Guest guest Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Dear all, Dattathreya could find something positive even in a snake. In general, the word snake brings fear and unpleasantness in most of us. But Dattathreya looked only at the good side of everything around him. Paraguna paramaanoon parvatheekrithya nithyam nijahrudi vikasantha: santhi santha: kiyantha: How many sajjanaas are in this world who will try to find an iota of goodness present in others and glorify that to the size of a mountain? Dattathreya was one of those few sajjanaas who did that and showed us how to see goodness in others by setting an example by himself. Some snakes in the puraanaas like Aadishesha serve as positive symbols and some snakes like Thakshaka, Kaaliya etc serve as negative symbols. Now let us look at the positive qualities of snakes that impressed Lord Dattathreya. It is said that snakes never make holes by themselves to live in, but always uses abandoned holes made by other animals like rats and ants (anthills) as their abode. Since it changes it's abode often, it is not possessive about it's dwelling place. Snakes just see those holes as a place to lay eggs and live there for sometime. Worldly people build houses with lot of effort and feel proud of their possession. This can lead to more attachment and more sorrows. One day when the body falls, we take nothing with us except the good and bad karmaas we did during our life time. Dattathreya told King Yadu: Observing a snake I learnt that a saintly person should not get attached to a particular dwelling place. He should wander alone from place to place, make very little noise and be vigilant like a snake. Our body is temporary and the end can come anytime. So a spiritual seeker's primary interest is to make use of the available time for spiritual progress and not for increasing the material possessions and attachment. He should live near temple premises or under large shady trees or for a few days as a guest in the house of sajjanaas. Detachment or " let go " attitude is essential for spiritual progress. (All scriptures say that " let go " does not mean to stop caring, does not mean to admit powerlessness, but to take each day as it comes and find ways to better yourself and others) Regards and prayers Savitri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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