10 Oct 11
Uddhav Geeta is a book that not many, even in Hindu households, may be aware of.
Nevertheless, it is an extraordinary handbook for the Vedant students, especially those interested in the Bhakti Yog or the way of devotion to God.
It is included as a part of the 11th Skandha ( literally meaning shoulder ) or volume of the Bhagavatam.
In essence, it is a conversation between Uddhav--a devotee of Lord Krishna and the Lord himself, modelled on the question/answer system of the Bhagavat Geeta.
English translations are available. I have in front of me, " Uddhav Gita The Last Message of Shri Krishna ". ISBN 81-7505-115-9.
With you people's permission, I will give extracts. I hope these will be read, even if not commented upon.
10 Oct 11
Originally posted by rvsakhadeoThe book contains sub-dialogues also. An interesting dialogue is between Yadu and Avadhoot.
Uddhav Geeta is a book that not many, even in Hindu households, may be aware of.
Nevertheless, it is an extraordinary handbook for the Vedant students, especially those interested in the Bhakti Yog or the way of devotion to God.
It is included as a part of the 11th Skandha ( literally meaning shoulder ) or volume of the Bhagavatam.
In essence, it is ...[text shortened]... le's permission, I will give extracts. I hope these will be read, even if not commented upon.
Yadu was the king who founded the Yadav dynasty.Lord Krishna took birth in the Yadav dynasty much later.
Yadu comes upon a person,who is wandering around the forest aimlessly. He appears to be happy. He is an Avadhoot, a monk, free from any sect or creed and wearing no external signs of his renunciation of this world.
Yadu asks him:- " You are roaming around the forest like a child, although you appear to be a sage. You seem to be able,learned,well formed, possessed of a mellifluous voice but do not seem to have any livelihood nor you seem to be engaged in any exertion. While people are being scorched by the forest-fire of lust and greed, you do not seem affected by it, like an elephant bathing in the Ganga (aka Ganges ) river.So, tell me how you manage to find bliss, untouched by sense-objects and living a solitary life."
The Avadhoot replies:- " O, king, I have many Gurus from whom I have learnt most valuable lessons . They are 24 in all. They are the earth, the wind, the sky, the water, the fire,the moon, the sun, the pigeon, the sea, the moth, the python, the bee, the elephant, the honey gatherer, the deer, the fish, the child, the osprey, the courtesan Pingala, the maiden, the arrow maker, the snake, the spider and the insect which constructs round mud nests."
10 Oct 11
Originally posted by rvsakhadeoThe Avadhoot continued " I saw the moth plunge into the fire. It was tempted by the brightness of the fire and had to pay the price. Similarly I saw that the persons having no control over their senses plunge into sensual pleasures which are brightened by blandishments and are lost. So the moth taught me not to behave recklessly and plunge into sensual pleasures."
The book contains sub-dialogues also. An interesting dialogue is between Yadu and Avadhoot.
Yadu was the king who founded the Yadav dynasty.Lord Krishna took birth in the Yadav dynasty much later.
Yadu comes upon a person,who is wandering around the forest aimlessly. He appears to be happy. He is an Avadhoot, a monk, free from any sect or creed and wear ...[text shortened]... en, the arrow maker, the snake, the spider and the insect which constructs round mud nests."
He said " I saw the tame she elephant being sent to entice the wild male elephant into following her by first touching the male elephant and then leading him to fall into the pit dug for him. So I learnt that I should not touch even a wooden figure of a woman, lest desires crowd into my mind leading me into a fall."
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10 Oct 11
Originally posted by rvsakhadeoSince you asked; I for one have no objection to your posting these things but I might not read them very assiduously. So far, they seem akin to Aesop's fables. No insult intended, I like Aesop's fables and think they offer good advice.
The Avadhoot continued " I saw the moth plunge into the fire. It was tempted by the brightness of the fire and had to pay the price. Similarly I saw that the persons having no control over their senses plunge into sensual pleasures which are brightened by blandishments and are lost. So the moth taught me not to behave recklessly and plunge into sensual pl ...[text shortened]... h even a wooden figure of a woman, lest desires crowd into my mind leading me into a fall."
10 Oct 11
Originally posted by JS357The stories contain a message.
Since you asked; I for one have no objection to your posting these things but I might not read them very assiduously. So far, they seem akin to Aesop's fables. No insult intended, I like Aesop's fables and think they offer good advice.
The brain has to be switched on to see this.
Now read it again and switch on the brain.
But remove all fault finding mentality when you do.
And you may even get something from it.
11 Oct 11
Originally posted by rvsakhadeoThe Avadhoot continued " I saw fish being bated by the hook tipped with the lure and then taking the bait and then getting dragged into the boat by the fisherman. I saw that one perishes by attaching oneself to the tongue and its cravings. This is what I learned from the Fish. ".
The Avadhoot continued " I saw the moth plunge into the fire. It was tempted by the brightness of the fire and had to pay the price. Similarly I saw that the persons having no control over their senses plunge into sensual pleasures which are brightened by blandishments and are lost. So the moth taught me not to behave recklessly and plunge into sensual pl ...[text shortened]... h even a wooden figure of a woman, lest desires crowd into my mind leading me into a fall."
The Avadhoot further said " I saw that a deer roaming in the forest, being attracted to sensuous music played by a hunter and then getting snared in the snare laid for him by the hunter. I understood that sensuous music can entrap a person.That is what I learnt from the Deer."
The Avadhoot said " I saw bees collecting honey from flowers. I took it to mean that one should take out the essence from the Scriptures, which will serve one as enough food. But then, I also saw bees going to their honeycomb and hoarding the surplus honey there. And then I saw that a honey gatherer came and after having driven the bees away, collected the honeycomb and went away. So the second lesson I learnt from the bees is that there is no use hoarding. Avarice is of no use.From the honey gatherer I learnt that while avaricious people hoard money which neither they use nor they give in charity, it is looted by another one, like the honey gatherer. So I learnt from the honey gathere that one must use one's wealth wisely lest is stolen. "
11 Oct 11
1 edit
Originally posted by rvsakhadeoThe Avadhoot continued " I saw a snake gliding alone on a forest trail. I saw that he made no sound. I then saw him retire into a cave. I then learnt that an Avadhoot should wander alone and in silence along lonely paths and keep away from people like the snake. "
The Avadhoot continued " I saw fish being bated by the hook tipped with the lure and then taking the bait and then getting dragged into the boat by the fisherman. I saw that one perishes by attaching oneself to the tongue and its cravings. This is what I learned from the Fish. ".
The Avadhoot further said " I saw that a deer roaming in the forest, being o I learnt from the honey gathere that one must use one's wealth wisely lest is stolen. "
He then said " I saw a happy child playing with itself. He was free from any anxiety and was not doing any work. I gathered from the child the importance of being busy with oneself and being free from anxiety and yet not doing any work."
He then said " I saw an arrow-maker absorbed in his work of sharpening the arrow-heads. He was totally immersed in his work. Actually, a procession passed along his workshop. This procession, beating drums and other instruments was comprising of soldiers and horses and elephants, because the King was being carried on the royal elephant. The arrowmaker did not notice the procession nor did he notice the King pass him by, so absorbed he was in his work. I learnt that after pacifying one's mind and then concentrating it on the object of meditation, one can totally disregard the presence of external objects. "
11 Oct 11
Originally posted by rvsakhadeoThe Avadhoot said " Once upon a time, a maiden, in the absence of her parents in her home, had to herself receive a party of guests. From their talk she gathered that they had come to ask her hand in marriage for their son. She retired to the kitchen after receiving them etc. and telling them that she will cook food for them. Then she saw in the kitchen, that dehusked rice grains were not available in the house but only paddy. She then started pounding the paddy for dehusking it.This activity gave rise to a rhythmic sound of her bangles---which were made up of conch shell slivers---, the girl being intelligent, realized that the guests will wonder what kind of a household was this which did not have a ready stock of dehusked rice grains.She therefore broke off the bangles, one by one, till only two were left. Even then they made some noise. So she broke off one. The noise stopped at once. I learnt from the maiden that Many is a noisy crowd. Even Two are a noisy company. For ensuring silence and hence concentration, one should be always alone. "
The Avadhoot continued " I saw a snake gliding alone on a forest trail. I saw that he made no sound. I then saw him retire into a cave. I then learnt that an Avadhoot should wander alone and in silence along lonely paths and keep away from people like the snake. "
He then said " I saw a happy child playing with itself. He was free from any anxiety and wa ...[text shortened]... n the object of meditation, one can totally disregard the presence of external objects. "
12 Oct 11
Originally posted by rvsakhadeoThe Avadhoot further said " The python lives life without exerting for food, mostly lying coiled up and inactive. It takes its food once in many days and if no food presents itself, it abides by its destiny. The sage should live like a python, taking life just as it comes. "
The Avadhoot said " Once upon a time, a maiden, in the absence of her parents in her home, had to herself receive a party of guests. From their talk she gathered that they had come to ask her hand in marriage for their son. She retired to the kitchen after receiving them etc. and telling them that she will cook food for them. Then she saw in the kitchen ...[text shortened]... e a noisy company. For ensuring silence and hence concentration, one should be always alone. "
12 Oct 11
Originally posted by rvsakhadeoThe Avadhoot said " The Sea neither overflows in the rainy season nor shrinks in summer. It is also deep and difficult to cross. The sage should be unmoved whether the world provides him with an abundance of enjoyable things or none at all. The sage should also be profound and be difficult to be slighted. "
The Avadhoot further said " The python lives life without exerting for food, mostly lying coiled up and inactive. It takes its food once in many days and if no food presents itself, it abides by its destiny. The sage should live like a python, taking life just as it comes. "
12 Oct 11
Originally posted by rvsakhadeoThe Avadhoot continued " The Sky ( literal translation of the word Akash--but used as equivalent to Space ) is not touched by things which are products of Heat, Liquidity, Solidity and Wind. Similarly a sage should be untouched by temporary products of Time. "
The Avadhoot said " The Sea neither overflows in the rainy season nor shrinks in summer. It is also deep and difficult to cross. The sage should be unmoved whether the world provides him with an abundance of enjoyable things or none at all. The sage should also be profound and be difficult to be slighted. "
13 Oct 11
Originally posted by rvsakhadeoThe Avadhoot continued " The Wind blows over objects but does not get attached to them. Neither the Wind gets attached to various attributes of these objects such as good odour or bad odour. Similarly the Sage should neither be attached to the worldly objects or to their attributes.
The Avadhoot continued " The Sky ( literal translation of the word Akash--but used as equivalent to Space ) is not touched by things which are products of Heat, Liquidity, Solidity and Wind. Similarly a sage should be untouched by temporary products of Time. "
Water is by nature pure, sweet, a source of imparting holiness to all beings. A sage should be similar to Water in nature, pure, sweet, imparting holiness to all who come in contact.
The Earth is all forbearing, tolerates and forgives all who transgress her, neither she swerve from her path.The sage should be like the Earth. ( The Earth has a feminine gender in Sanskrit and other Indian languages. )
The Fire is bright, resplendant, powerful and is not polluted by anything it eats.
Sometimes disguised by ashes, sometimes patent, it burns the past and future evil deads of those who worship it. A sage should emulate Fire.
Just as the Digits of the Moon are seen to be varying with Time, but the Moon itself stays intact, I learnt from the Moon that the Antryami Atman or my internal Self is constant altough my body may change due to assaults of Time.
The Body is the cause of dispassion and discrimination, it is subject to birth and death, both of which cause pain. Thus the Body helps me in reflecting on the ultimate reality and makes me free from attachments.
A she- Osprey caught a large fish while fishing in the sea. As soon as she started flying away with the fish in her beak, she was spotted by other powerful birds who gave her a merciless chase. Although she tried hard she could hardly maintain a distance between herself and her tormentors. Soon she was breathless.Then she dropped her fish from her beak. As soon as that happened, the chasing birds went after the piece of fish and she was left alone and in peace. She realized that after she had given up the fish, she had become carefree. I learnt from the She- Osprey that one must give up desirable things in order to be carefree. "