The Vedas and Vedangas, music and literature, physics and chemistry, botany and biology – all these different branches of knowledge are related to the phenomenal universe. They belong to the category of ‘Apara vidya ‘ - the lower knowledge. People devote their lives mainly to these studies. Only knowledge of the spirit is ‘Para vidya ‘ - the supreme knowledge. ‘Apara vidya ‘ (worldly knowledge) is pursued mainly for earning a living. But even worldly knowledge exists to point the way to spiritual awareness. Without spiritual knowledge, all other knowledge is valueless. (SSS Vol.20, p. 47)
All that is learnt by the educational process today falls in the category of Apara Vidya (Lower Knowledge). Knowledge relating to Dharma, Artha and Kama also comes in this category. Only knowledge relating to Moksha (Liberation) constitutes Para Vidya (the Supreme Knowledge). (SSS Vol.22, p. 107)