A spiritual
seeker needs to develop divine qualities like awareness, compassion,
forgiveness, detachment etc. The best way of learning these qualities is by
actually observing them in people or things around us. Dattatreya has noted for
us many such instances during his wanderings.
Water - water
is ordinary. It is found all over earth in form of rivers, lakes, wells,
streams and ocean. It is used by every living organism on earth and it is
replenished and is always available. None can live without water. Over millions
of years, water has been responsible for shaping the face of the earth. It is
responsible for the growth of the mighty forests, trees, plants, fruits, crops
and vegetables. It is a major factor in shaping the climate. Water cleanses,
purifies and refreshes. Water is ordinary but when we see the functions of
water – it is extraordinary. It serves all but is not proud. It flows from the
higher level to the lower level.
To
Dattatreya, water was symbolic of the compassion of a yogi. The compassion of a
yogi flows into the world very quietly and soothingly and nourishes and
refreshes the world. The yogi should
bestow health, peace and joy to all creatures that resort to him and yet remain
humble. So water was another Guru to Dattatreya.
Honeybee: The honeybee flits from flower to flower and
draws in the sweet nectar. It does not crush the flower or destroy it. It takes
in only what it needs. The flower also gives willingly to the honeybee.
From the
honeybee, Dattatreya learnt that he should take alms of food that is given
voluntarily and he should take only what is needed by him for the day and not
store for the future. Bhiksha or taking alms of food of needed for one meal and
not storing food and blessing the giver is the practice followed in India by
saints, sages and spiritual seekers.
Dattatreya
also learned that, just like the honey bee visiting all flowers but taking only
what was needed by it for making honey, a spiritual seeker should read all Spiritual
Scriptures, but should retain only that which is essential for his spiritual
practice.
Deer: A
hunter was chasing a deer and the deer being light and fleet footed managed to
escape easily each time. Dattatreya saw the hunter play music to the deer. The
deer forgot its fear and being fascinated by the music came near. Then the
hunter pounced on the deer and caught it.
Dattatreya
understood that when the spiritual seeker has a weakness, he can be distracted
and caught easily. Passions, sensual desires, folk music and dances are
distractions which lure the senses of the seeker and cause his downfall. By
giving in to his desires, the seeker loses whatever spiritual progress he has
made and falls down. The seeker who has raised himself from lower gunas/quaities
to satwa/purity loses it all and plunges into rajas and tamas again (lower
qualities of action and laziness).
A spiritual
aspirant needs one pointed concentration or ekagratha to achieve the goals of
the path. He should be aware of his
weaknesses and be alert so that he does not lose sight of his goals.
