In the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Shri Krishna narrates the story of the Avadhoot (one who has shaken off all worldly desires) and his 24 Gurus to his disciple, Uddhava.
Once, King Yadu, who was versed in the Scriptures, saw a wise, young Avadhoot in a forest and said to him, “O Brahmin, you are free from the consciousness of ego. Tell me, please, how did you attain your vast wisdom, which enables you to walk everywhere, free from care, like a child? O Brahmin, pray tell me how you find delight in your Self alone, unmoved by the miseries of the world?”
The Avadhoot replied, “I am a free soul on earth, having received wisdom from many teachers. Listen to who my teachers are: the earth, air, ether, water, fire, the moon, the sun, the pigeon, the python, the sea, the moth, the elephant, the bee, the honey-gatherer, the deer, the fish, the dancing girl, the bird of prey, the child, the maiden, the arrow-maker, the snake, the spider and an insect. These are the 24 teachers from whom I have learnt great lessons.”
Here are some of the lessons and qualities we can learn from the 24 Gurus:
- Earth – Patience, endurance and the accomplishment of good for the sake of good: One should not swerve from truth or lose one’s poise, even when oppressed by others. Like the trees and mountains, one should yield good to all.
- Air – Detachment: As the air is unaffected by good and bad odours, so should a wise person, though moving through different sense objects, remain unmoved by good or evil. Although housed in an earthly body and subject to its limitations, one’s consciousness should be fixed on the illimitable, divine Self.
- Ether – Like the all-pervading ether, the Aatmaa (soul) is present in animate and inanimate objects. Even though living in the human body, one should realize one’s unity with Brahman and never cease to meditate on this Self. As the sky remains unaffected by the clouds, driven by the wind, so should one remain unmoved by the changing phenomena of the universe.
- Water – The sage is clear, soothing, sweet and purifying like water and he purifies all who revere him and seek his company.
- Fire – Fire shines radiantly and moves among material objects while remaining unaffected by the evil in them. Fire removes impurities and burns away the evil karmas of the past and future. The flames rise and fall, but not the fire itself; so birth and death belongs to the body but not to the Self.
- Moon – As time passes, the moon’s appearance changes, though they do not in reality affect the moon. So, one should realize the perfect and infinite nature of the soul, yet be aware of the limiting adjuncts that cast shadows on it.
- Sun – Just as the one sun appears as many when reflected in many vessels of water, so is the one Aatmaa reflected in many individuals. One should shine one’s brilliance and reflection on others so that they benefit from it.
- Pigeon – Pigeons live, love, grieve, are trapped and die because of their attachments, which cause bondage to the world. Pleasures of the senses may be derived in all lives; to be free, one should not yearn after them.
- Python – Just as the python is satisfied with whatever food comes to it, so too should one be content with whatever one possesses.
- Ocean – The ocean is calm and placid; so too is the wise person tranquil, poised and deep in knowledge while in the midst of all sorts of temptations, difficulties and troubles.
- Moth – Like a moth to a flame, our uncontrolled senses lead us to the temporary enjoyments of the world and get burned. One should control the sense of sight and fix the mind on the Self.
- Elephant – One who is lustful is caught in a trap. Destroy the lust within or be destroyed.
- Bee – Like the bee gathering honey from different flowers, the wise person accepts the essence of different Scriptures and sees only the good in all religions. However, do not hoard wealth as the bee hoards honey. Be self-sufficient and not a burden to others.
- Honey- gatherer – The honey-gatherer takes the honey from the bee hives. However, one should give as much as is necessary and never hoard things.
- Deer – The deer becomes enamoured of sweet sounds and falls into the snare. Pay attention to the sense of hearing. Avoid lascivious or raucous music.
- Fish – The fish is caught on a hook because of its inability to control its sense of taste. The organ of taste is the most difficult organ to control. Control it and control all other organs; destroy the greed for food.
- Dancing girl, Pingalaa – She realised that the Lord alone delights the heart. She became disgusted with and renounced the temporary pleasures of the senses. So too, one should abandon all vain hopes and be content.
- Bird of prey – A bird of prey was once attacked and followed by stronger birds as long as it carried a piece of food in its mouth. As soon as he gave it up, he was free. Freedom from attachment brings joy.
- Child – Free of all worries and anxieties, like a child, find your playmate in the Lord. The child is happy through ignorance, and the wise, through knowledge.
- Maiden with the bracelets – Where many live in one place, there is noise, quarrelling and gossip, like many bracelets on the arm of a maiden. It is better to be solitary and alone like one bracelet on either arm of the maiden as this nurtures peace, silence and communion with the Divine. The mind, when it is steady in divine contemplation, expresses Sattva (mode of goodness) overcoming Rajas (mode of passion) and Tamas (mode of ignorance). Tranquility resides in the heart that is not stirred by worldly desires.
- Arrow-maker – While creating his arrows, he is conscious only of his task. Be fully absorbed in all duties. With a concentrated mind, rise above the turbulence of the world.
- Snake – It enters a hole made by others and lives there happily. So does freedom from materialism bring spirituality.
- Spider – As the spider weaves its thread out of its own mouth, plays with it and then withdraws it again into itself, so too, does the eternal, unchangeable Lord, who is formless and without attribute, who is absolute knowledge and absolute bliss. He evolves the whole universe out of Himself, plays with it and again withdraws it into Himself. Seek the Divine rather than build a world of materialism in which one can become easily entangled.
Insect – One becomes whatever one thinks intently about, whether through love, hate or fear. The cockroach, being attacked by an insect called a Bhramara-Kita, thinks only of its foe and as a result, is transformed into the object of its fear. Therefore, think constantly on the Divine and give up all attachment to the body.
Thus, taught by the Avadhoot, King Yadu also became free from attachment and attained peace.
