FROM SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM(THE WISDOM OF GOD)
Yayati was a rajarishi, an ancestor of the Yadu clan to which
Sri Krishna belonged. His queen was Devayani, the daughter
of Rishi Shukracharya. The only weakness the king had was
desire, and desire was his undoing. Cursed by the rishi on
one occasion, to become old before his time unless he could
exchange his old-age with someone else, Yayati sought his
eldest son Yadu and begged him to help him out of the
predicament.
Sri Krishna belonged. His queen was Devayani, the daughter
of Rishi Shukracharya. The only weakness the king had was
desire, and desire was his undoing. Cursed by the rishi on
one occasion, to become old before his time unless he could
exchange his old-age with someone else, Yayati sought his
eldest son Yadu and begged him to help him out of the
predicament.
Yadu, of all the king's sons, was interested in spiritual life. He
pondered over the situation. Seeing his father obsessed
with youth and desire, Yadu realised the impermanence of
both.He was filled with vairagya. However, he did not want
to grow old before his time, because he thought, 'When
old-age comes gradually one exhausts his desires naturally
and along with them preparation period for the development
of higher consciousness
.
pondered over the situation. Seeing his father obsessed
with youth and desire, Yadu realised the impermanence of
both.He was filled with vairagya. However, he did not want
to grow old before his time, because he thought, 'When
old-age comes gradually one exhausts his desires naturally
and along with them preparation period for the development
of higher consciousness
.
Sad at having to disappoint his father, nevertheless Yadu
knew that he had to refuse. His father subsequently
disinherited him.To Yadu, who was quite disillusioned
with the world already, this was a boon. He walked away
from the palace and entered a forest, seeking a guru who
would initiate him into the mysteries of higher reality.
knew that he had to refuse. His father subsequently
disinherited him.To Yadu, who was quite disillusioned
with the world already, this was a boon. He walked away
from the palace and entered a forest, seeking a guru who
would initiate him into the mysteries of higher reality.
During his wanderings he came across a naked ascetic,
smeared with ash, radiant with bliss, Yadu felt drawn to him
.
'O Rishi' he asked, 'who are you?'
'I am an Avadhootha,' said Dattatreya, for that was who
he was.
'What is an Avadhootha?' asked Yadu in innocent humility.
'Aksharatvat, imperishability;Varenyatvat. Devout wishing
for-these two words form the essence of an Avadhootha,'
said Datta Prabhu. 'One who has cut himself asunder from
all things which are transient-One who has shaken off avidya
and lives in the bliss of his own Atman. He is an Avadhootha.'
Yadu Maharaja asked,"You appear extremely happy. I
“My dear King, with my intelligence I have taken shelter of
smeared with ash, radiant with bliss, Yadu felt drawn to him
.
'O Rishi' he asked, 'who are you?'
'I am an Avadhootha,' said Dattatreya, for that was who
he was.
'What is an Avadhootha?' asked Yadu in innocent humility.
'Aksharatvat, imperishability;Varenyatvat. Devout wishing
for-these two words form the essence of an Avadhootha,'
said Datta Prabhu. 'One who has cut himself asunder from
all things which are transient-One who has shaken off avidya
and lives in the bliss of his own Atman. He is an Avadhootha.'
Dattatreya is said to be a saktyavesa-avatara (a living being
empowered by the Lord to act for a specific purpose). He
used to travel naked without any belongings. No one knew
where he was going, and even he himself did not know.
used to travel naked without any belongings. No one knew
where he was going, and even he himself did not know.
Yadu Maharaja asked,"You appear extremely happy. I
cannot understand your moods.Why are you weeping,
laughing and rolling on the ground?”
Yadu continued,"Lord,I too wish to shake off avidya. I too
wish to know the akshara, the imperishable. Please teach me,'
laughing and rolling on the ground?”
Yadu continued,"Lord,I too wish to shake off avidya. I too
wish to know the akshara, the imperishable. Please teach me,'
“My dear King, with my intelligence I have taken shelter of
many spiritual masters. Having gained transcendental
understanding from them, I now wander about the Earth in a
liberated condition. Please listen as I describe them to you.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.7.32)]
Pleased by the shraddha of Yadu, Dattatreya explained to
him the significance of discipleship in a sadhak and
proceeded to give him instances in life where he had learned
understanding from them, I now wander about the Earth in a
liberated condition. Please listen as I describe them to you.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.7.32)]
Pleased by the shraddha of Yadu, Dattatreya explained to
him the significance of discipleship in a sadhak and
proceeded to give him instances in life where he had learned
rich in discipleship.
The TWENTY-FOUR GURUS are --
1)Earth 2)Air 3)Sky 4)Water 5)Fire 6)Moon 7)Sun 8)Pigeon
9)Python 10)Ocean 11)Firefly 12)Bee 13)Elephant
14)Honey-gatherer 15)Deer 16)Fish 17)Pingala
18)Osprey(Bird of Prey) 19)Child 20)Girl 21)Arrow-maker
22)Snake 23)Spider 24)Wasp
1)Earth
From the earth, Dattatreya learned the qualities offorgiveness, unselfishness and the strength to bear
burdens Very often progress on the spiritual path is
hampered because a sadhak is tied to the past. A trauma
at some time in life decides one's response to similar
situations all through one's lifetime. Nothing is seen with
freshness and innocence. Everything is seen through the
eyes of fear and suspicion because of past conditioning
This quality is not just projected onto the outside but also
onto oneself. Inadequacy, lack of confidence, poor self-
esteem, are measure of one's own self-rejection.
The earth, burdened by a thankless world, stands firm and
proud. She is not demoralised. She does not punish or
reject herself. Dharitri, one who holds, is a reflection of
Dharma, the eternal one that holds all existence. With
immense tenderness she holds theworld in her lap,
unmindful of assaults on her person.To Dattatreya she
was symbolic of shraddha, having a capacity to hold
together,herself and all associated with her, with great
compassion,giving of herself totally to the situation which
asks of her, with an unflinching steadiness, like the
physical body holding divinity within itself.
2)Air
reject herself. Dharitri, one who holds, is a reflection of
Dharma, the eternal one that holds all existence. With
immense tenderness she holds theworld in her lap,
unmindful of assaults on her person.To Dattatreya she
was symbolic of shraddha, having a capacity to hold
together,herself and all associated with her, with great
compassion,giving of herself totally to the situation which
asks of her, with an unflinching steadiness, like the
physical body holding divinity within itself.
Mountains – on the Earth there are many mountains.
We should learn from those mountains how to work for
the benefit of others. A mountain gives so many trees,
herbs and water, but not for itself – for others. Your life
should be for others. Also, mountains live alone, in lonely
places, and their only association is that of sadhus. So
many sadhus used to live in the Himalayas in India, and
also at Govardhana, because those places are very
silent and favorable for bhajan.
Trees – we also learn from the trees. You should be as
tolerant as a tree. What are the qualities of a tree? His
bark, root, leaves, fruits, flowers, dry wood and everything
else is for others. Even if there is no summer rain and the
tree is going to become dry, still he does not say, “Oh,
give me water.” In Chaitanya-Charitamrta it is said that
one should be like a tree.
2)Air
The air to Dattatreya was a symbol of aliveness, prana
carried in its garments. Pervading everywhere, yet
uncontaminated, carrying fragrance, but not being the
fragrance, it reminded him of pure consciousness, present
in all manifestation, yet not being affected by the
movements, the changes within it. It brought to him the
experience of detachment, stillness in movement.
carried in its garments. Pervading everywhere, yet
uncontaminated, carrying fragrance, but not being the
fragrance, it reminded him of pure consciousness, present
in all manifestation, yet not being affected by the
movements, the changes within it. It brought to him the
experience of detachment, stillness in movement.
3)Sky(Ether)
Like the all pervading SKY is the Athma,present in the
animate and in the inanimate.Athma which is
omnipresent,pure,free the wise man,even though living
animate and in the inanimate.Athma which is
omnipresent,pure,free the wise man,even though living
living in the body, having realised his unity with Brahman
never ceases to meditate.
never ceases to meditate.
The Athma resides in the body but it is not the body. The
sky holds the world like a garment or canopy but it is not
the world. It seems limited but in reality it is limitless. The
sky was his third guru.
As sky remains unaffected by the clouds driven by the
wind,so does a wise man remain untouched by the
changing phenomena of the universe.
sky holds the world like a garment or canopy but it is not
the world. It seems limited but in reality it is limitless. The
sky was his third guru.
As sky remains unaffected by the clouds driven by the
wind,so does a wise man remain untouched by the
changing phenomena of the universe.
4)Water
Like WATER ,clear,soothing,sweet and purifying, is the
sage,like water he purifies all who revere him and who
seek his company..
His fourth guru was water. In. its very ordinariness water
is extraordinary, It supports all life. Some simple
organisms can live without air. However, none can live
without water. Over millions of years, water has been
responsible for shaping the face of the earth. It nourishes
the soil so that mighty forests can grow. It decides the
climate. It has great stability. It cleanses, purifies,
refreshes. To Dattatreya it was symbolic of the
compassion of a yogi that unobtrusively flows to the world,
nourishing and refreshing.
5)Fire
His fifth guru was fire, which destroys all that is gross. Like
the inner fire of awareness that reduces everything to its
essence (bhasma), purifying ruthlessly whatever is poured
into it, fire reminded him of freedom from the defects of
avidya.
He who has become fearless and self controlled through
the practice of tapas.Though moving like FIRE.among
material objects, he remains unaffected by the evils
therein.
As fire assumes the form of burning objects, so hath the
all pervading Lord assumed the form of beings and things.
the inner fire of awareness that reduces everything to its
essence (bhasma), purifying ruthlessly whatever is poured
into it, fire reminded him of freedom from the defects of
avidya.
He who has become fearless and self controlled through
the practice of tapas.Though moving like FIRE.among
material objects, he remains unaffected by the evils
therein.
As fire assumes the form of burning objects, so hath the
all pervading Lord assumed the form of beings and things.
6)Moon
The moon seems to wax and wane, yet there is no intrinsic
change in it. Likewise the moods and changes in man are
qualities of body and mind, not part of the Athma..
change in it. Likewise the moods and changes in man are
qualities of body and mind, not part of the Athma..
7)Sun
From the sun, that takes water from the ocean by
evaporating it and returning it as life-giving rain water,
Dattatreya realised that through the sense-organs one can
take in the essence of the objects of perception without
being obsessed with the external form of the object. Its
light is reflected in gutters, rivers, streams, puddles, and
looks different according to the contents and qualities of
the water,but in itself it is the same. So to, the Athma in
different bodies seems to take on the qualities of the
body, but in reality it is the same one everywhere. The
sun brought to his mind qualities of egoless-ness and
omnipresence.
evaporating it and returning it as life-giving rain water,
Dattatreya realised that through the sense-organs one can
take in the essence of the objects of perception without
being obsessed with the external form of the object. Its
light is reflected in gutters, rivers, streams, puddles, and
looks different according to the contents and qualities of
the water,but in itself it is the same. So to, the Athma in
different bodies seems to take on the qualities of the
body, but in reality it is the same one everywhere. The
sun brought to his mind qualities of egoless-ness and
omnipresence.
8)Pigeon
From a pigeon that had little fledglings, which when
caught in a net by a hunter, cried piteously, luring the
mother to her death, Dattatreya realised the dangers of
samsara. Too much involvement in samsara results
in the destruction of spirituality. It was attachment to the
family that was responsible for the destruction of
spirituality. It was attachment to the family that was
responsible for the destruction of the mother bird. Our
samsara too, consisting of our prejudices, our desires,
our passions, that are born of us and from our family
,
destroy the spirituality within us. The higher yearning is
smothered by preconceived notions, rigidity of mind and
intellectual clutter sets in.
caught in a net by a hunter, cried piteously, luring the
mother to her death, Dattatreya realised the dangers of
samsara. Too much involvement in samsara results
in the destruction of spirituality. It was attachment to the
family that was responsible for the destruction of
spirituality. It was attachment to the family that was
responsible for the destruction of the mother bird. Our
samsara too, consisting of our prejudices, our desires,
our passions, that are born of us and from our family
,
destroy the spirituality within us. The higher yearning is
smothered by preconceived notions, rigidity of mind and
intellectual clutter sets in.
9)Python
The ninth guru was python. Seeing it eat only what prey
comes its way and not setting out in search of feed,
Dattatreya learned the value of surrender to GOD, being
satisfied with whatever comes to him.He struggles not by
running behind food,because all of his energy and skill
are rightly applied to keeping his mind united with GOD,
the supreme goal of life..
comes its way and not setting out in search of feed,
Dattatreya learned the value of surrender to GOD, being
satisfied with whatever comes to him.He struggles not by
running behind food,because all of his energy and skill
are rightly applied to keeping his mind united with GOD,
the supreme goal of life..
10)Ocean
The ocean receives all rivers, all the waters of the earth,
some clean, some polluted, yet it remains unaffected
and retains its essential 'oceanness'. Freedom from
disturbance was the lesson from the ocean.
some clean, some polluted, yet it remains unaffected
and retains its essential 'oceanness'. Freedom from
disturbance was the lesson from the ocean.
11)Firefly
Seeing a firefly drawn to its destruction by its infatuation
with the glittering flame, the yogi realised how desire
can lead to destruction.
with the glittering flame, the yogi realised how desire
can lead to destruction.
12)Bee
The twelfth guru was the bee. Flying from flower to flower,
taking honey only for its immediate need, leaving the
flowers unbruised and unhurt, the idea of bhiksha was
born to Dattatreya. Not storing for the future, taking
what was given voluntarily and offering goodwill in return,
was the concept of bhiksha.
.
taking honey only for its immediate need, leaving the
flowers unbruised and unhurt, the idea of bhiksha was
born to Dattatreya. Not storing for the future, taking
what was given voluntarily and offering goodwill in return,
was the concept of bhiksha.
.
13)Elephant
The thirteenth guru came in the form of an elephant that
hurtled down to its trap by being drawn to the female
elephant in what is called kedda operation.Dattatreya
learned that when one has a great passion for the
highest truth, one should not be deluded by the
distractions of sensual desire. Even a photograph a
thought of a woman, can pull one down from
one-pointedness in one's search.
hurtled down to its trap by being drawn to the female
elephant in what is called kedda operation.Dattatreya
learned that when one has a great passion for the
highest truth, one should not be deluded by the
distractions of sensual desire. Even a photograph a
thought of a woman, can pull one down from
one-pointedness in one's search.
14)Honey-gatherer
The fourteenth guru was a honey-gatherer. The bee
spends his time making honey which the honey-gatherer
enjoys.Dattatreya realised that most often people spend
their lifetimes gathering possessions in the faint hope that
they will give them happiness and security. Not only do
these possessions not give any inner security, but the
majority of people are so busy gathering possessions that
they do not have time to enjoy them. They are enjoyed by
other people What a waste of time, energy and emotional
investment, felt Dattatreya. Precious time should be spent,
not in acquiring but in reaching the inner self.
spends his time making honey which the honey-gatherer
enjoys.Dattatreya realised that most often people spend
their lifetimes gathering possessions in the faint hope that
they will give them happiness and security. Not only do
these possessions not give any inner security, but the
majority of people are so busy gathering possessions that
they do not have time to enjoy them. They are enjoyed by
other people What a waste of time, energy and emotional
investment, felt Dattatreya. Precious time should be spent,
not in acquiring but in reaching the inner self.
15)Deer
On one occasion the yogi watched a deer. Nimble and
swift of foot, it was on guard and alert. A hunter who failed
to catch it realised that the animal was interested in or
distracted by music. Knowing its vulnerability, he
distracted it and caught it. Any vulnerability is a weakness
on the spiritual path. One loses alertness. Ekagrata or
one-pointedness is lost. In no time, the sadhak who has
raised himself with great effort is plunged into rajas and
tamas. One should always be aware of one's vulnerable
point and be alert on the path so that one does not go
astray.
swift of foot, it was on guard and alert. A hunter who failed
to catch it realised that the animal was interested in or
distracted by music. Knowing its vulnerability, he
distracted it and caught it. Any vulnerability is a weakness
on the spiritual path. One loses alertness. Ekagrata or
one-pointedness is lost. In no time, the sadhak who has
raised himself with great effort is plunged into rajas and
tamas. One should always be aware of one's vulnerable
point and be alert on the path so that one does not go
astray.
16)Fish
The fish is caught because the bait with the worm is a
temptation. One should be wary of the sense-organs and
desires associated with them, whether it be taste, smell,
vision, audition or touch. The yogi was alerted to this
obstacle while watching the fish.
temptation. One should be wary of the sense-organs and
desires associated with them, whether it be taste, smell,
vision, audition or touch. The yogi was alerted to this
obstacle while watching the fish.
17)Pingala
The seventeenth guru was a courtesan called Pingala.
On one occasion Pingala waited for her lover in great
anguish and restlessness. Long did she wait, but he did
not come. At one point she became utterly disgusted with
herself and thought, 'It is because of my desire and
expectation that I suffer.' At the height of suffering; she
turned her awareness within and a great transformation
took place in her. 'Had I but sought the divine beloved with
the same ardour, I would not be in this plight now. she
thought to herself.Thus a great vairagya arose in her.
Leaving her desires aside, cutting asunder all expectations
in one flash with the sword of viveka, she took to the
spiritual path, Dattatreya was inspired by Pingala's life, the
lessons she learned from her suffering, the ease with
which she dropped her ignorance, like the dropping of a
garment and the heights to which her consciousness
soared, free of desires, with the twin wings of viveka and
vairagya.
On one occasion Pingala waited for her lover in great
anguish and restlessness. Long did she wait, but he did
not come. At one point she became utterly disgusted with
herself and thought, 'It is because of my desire and
expectation that I suffer.' At the height of suffering; she
turned her awareness within and a great transformation
took place in her. 'Had I but sought the divine beloved with
the same ardour, I would not be in this plight now. she
thought to herself.Thus a great vairagya arose in her.
Leaving her desires aside, cutting asunder all expectations
in one flash with the sword of viveka, she took to the
spiritual path, Dattatreya was inspired by Pingala's life, the
lessons she learned from her suffering, the ease with
which she dropped her ignorance, like the dropping of a
garment and the heights to which her consciousness
soared, free of desires, with the twin wings of viveka and
vairagya.
18)Osprey(Bird of Prey)
Dattatreya watched an Osprey(fish-hawk) flying with a
fish in its beak and saw it encounter big birds. Pursued
by the big birds,harassed & pestered by pecking the
little bird, it dropped its fish and escaped while the
others pounced on the fish.. He realised the wisdom
behind the instinctive action of the bird, that attachment
leads to misery.Freedom from attachment brings
endless joy.As soon as small bird gave up the fish,it
became free and was happy.The sadhak needs to build
up his foundation systematically and stabilise it before
he or she is ready to face the giant waves of the ocean
of the mind.It is said, "Discretion is the better part of valor"
and 'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread". One must
be aware of one's limitations in the early stages of
sadhana lest one get burned out for lack of patience.
fish in its beak and saw it encounter big birds. Pursued
by the big birds,harassed & pestered by pecking the
little bird, it dropped its fish and escaped while the
others pounced on the fish.. He realised the wisdom
behind the instinctive action of the bird, that attachment
leads to misery.Freedom from attachment brings
endless joy.As soon as small bird gave up the fish,it
became free and was happy.The sadhak needs to build
up his foundation systematically and stabilise it before
he or she is ready to face the giant waves of the ocean
of the mind.It is said, "Discretion is the better part of valor"
and 'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread". One must
be aware of one's limitations in the early stages of
sadhana lest one get burned out for lack of patience.
19)Child
The nineteenth guru was a little child Dattatreya saw
playing relaxed and untouched by the past. A child lives
from moment to moment. He does not remember the
abuse the pain of a moment ago, nor does he dream of
the future. All of him is present at every moment. There
is no tension in play, no competition, just sheer joy and
fun and celebration, like the flowering of the trees. The
spiritual path too can be light and full of celebration. The
sadhak should be alert against the dangers of
succumbing to the heaviness of the ego. It is for this
reason that santosh, contentment, is one of the qualities
of a disciple.
playing relaxed and untouched by the past. A child lives
from moment to moment. He does not remember the
abuse the pain of a moment ago, nor does he dream of
the future. All of him is present at every moment. There
is no tension in play, no competition, just sheer joy and
fun and celebration, like the flowering of the trees. The
spiritual path too can be light and full of celebration. The
sadhak should be alert against the dangers of
succumbing to the heaviness of the ego. It is for this
reason that santosh, contentment, is one of the qualities
of a disciple.
20)Girl
The twentieth guru was a young girl who was alone at
home when she had unexpected visitors. Brought up in
a tradition where the unexpected guest, atithi, is
regarded as divine, she seated them with respect and
then went into the inner room to prepare food for them
.
While pounding the rice her glass bangles made a
noise knocking against each other. One by one she
broke them so that the noise would not disturb her
guests, until she had just two on each arm. When these
too made a noise she broke one each so that she had
just one on each arm. In a flash Dattatreya understood
that one should walk alone on the spiritual path. Even a
close, silent companion can create mental noise that
prevents the great silence from taking place.
home when she had unexpected visitors. Brought up in
a tradition where the unexpected guest, atithi, is
regarded as divine, she seated them with respect and
then went into the inner room to prepare food for them
.
While pounding the rice her glass bangles made a
noise knocking against each other. One by one she
broke them so that the noise would not disturb her
guests, until she had just two on each arm. When these
too made a noise she broke one each so that she had
just one on each arm. In a flash Dattatreya understood
that one should walk alone on the spiritual path. Even a
close, silent companion can create mental noise that
prevents the great silence from taking place.
21)Arrow-maker
The one-pointed concentration of an arrow-maker
reminded Dattatreya of the importance of sattva guna
and the unruffled ekagrata of a seeker. One is
reminded of the Mundaka Upanishad which states,
"Om is the bow, atman is the arrow and the target is
Brahman," The arrow-maker was Dattatreya's
twenty-first guru.
reminded Dattatreya of the importance of sattva guna
and the unruffled ekagrata of a seeker. One is
reminded of the Mundaka Upanishad which states,
"Om is the bow, atman is the arrow and the target is
Brahman," The arrow-maker was Dattatreya's
twenty-first guru.
22)Snake
The twenty-second guru was the snake which taught him
two things. One was to abandon crowds. The second was
that familiarity and the known blunt awareness, creates
attachment. The lesson also applies to the mind. Shun the
crowds within oneself, the market place within, and move
closer to an uncluttered state of consciousness. Do not
hold on to anything known, whether a thought, or an
emotion. This will help the sadhak keep his awareness
totally in every moment, unconditioned by previous
experiences or thoughts.
.
two things. One was to abandon crowds. The second was
that familiarity and the known blunt awareness, creates
attachment. The lesson also applies to the mind. Shun the
crowds within oneself, the market place within, and move
closer to an uncluttered state of consciousness. Do not
hold on to anything known, whether a thought, or an
emotion. This will help the sadhak keep his awareness
totally in every moment, unconditioned by previous
experiences or thoughts.
.
23)Spider
The twenty-third guru was a spider. The spider weaves its
web with saliva from itself, and when it is done with it,
takes it back into itself. This reminded him of the Brahman,
the divinity that throws the cosmos out of itself and at the
end of an akaal gathers it back into itself.
web with saliva from itself, and when it is done with it,
takes it back into itself. This reminded him of the Brahman,
the divinity that throws the cosmos out of itself and at the
end of an akaal gathers it back into itself.
24)Wasp
The twenty-fourth guru was the wasp, 'bhramara keeta'.
The wasp is said to take an insect, keep it in its nest,
and keep stinging it every now and then until the insect
becomes one-pointed with fear. The insect is almost
meditating on the wasp in its terror, until it takes on the
characteristic of its tormentor and itself becomes a wasp
"Brahma vidya brahmeva bhavati," ("To know Brahman
is to become Brahman.") The situation is so reminiscent
of Sambhrama yoga that Kamsa practised. His fear of
Krishna made his mind so one-pointed that he attained
liberation.
Upon hearing all this Yadu was enlightened, and paying
The wasp is said to take an insect, keep it in its nest,
and keep stinging it every now and then until the insect
becomes one-pointed with fear. The insect is almost
meditating on the wasp in its terror, until it takes on the
characteristic of its tormentor and itself becomes a wasp
"Brahma vidya brahmeva bhavati," ("To know Brahman
is to become Brahman.") The situation is so reminiscent
of Sambhrama yoga that Kamsa practised. His fear of
Krishna made his mind so one-pointed that he attained
liberation.
Upon hearing all this Yadu was enlightened, and paying
homage to the Guru, Dattatreya, proceeded on his way.
The story of the twenty-four gurus of Dattatreya has
tremendous significance for any disciple. Very often
one analyses and dissects the speech and actions of
one's Guru, moving from Guru to Guru, looking through
the eyes of the ego. Because one has not become a
disciple, one does not have the consciousness to look
beyond words into the silence, beyond form into the
formless beyond the periphery into the centre. So, one
keeps missing again and again.For a seeker,
discipleship is very important. Discipleship is not an
emotional intention or an intellectual understanding of
gurutwam. Discipleship is a state of consciousness. It
is like the opening of a flower. Its opening is not
calculated. It does not choose the time. It opens
spontaneously when the bud stage is over, and as it
opens the sunlight streams into it naturally from all sides
.
The sun does not choose the flower. The sun's rays are
present naturally. When the flower opens there is a
meeting, a union.
tremendous significance for any disciple. Very often
one analyses and dissects the speech and actions of
one's Guru, moving from Guru to Guru, looking through
the eyes of the ego. Because one has not become a
disciple, one does not have the consciousness to look
beyond words into the silence, beyond form into the
formless beyond the periphery into the centre. So, one
keeps missing again and again.For a seeker,
discipleship is very important. Discipleship is not an
emotional intention or an intellectual understanding of
gurutwam. Discipleship is a state of consciousness. It
is like the opening of a flower. Its opening is not
calculated. It does not choose the time. It opens
spontaneously when the bud stage is over, and as it
opens the sunlight streams into it naturally from all sides
.
The sun does not choose the flower. The sun's rays are
present naturally. When the flower opens there is a
meeting, a union.
Dattarreya's relationship with each of his gurus did not
consist of didactic lectures, nor of intellectual
discussions or understanding. They were the intuitive
flashes of an innocent mind, a mind innocent of concepts
and preconceived notions. His consciousness as a
disciple was such that gurutwam streamed into him from
every side; from spiders, snakes, courtesans, children
etc.All of existence became his Guru because he was a
disciple, and because he was a disciple he was also the
Adi Guru. The union of discipleship and gurutwam is not
physical; mental or emotional. It is a state of
consciousness; two great rivers merging to find that the
water is one. Such discipleship is rare and should serve
as an inspiration for all sadhakas looking for the highest
truth.
consist of didactic lectures, nor of intellectual
discussions or understanding. They were the intuitive
flashes of an innocent mind, a mind innocent of concepts
and preconceived notions. His consciousness as a
disciple was such that gurutwam streamed into him from
every side; from spiders, snakes, courtesans, children
etc.All of existence became his Guru because he was a
disciple, and because he was a disciple he was also the
Adi Guru. The union of discipleship and gurutwam is not
physical; mental or emotional. It is a state of
consciousness; two great rivers merging to find that the
water is one. Such discipleship is rare and should serve
as an inspiration for all sadhakas looking for the highest
truth.
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