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23. The Child

A child experiences no praise or abuse. That is, nothing affects the child. So, too, am I without the experiences of praise and abuse. I do not suffer from the worries that one with a family undergoes. The child is always carefree and involved in playing. So, too, am I ever in play with my Atma. Moreover, the one who is effortless and the one who has acquired all knowledge are both carefree and ever drowned in Paramaananda! Thus I learnt to be bereft of any worry from the child.

24. The Keeper of beehive

The Keeper of beehive is adept in making others work for him and benefit by their work. And so is a wise man.

The Avadhuta said to the King, “These are the lessons learnt by me from the 24 Gurus that I mentioned. I have been practicing what all of them have taught me. I have also grasped the lesson taught by my body. Life exists on this as its base. But once the spirit leaves the body it becomes verily the food for animals and worms or becomes ashes. Hence, I gave up all attachment to the body.

Like a man with many wives, the different desires - tongues entertaining the taste buds, the parched throat demanding water, sex urge pulling the man in one way while the stomach in another; the ears demanding good music; the nose demanding fragrance and the eyes demanding beautiful things to look at - pull the man down. After many births of inferior status, viz. worm, reptile, animal, etc. he is granted the human status with an intellect to use it properly - to attain salvation. I have realized the purpose of this human birth. I have learnt vairagya (non-attachment). There is tranquility on my face as I am free from ‘I’ and ‘Mine’.

The Avadhuta left the Yadu who bowed to him with great reverence.

Thus concluding the account of the Avadhuta and his twenty-four gurus, Krishna said to Uddava, “Set your thoughts on ME alone and live in the world without being attached to anyone or anything. Actions tainted with desire are the cause of bondage, which give rise to another birth. Let the mind be filled with noble thoughts and practise ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), astheya (abstaining from stealing), asanga (non-attachment), lajja (shamefulness at performing wrong things), asanchaya (not hoarding wealth), brahmacharya (control of senses), mauna (silence), sthairya (steadfastness), kshama (forgiveness), abhaya (fearlessness).

Let your thoughts dwell on the nature of the Atman. The fire is contained in the wood. When it is churned it comes out and burns away the wood, the container. Likewise, the Atman inside you when seen as separate from the body that contains it will help you loose the separate identity and become one with it.

Of all the paths expounded by Me the easiest is the Bhakti yoga. It will lead you to ME quickly. You will become a Jivanmukta very soon through the practice of Bhakti yoga. And you have been practicing this all these years! So it is not a new thing for you! I know the deep love you have for me but I ask you to stay back in the world to teach the people the Atmavidya that I have taught you.

Uddhava folding both his hands, with tears in his eyes, with emotion-filled voice said, “Krishna! Your grace has lifted the veil of darkness that had been covering me. You have shown me the way out of this world of Maya. The bondage of Maya has been snapped from me and I feel free. Krishna said to Uddhava, “Go now to Badrikashrama where I had once performed tapas. Stay there seeing and bathing in the pure waters of the Ganga. Since she flows from My feet she is pure. Eat as little as possible and go about like an Avadhuta bereft of any attachment to anything. You will attain me very soon.”

Uddhava prostrated to Krishna once again and parted. The parting was hard for both of them.

***** The End *****

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