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The
Twenty-four Teachers |
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From the Uddhava Gita of the Bhagavantam |
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The
blessed Lord said, "The destruction of the Yadavas has begun.
When it is finished I shall return to My region." Uddhava
noticed the evil portents and heard what Sri Krishna had said. He implored
Krishna, "O Lord! You shall leave this earth soon. I cannot bear to
leave Your Lotus Feet even for a moment. Take me also to your abode." Sri
Krishna replied, "I accomplished the purpose for which I have
incarnated. As soon as I leave this earth, Kali will overtake it and men
will become unrighteous.. Do not dwell in any given place here. Free
yourself from all your attachments. Give up your affection for your
friends, family and wealth. Fix your mind firmly on Me and roam over this
earth, seeing Me in all beings, looking on all beings with equal eyes. "Know
that everything you see or grasp with the senses, or understand with your
mind is unreal. It is all the creation of your mind and Maya. Therefore,
control your mind and behold everything in the universe as your own Self.
Realize the essence of your own nature, which is bliss and in harmony with
the entire universe. See the
whole universe in your Self and yourself in Me, the Supreme Lord. "When
you have detached yourself from the things of the world, when you have
destroyed all egoism and risen above good and bad, the laws of the world
will no longer affect you. The sense of right and wrong will then be
natural to you, not dictated by something outside of you, whether
scriptural or man-made. Karma
cannot touch you then; you will have risen above it. For the good of the
world, for the instruction of others you may perform or refrain from
forbidden acts, but you will not be affected." Uddhava,
eager to be instructed by the blessed Lord, asked, "How is it
possible to renounce desire and see the world as transitory for people
like me who are still so immersed in worldliness.?" Krishna
replied by giving him a story. "In olden times, there once was a
conversation between an Avadhuta and a king, who was sincere in his search
for spiritual knowledge. The king saw the young Sanyasin, full of wisdom,
wandering about fearlessly and put to him the following question: 'O
Sage. How did you get this clear wisdom and light by which you were able
to give up all attachments and roam fearlessly like a child, in perfect
bliss? Generally in this world people exert themselves greatly for
acquiring virtue or wealth or other desires, and will exert themselves to
gain spiritual knowledge in order to free themselves from pain or obtain
some personal gain. You are of sound body and mind, your speech is sweet
and full of wisdom, and yet you neither work nor exert yourself in the
least. People in this world are scorched by the fire of lust and greed.
You seem to want nothing and are not affected by that fire. You live a
solitary life, free of the objects of the world; you have neither family
nor sensual enjoyment. What is the source of your joy?' The
young Sanyasin said, "Many are my preceptors. With the wisdom I have
imbibed from them I roam about on this earth free from attachments. Listen
who they are: The
earth, the wind, the sky, the water, the fire, the moon, the sun, the
pigeon, the python, the sea, the moth, the bee, the elephant, the
honey-gatherer, the deer, the fish, the prostitute, the crow, the child,
the maiden, the arrow-maker, the serpent, the spider and the beetle... all
these are my gurus whom I have resorted to. I have learned all my lessons
from their characteristic traits. Let me narrate to you what I have
learned from each of them.
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