In the previous episode, we had continued the discussion on some key learnings from twenty-five different things in the world, as narrated by the “Avadhoota” Sanyasin to King Yadu. This is of course part of a bigger conversation between Bhagawan Krishna and Uddhava, wherein Bhagawan Krishna is trying to drive home the important point of developing the sense of “detachment” towards worldly affairs. Of course, He has spoken about it at length during His Bhagawad Gita, but this segment assumes significance because Bhagawan is talking about it to an ardent devotee who is willing to walk the tough path of attaining Mokhsa with Bhagawan’s divine guidance. So far, we’ve witnessed around ten different things that the “Avadhoota” Sanyasin is talking about and yesterday, we had spoken about the “Kapotham” (Pigeon), “Ajaharaha” (Python) and “Sindhu” (Ocean). We learnt how we shouldn’t get trapped into the ocean of “Samsara” just like how the pigeon gets trapped in the hunter’s nets. Similarly, we learnt the important characteristic of “patience” from the python, wherein we’ve witnessed how the python waits for its prey to come close to it, rather than it going after its prey. Through this analogy, we also understood that we’ve to have a strong faith towards Bhagawan that come what may, Bhagawan will come towards us and protect us in all possible ways. Moving on, we witnessed the significance of the ocean and just like how we can never measure the depth and length of the ocean, the knowledge and significance of a “Sadguru” or a “Yogi” can never be measured both in length and depth.
This is why we always keep saying that the easiest way to attain Moksha in this world is to approach the right “Sadguru” and surrender to His / Her feet unconditionally. In many instances in the past too, we’ve witnessed how our Sanaatana Dharma explains the process of attaining Moksha. Rather than going directly to Bhagawan, it is always more effective if we go through a “Guru”. It is the “Guru” who removes all our dark blemishes and guides us towards the path of “Moksha”. Once our blemish and ignorance are removed, we would automatically start treading the path of Moksha. In fact, we’ve witnessed this concept even during the Ramayana project itself, wherein Hanuman was portrayed by Valmiki Maharishi in the highest position of the “Guru” or the “Spiritual Master”. The Ramayana story itself at many instances teaches us how to attain the lotus feet of Bhagawan Rama through the divine grace of the Spiritual Master. Hence, we’ve to understand this point very importantly here.
Moving on thus, we are now going to witness the next important thing – “Patangaha” (An insect). We would have seen in many restaurants or even at home as to how small insects would come searching for the tubelight and all of them would be crowding around that one tubelight in hundreds. This happens especially during the rainy season. However, if we place a light which is powerful enough to kill these insects, will the insects know that this light is going to kill them if they come near? Unknkowingly they would think that this is something we can approach, and would finally pave their way to death. Similarly, our five senses are like these insects. If we’re going behind sensual pleasures of this world (Maya), we are going to automatically meet the same end as that of these insects when they come closer to the Ultra-violet light. If a person doesn’t have control over his / her senses, no enemy is required to defeat this person. His uncontrollable senses are his biggest enemies for his life. We’ve witnessed many such instances in our Sanaatana Dharma Literature itself – How Ravana, Duryodhana, Duchhasana, Sahuni, etc. met their fate because of the sheer reason that they weren’t able to control their wandering senses. So we should understand from this analogy that sense control is of paramount importance if we’ve to tread the path of “Dharma”.
Similar is the next analogy which the Sanyasin is going to narrate – “Madhukrith” (Honey bee). Even the honey bee would fall into the trap, by going behind the honey. Little would they realize that they are in for a “honey trap” and the hunter is going to hunt down all of them, for the want of honey. Thus, from both these examples, we are understanding a different meaning to the sense of “detachment” and the larger message from these two analogies is that, detachment is a process wherein we focus on our self-control and our sense-control. If we’re failing to do both, we’ve to meet the imminent danger that lies in front of us. In the fastness and excitement of things that might unfold, there would be lot of momentous pleasures that would be attached to going behind things. But, at that point in time, little would we realize that we’re just getting carried away by those momentous pleasures, only to fall into a huge pit, which is being dug by ourselves and our ignorance.
So, this is where we’ve to be very careful. Hence, for today let us understand these two important points and let us wait till the next episode to witness the next important point. Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 