I happen to read a translation of a discourse made by His Holiness Sri Paramacharya Swamigal during Opening cermony of Sri Vidyaniliyam. Swamigal explains succintly about the diffence between the Kalai ( கலை) and Vidya (வித்யா)
Kalai, Swamigal says, is of 64 types. When any of these Kalai is learnt and used for earning food, it does not give much of happiness, but it is necessary of one's livelyhood. However, one's Kalai reaches a higher pleatue, Vidya, when one use it not for earning food, but to bring happiness of self.
He urges everyone to learn and practice atleast one Vidya and spread such vidya by teaching it to others.
