Sri Guru Gita – 18 July 2014 – Episode 208

jayagurudatta srigurudatta Puttujii

Jaya Guru Datta. Episode summary:

Jaya Guru Datta.
We discussed that there were many disciples engaged in study and practice of knowledge under the tutelage of Sankara Bhagavatpada. We also discussed that a boy named Giri too came to be Sankara’s disciple. Giri was dull-witted. He was unable to absorb the lessons taught by the Guru. He would not understanding anything easily. That is why, he became an object of ridicule among his fellow students. When they called him by his name, “Giri”, they would imply that he was dumb as a stone and make fun of him. Giri means mountain. There is no effect on the mountain even if you collide with it. So, they implied that he was like a big stone.

Even though Giri was not intelligent, his mind was pure. Did you see? We find some people dull-witted, but their minds are pure. Giri’s devotion to his Guru was boundless. Even though he was dull-witted, he would attend on all of the Guru’s tasks. He would take care of all the tasks; like a machine, he would just keep doing one task after another. Nothing else would matter to him except doing those tasks. He would get the water ready for his Guru. He would wash the Guru’s clothes. He would fetch drinking water from the river. He would do all these tasks on his own. But, he did not acquire any knowledge being taught. When he sat in class, he would never absorb what was being taught. But, he would be able to carry out all other tasks. He would gather the flowers required for worship. Every moment of the day, his interest lay only in serving the Guru. Did you see, we said so many things about Giri, that he was dull-witted, that his intellect was too stubborn to absorb any knowledge, but he was doing such good service, he had great devotion towards the Guru.

One day, when it was time for Sankara to teach, the disciples gathered for the class. Sankara also arrived. The disciples pulled all their scriptures together and eagerly looked forward to the lesson their Guru was going to teach them. But, Sankara did not start the lesson. He sat quietly. He did not see Giri among the students in the class. The Guru noticed that Giri was not in class. Giri, who had gone to the river, to wash the Guru’s clothes and bring them back did not return yet. The disciples who saw that the Guru was awaiting the arrival of Giri got jealous and began whispering among themselves, “Why is our Guru looking for that Giri?” “What is this? It is the past the starting time of the class. Yet, the Guru is not starting the class. We have to go out and play after the class. What is this? We are getting late”.

It is like saying, “Even after so long, the bhajans have not started. We have been here for a very long time. Why did he not come today?” as if they are paying wages for the bhajans. They may not even question those they are paying wages. They make a demand, “Why will he not give darshan today? Why did he still not come for bhajans?” The disciples waited for the dull-witted Giri to return.

The class has not started and time is running out. Yet, the Guru is not starting the class. They discussed among themselves, “He is awaiting the arrival of the dull-witted Giri. Why is he waiting for Giri? Giri will not understand anything properly anyway. This is strange. Why is the Guru so compassionate towards him? It does not matter anyway whether he sits in this class or not. He does not understand anything”.

The omniscient Sankara comprehended the thoughts of his disciples. He understood the ridicule they had for Giri.

Jaya Guru Datta.