Prakruthiya paata - Part 4

The Ocean

The ocean is the receptacle of all the waters of the rivers that flow into it. Yet one never witnesses the ocean overflowing with excess water. Unlike the rivers, the ocean does not burst its banks. On the other hand, the ocean does not diminish even during times of excessive heat or due to lack of rain. Rivers may run dry but the ocean remains unaffected.

Happiness and sorrow may flood me, like the waters of the rivers rush towards the ocean; but I must neither burst with joy nor dissolve in despair. I learnt that I must always remain restrained, whatever my circumstances are. The main lesson the ocean taught me was to be unaffected by highs and lows of life, said the avadhuta.

The moth

The moths (pathanga), the avadhuta observed, were uncontrollably drawn towards the light lit in the evening/night. But the attraction was fatal, for the minute the moths came into contact with the flame they were burnt to death. Yet moths continue to be drawn to the flame that would result in their doom.

I learnt that, desire has been created by God, in order to tempt us, and ultimately destroy us. It is ‘devamaaya.’ Excessive engrossment/ obsessive love/ unbridled lust/uncontrollable appetite/ immoderate affection, are all paths that lead to our destruction, said the avadhuta. So, I learnt from the moth how not to succumb to temptation/attraction.

The avadhuta compares the flame that attracts the moth to women who create desire in men and lead to their ruin. The avadhuta does not want to be caught in the net (of worldly life) like the pigeon. He wants to develop indifference to hunger like the python...

It is to be noted that many of these stories and the lessons learnt by the avadhuta are symbolic and not to be taken literally. But, more importantly, one has to bear in mind that the avadhuta is a person who has renounced the world, and his stance and his learnings do not always apply to the common person.