Parasuram's Doubt

Parasurama, with a clear mind, pondered over the teachings of his Master (Dattatreya), and then returned to him and asked him again:

Lord, I have considered the purport of your teachings in the shape of magnificent stories you told me. I understand that intelligence alone is real and single, and that objects are only unreal images like a city reflected in a mirror. Her Transcendental Majesty, the Maheshwari, is that Consciousness manifesting as Intelligence cognizant of the whole range of phenomena, beginning from the unmanifest state of sleep and ending with this world, passing in quick succession within itself. All these are apparently due to the self-sufficiency of that consciousness and they come into being without any immediate cause. This much I have understood after deep consideration.

But this intelligence is said to be beyond cognition because it always remains as pure knowledge itself. I do not see how it can be realized if it surpasses knowledge. The goal is not achieved without realizing it. The goal is liberation. What is its nature? If one can be liberated while alive, how is the course of his emancipated life regulated, if that is at all possible?

There are Sages who are active. What is the relation between the world of action and their pure conscious being? How can they engage in action while all the time they inhere in absolute consciousness? Such consciousness can be of only one kind, and liberation also can be only one in order to be effective. How then are these differences noticed in the lives of the Jnanis? Some of them are active; some teach scriptures; some worship deities; some abstract themselves into samadhi; some lead an austere life and emaciate themselves; some give clear instructions to their disciples; some rule kingdoms quite justly; some openly hold disputations with other schools of thought; some write down their teachings and experiences; others stimulate ignorance; a few even do reprehensible and loathsome actions; but all of them are famous as wise men in the world. 

How can there be such differences in their lives when there can be no difference in the state of liberation common to all? Or are there grades in knowledge and liberation. Kindly enlighten me on these points, because I am eager to learn the truth and submit to you as my sole Teacher.