Why do we misunderstand our ancients ?

We generally hear people claiming that certain ancient doctrines are not correct or unbelievable. This is quite natural and is due to the maturity differences between the readers (we) and the ancient sages, who had written the Vedas or any other doctrines.

If Einstein says something to a kid, it is no wonder that the kid will generally not understand him because it is beyond the grasp of the kid. In the same sense we fail to understand certain sayings of the sages. They are far above our understanding caliber and quite naturally we will suspect them. But, due to our 'ego' we think they are wrong, but the kids will 'believe' Einstein is correct even though they fail to understand him as the kids are not hampered by the 'ego' effect.

Just we are crawling in the earthy dust, our minds racing after all the dirty things in the world and the sages are very pure in intellect hence it is natural that their intellects are very powerful and elevated then ours. So, we naturally fail to understand their sayings. But, our 'ego' will not let us accept this reality and we think they are wrong. Einstein might go wrong but, nothing is wrong with the sayings of the ancient sages. Because, in the present era - everyone is writing or telling something - out of thinking or loose tongue. But, 'our' thinking itself is wrong [this will be discussed in another article]. Unlike this if the sages say something they will not go wrong - because they talk only after realization and not the casual thinking.

Nothing is wrong in trying to understand the ancient scriptures or Vedas or doctrines. But, if we fail to understand them - as is the natural case - then just we have to understand the fact that it is only due to our 'lack of understanding' and nothing is wrong with the sages or scriptures or the 'avatars'. 

If we happen to understand them or their sayings - then we should feel we are lucky that we have understood them and if we fail to understand them as it is the natural case then instead of blaming them or deciding them as wrong - we should accept out incapability.

We must broaden our minds to accept our 'dwarf-ness' and not to find faults with the figures like Jesus or Ram or Krishna or Buddha or with the sayings of the ancients and the mystics.