Human being is always curious about knowing or learning new things or cautious about upgrading his knowledge. This curiosity or betterment is based on four types of knowledge co-existing with him viz.
1) One know what one know or what one have.
2) One know what one don’t know or what one don’t have.
3) One don’t know what one know or what one have.
4) One don’t know what one don’t know or what one don’t have.
Let’s take each point here. The first one is quite simple that usually everyone knows what they possess, what they are aware of. E.g. everyone knows how to eat in a general sense.
However, when we talk about the second category of knowledge, we usually are aware of the fact that we don’t have the full or partial knowledge/information about the international dining etiquettes based on different cultures say, western culture.
As far as third type of knowledge is concerned, if I’m having a natural habit of taking food in silence without much interacting with anyone else, not even reading newspaper, handling mobile phone or watching television for that matter; then it is a good practice that I’m following unknowingly, which is spiritual parlance, considered as a best eating practice having immense benefits.
However, there is another ultra-advance angle to it, that is eating food in the sweet remembrance of God, with the supreme emotions/feelings of gratitude that HE is the One, who is feeding me now and every time. There are so many people who don’t have enough food to eat or don’t have at all. I’m so fortunate that I’ve enough food to eat with even some sweet dish. Now, this is something we never thought of or imagined of. The reason is simple: we don’t know what we don’t know.
Here the reason to explain all above is how we are cheating our own selves. There is no question about first & last types of knowledge for a very obvious reason. So, let’s see the second & third categories now in the perspective of cheating the self.
If I’m demonstrating or showing or doing propaganda of something which I don’t have, I don’t practice or I don’t know, then surely it’s a hypocrisy. I should avoid it. This is purely cheating the self and others as well. However, there is a slightly different angle to it. Along with knowing that I don’t have the capability, skill or knowledge/information etc.; when I realize deeply inside & making intense efforts to fulfill the gaps/weaknesses, overcoming the negativities; although people around me may think of me as a great cheater, I know how honest I’m with myself. Here, we don’t need to worry about the surroundings since it may affect the intensity of your true efforts to achieve your ultimate goal.
The third category of knowledge is extremely hazardous. In a real sense, we are cheating ourselves under this category. There are some hidden potentials, undiscovered arts or skills inside us, and may be due to our laziness, ignorance, and don’t care kind of attitude; then we can’t forgive ourselves. It’s simply like a mobile battery fully charged and the same not been utilized at all or at least on an average.
No worries, Meditation is the best medicine to overcome this kind of mental disease. Once you start practicing Meditation on regular basis, you start realizing & experiencing the hidden talents inside you. The undisclosed treasures of the subconscious mind will be explored and you will find a real you.
So instead of putting the stains of being a ‘cheat’ to yourself; let’s be a ‘hit’. Wishing you all the best.

BK Abhijit Patil
Jagdamba Bhawan, Pune