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Wisdom from nature

CHENNAI : In their pursuit of worldly ends human beings invariably end up losing out on what really makes human life fruitful. The majority get caught up in satiating their desires without knowing where to draw the line and in the process fritter away the opportunity of human birth to realise the goal of liberation from bondage, for which it is intended.

In his discourse, Sri N.V. Devi Prasad said the Uddhava Gita highlighted the evanescence of worldly life and the need to strive for liberation by self-effort through the dialogue between King Yadu and an ascetic. Seeing a youthful and blissful mendicant roaming about fearlessly, the king asked him with wonder, "Generally men strive after religious merit, riches and enjoyment, as well as Self-enquiry only from the motive of acquiring longevity, renown and fortune. In the midst of people burning with the wild fire of concupiscence and greed, you remain unscathed by that fire, and do not get scorched by it."

The mendicant then enlightened the king about how he had imbibed wisdom from many preceptors by observing them during his peregrinations around the world. Then he listed 24 of them worthy of emulation: the Earth, air, sky, water, fire, moon and the sun, dove, python, sea, moth, honey-bee, elephant, honey-gatherer, deer, fish, a courtesan, osprey, infant, a maiden, a man who makes arrows, serpent, spider and wasp. He said he had learnt what was good for him from their conduct.

From the Earth he imbibed the quality of remaining unperturbed even while being oppressed by others. Seeing the Earth's endurance man should not deviate from his course of righteousness conscious of the fact of being subject to Providence. Though moving among all sorts of objects, an ascetic should not get particularly attached to them anymore than air, which flows freely. Even though covered by a body, a Yogi should identify with the Self, which is all- pervading, by observing the sky (space). From the water the mendicant learnt to be clean and transparent in his thoughts and deeds. A monk should be able to purify others around like water by his mere glance, touch or utterance of his name. Like the fire that devours everything, a mendicant must remain unaffected by the impurities of matter.

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