget it; instead, reflect upon it constantly. Only then will your understanding become profound, allowing you to apply that knowledge for the benefit of your life—and even for your own survival. As the poet Sunthorn Phu famously wrote: “No knowledge surpasses the power of learning; knowing how to keep oneself safe is the ultimate good.”
In the context of a sage or a wise person (Pandit), “keeping oneself safe” or “survival” means delivering oneself from harm and all forms of evil. It does not mean fleeing for one’s own safety while abandoning others to suffer—an act characteristic of a narrow-minded person.
Source: Jataka Tales, Volume 2 (Phadet Dattajeevo)
