Dattaguru Reveals 24 Spiritual Teachers-II

Dattaguru took 24 spiritual gurus in nature and world, whom he considered as masters.

6. Moon: The moon appears to wax and wane, but actually speaking, it remains the same. So also, the body undergoes many changes, but the atma remains the same.

7. Sun: The sun (suryah) is the eye of the world and illuminates everything, but it does not get contaminated by what it illumines - suryah yatha sarvalokasya caksuma lipyate caksusair bahyadosaih. We should also illumine the world with the light of knowledge, but remain unattached and unaffected by the virtues or vices of others. The Avadhuta says that just as the sun absorbs water from the oceans through his heat and then releases it as rain to benefit all people, we should also learn to give back to the world what we take from it. Though the reflection of the sun appears in many places, it remains one alone, untouched by the qualities of the reflecting medium. In the same way, the Self(atma tattva) remains one alone, despite appearing in many bodies.

Shri Dattatreya shows the pigeon as another teacher from whom one could learn.

8. Pigeon: Next the Avadhuta recounts a detailed story about a family of pigeons. It is a picture of a typical householders's life. One day, when the parents had gone out to get food for the young ones, a birdcatcher spreads his net and traps the young ones. The parents return, and seeing the pitiable plight of the children, the mother, distraught with sorrow, jumps into the net. Then it is the turn of the father, who cannot contemplate living without his wife and children, and so jumps in and casts his lot with them.
The bird-catcher is overjoyed and walks away with the unexpected bounty.

Attachment leads to your downfall. It does not help to save the loved ones, and further, leads to your own destruction. Learn to be loving and caring, but avoid attachment. It is foolish to say, "How will I live without him/her?" We have to accept the inevitable and move on. Bhagavad Gita points out that a wise person has no such attachments - "yah sarvatra anabhisnehah"

We generally fail to understand the difference between love and attachment. Love is freedom, attachment bondage. If you love a bird, release him; do not cage him. If you are overprotective towards your child, it stunts his growth. Allow him to crawl, walk, run-even if he falls and hurts himself in the process. That is the only way he will learn and grow. He has to be exposed to the rough and tumble of life.
Dattaguru even points out to a python as a spiritual teacher.

9. Python: Another Guru of the Avadhuta, Dattaguru was a python (ajagarah).

Pythons stay quietly in one place, and swallow any creature that happens to pass by. If no food comes his way he will remain without eating for days on end; he will live on air -vayu- bhaksanam. It is a good lesson for samnyasis. Be happy with whatever happens to come to you-yadrccha labha santustah Swami Tapovan Maharaj used to wander barefoot in the Himalayan ranges. There were times when he would go hungry because there was no food available. Yet, he would never go in search of food; he left it to the Lord's will. Food came to him. The generous hill folk would share their simple meal of potatoes or dry rotis with him. Once, a couple of robbers accosted him. They found nothing on him, but Swami Tapovanam told them that he was hungry and the robbers gave him a meal!

As for the householders, they have to work, earn and provide not only for their family, but also for the society. Here Bhaja Govindam (verse 2) provides the c1ue: “yallabhasenijakannopattam vittam tena vinodayacittam “- perform your duties diligently and whatever comes to you as a result of that, be content with it. Do not remain idle. Even sannyasis work for the welfare of people, but they should also do it in the same spirit of acceptance and surrender, without any anxiety.

10.Ocean: Dattaguru also points out to the ocean as one among spiritual teachers. Sri Valmiki Maharshi compares the depth and profundity of Lord Rama. Lord Rama's character to that of the ocean - “samudra iva gambhirye" The ocean does not overflow when the rivers flow into it, nor does it get depleted when the rivers dry up. It is still, calm, unfathomable, steady and full in itself. Bhagavad Gita gives the example of the ocean to describe the state of the jnani -"apuryamanam acalapratistha"

To be continued

About the author

Swami Tejomayananda

This article is a continuation of “Gurus-24 Spiritual Teachers," which, is an excerpt from Swam Tejomayananda's “The Twenty Four Gurus" The article is about the spiritual teachers found in nature and world as revealed by Shri Dattatreya, acclaimed as Dattaguru. This article is written for the Vedanta Vani of Chinmaya Mission.