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THEMATIC ESSENCE OF UDDHAVA-

GITALesson 4:

Detachment from All that Is Material

(SB Canto 11, Chapter 9)

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A brief synopsis of what the avadhüta brähmaëa learned

from his “gürus” in surrounding material nature

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“Güru” in the material nature

He had learned

1) The earth (mountains and trees as parts of the earth; 11.7.37-38)

to be tolerant, to serve others, and to dedicate one’s whole life for the benefit of others.

2) The air (the life air and wind; 11.7.40-41)

•to be satisfied with merely keeping the body & soul together •to remain uncontaminated by the body & sense objects.

3) The sky (11.7.42-43) the soul, which pervade all material substances, is both indivisible and imperceptible.

4) The water (11.7.44) to be naturally clear and purifying.5) The fire (11.7.45-47) to burn to ashes all the past and future sinful

reactions of his subordinates/worshipers. (Contd)

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A brief synopsis…(Contd)

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“Güru” in the material nature

He had learned

6) The moon (11.7.48) the material body undergoes growth and dwindling.

7) The sun (11.7.50-51) •to avoid entanglement even while coming into contact with sense objects•about the two different modes of perception based on seeing the real form of the soul and seeing false designative coverings

8) The pigeon (11.7.52-74) •excessive affection and attachments ends up in sufferings •this human body is the open door to liberation, but if one becomes attached to family life like the pigeon, one is compared to a person who has climbed up to a high place just to fall down again. (Contd)

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A brief synopsis…(Contd)“Güru” in the

material natureHe had learned

9) The python (11.8.1-4) to accept what comes of its own accord10) The ocean (11.8.5-6) •to remain steady in happiness and distress

•to be grave and undisturbed in abundance and scarcity•Saintly person always remain tranquil like the ocean

11) The moth (11.8.7-8) •attracted to fire & burnt to death•lesson of beautiful sight—opposite sexual attraction, but deadly

12) The honeybee (11.8.9-12)

•lesson of smell—gather nectar from different flowers•Saintly person begs from different householders door to door—madhukari•Similarly he takes the essence of the scriptures•He avoids atyähära, or ever-eating, and -accumulation

13) The elephant (11.8.13-14)

•Lesson of touch the bull elephant tricked by hunters into moving towards captive she-elephants fall into a ditch•Similarly a man sexually attached to an attractive woman falls into a deep well of material life (Contd)

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A brief synopsis…(Contd)“Güru” in the material

natureHe had learned

14) The honey thief (11.8.15-16)

•Hoarding ends up losing•better spend for Krsna

15) The deer (11.8.17-18) •Lesson of sound (lured by hearing hunter’s flute)•Prajalpa, or hearing mundane sound creates material desires

16) The fish (11.8.19-21) •Lesson of tongue—sense of taste caught onto a fisherman’s hook•Control the tongue by honoring krsna-prasädam

17) Pińgalā, the Prostitute (11.8.22-44)

•Detachment from sense gratification•Hopes of sense enjoyment sufferings•Frustrations/failures detachment Lord’s blessings in disguise•Thereafter engaged in thinking of the Supreme•Only one who gives up such hankering can fix oneself in meditation upon the Personality of Godhead and achieve transcendental peace (Contd)

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17) Pińgalā, the Prostitute--Recap

(11.8.22-44) Lived in the city of Videha, or Mithila Despite waiting till past midnight, her

expected rich customer did not show up

Disappointment and frustration Detachment meditated on the Lord

sense of happiness & transcendental peace in her mind

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maivam syur manda-bhāgyāyāhkleśā nirveda-hetavah

yenānubandham nirhrtyapurusah śamam rcchati

SB 11.8.38“A person who has developed detachment can give up the bondage of material society, friendship and love, and a person who undergoes great suffering gradually becomes, out of hopelessness, detached and indifferent to the material world. Thus, due to my great suffering, such detachment awoke in my heart; yet how could I have undergone such merciful suffering if I were actually unfortunate? Therefore, I am in fact fortunate and have received the mercy of the Lord. He must somehow or other be pleased with me.”

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•With devotion I accept the great benefit that the Lord has bestowed upon me. Having given up my sinful desires for ordinary sense gratification, I now take shelter of Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (11.8.39).•I am now completely satisfied, and I have full faith in the Lord's mercy. Therefore I will maintain myself with whatever comes of its own accord. I shall enjoy life with only the Lord, because He is the real source of love and happiness (11.8.40).

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A brief synopsis…(Contd)“Güru” in the material

natureHe had learned …

18) The kurara—predatory—bird (11.9.1-2)

•Material attachment is the root cause of all sufferings & distress

19) The child (11.9.3-4) Simplicity/detachment no worries or anxieties

20) The young girl (11.9.5-10) •Even two people residing in the same place, let alone many quarrel & useless gossiping•Avoid bad association

21) The arrow maker (11.9.13)

Fix the mind on Krsna by being engaged in His mission

22) The serpent (11.9.15) •Should wonder alone, not live in one, prearranged place & not reveal his movements•Should speak little, and be grave

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A brief synopsis…(Contd)“Güru” in the

material natureHe had learned …

23) The spider (11.9.21) •Spins web from his own saliva and then withdraws it within himself•The Lord creates the universe from out of Himself, maintains, and then winds it up into Himself

24) The wasp (11.9.22-23)

•The weaker insect assumed the same form as the devouring wasp•The living entity, due to overly affection, hatred and fear, attains in his next life the identity of the object upon which he fixes his mind & intelligence

An additional guru, one’s own body (11.9.24-29)

Utilize the rare human body in pursuit of spiritual knowledge & practice of Krsna consciousness attain the ultimate goal of human form of life

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Thematic essence of what the avadhüta brähmaëa learned

from his 25 “gürus” One initiating, but many instructing (çiksa) gürus—good and bad examples to take lessons from

Examples of good behavior strengthen in devotional service. Negative examples forewarned and avoid dangers on the path of devotional service

Detachment from 8 gürus—the pigeon, fish, deer, young girl, elephant, snake, moth, and kurara bird

Renunciation of the temporary & acceptance of the eternal from 3 gürus—honey bee, honey thief, and Pińgalā

Cultivate faith and conviction in devotional service unto the Supreme Lord from others beginning with the earth

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