In our previous blog, we delved into the essence and significance of the Guru tradition, highlighting its timeless roots in Traditional Yoga. We explored the first 12 gurus of Guru Dattatreya, one of the most revered rishis and gurus in yoga, and gained insight into their teachings. In this continuation, we will embark on a journey to discover the next 12 gurus of Guru Dattatreya and understand how their lessons became a significant aspect of his Spiritual and Yogic journey.

13th Guru: Elephant

In the pursuit of capturing elephants, humans resort to a clever strategy: they construct a pit and cloak it with grass scented with the allure of a female elephant, alongside a decoy crafted from wood and paper. Entranced by the scent, the elephant charges towards the illusion, only to fall into the trap, succumbing to capture and enslavement.

Similarly, individuals driven by lust find themselves entangled by the temptations of the opposite gender, falling prey to deceitful allure and ultimately facing downfall. Those embarking on the quest for spiritual truth and enlightenment must cultivate the discipline to tame their senses, liberating themselves from the entanglements of lust and sidestepping the traps that may obstruct their path forward.

14th Guru: Honey-Gatherer

Bees collect honey through a process that requires immense time and effort. However, a hunter or honey-gatherer comes and easily takes it away from them. In a similar manner, humans accumulate worldly possessions with great toil, but when Death arrives, they must leave everything behind and depart from this realm. In life, one should work hard for material things only to the extent necessary and not hoard beyond that point, as hoarding excessively is ultimately a fruitless endeavour.

15th Guru: Deer

The deer's deep affinity for music draws it irresistibly, making it susceptible to the hunter's cunning trap set with melodies. This tale illustrates that unchecked passions and sensory cravings possess the potential to ensnare even the most spiritually inclined individuals, underscoring the necessity for cultivating the capacity for impartial observation to evade entanglement in the web of worldly attachments.

16th Guru: Fish

Just as a fish, with no control over its tongue, is lured by a small piece of bait and inevitably caught on the hook, meeting its demise, so too does this illustrate that among the senses, the tongue proves the most challenging to govern. When mastery over the taste buds is achieved, the regulation of other senses becomes more attainable. Similar to how a fish never strays from its habitat (i.e., water), a wise person should remain firmly anchored to their True Self.

17th Guru: Pingala (A Dancing Girl)

Once there was a dancing girl named Pingala, who captivated audiences night after night with her performances. Her talents earned her riches and money from those seeking sensual pleasure. However, one fateful evening, tired of tirelessly seeking customers, Pingala found herself overcome with hopelessness. In a moment of frustration, she abandoned her pursuit of wealth through such means. Yet, in that surrender, she discovered a newfound satisfaction and contentment with her circumstances. Embracing this revelation, she resolved to embark on a new path, finding solace in the simplicity of her existence. As she drifted into a peaceful sleep, Pingala realized that true contentment resides within oneself. Her journey illustrates the profound truth that relinquishing expectations from others leads to enduring contentment, stability, and boundless joy.

18th Guru: Hawk

Once, a hawk, having secured enough sustenance for survival, harbored a desire to amass a reserve of food. Upon seizing a morsel in its beak, other more robust birds, devoid of sustenance, swooped down, intent on snatching the food. To fend off the assault and restore tranquility, the hawk released the food from its grasp, prompting the assailants to abandon their pursuit of the hawk and divert their attention to the discarded morsel. This lesson resonated deeply with the Rishi, who discerned that the essence of survival and spirituality lay not in accumulation but in renunciation. True contentment and enlightenment, he realized, are the domain of those who conquer their yearning for material possessions. True liberation, he concluded, is attained only through detachment from the allure of fleeting pleasures.

19th Guru: Child

In the pure essence of a child nursing at its mother's breast, there is freedom from all anxieties and the burdens of ego and arrogance. Similarly, in the tranquil core of a Sage's being, anxieties barely disturb the surface of an ocean of supreme joy. The child's jubilance springs from innocence and the bliss of ignorance, while the Sage's contentment stems from liberation from worldly desires and fears, achieved through profound realization and yogic wisdom. Thus, this profound understanding became a lesson to embrace the simplicity and boundless joy of a child's heart - innocent, unburdened, devoid of ego and anger.

20th Guru: Maiden Girl

Once upon a time, I saw a beggar begging at the house of a family. At that time, only a maiden girl was in the house. She told the beggar to wait while she fetched some food for him. She went inside and began to thresh some corn for the beggar. As she wore bangles on her wrists, they started to tinkle and make noise, which irritated her as she threshed the corn. To quiet the jingling, she began removing the bangles one by one until only two were left. Even with the two bangles, the noise persisted, so she removed one more. Now, the jingling ceased.

From this action of the girl, the guru learned that as long as one lives among others, there will always be distractions and occasional disputes. Therefore, it is wise for a true yogi or ascetic, seeking the highest form of meditation on the supreme consciousness, to avoid the crowd and live in solitude. This allows for absolute concentration of the mind on one aspect, the ultimate truth.

21st Guru: Arrow-Smith

Once there was an arrow maker who was so absorbed in crafting the tip of an arrow that he didn't notice the King's procession passing nearby. Later, when someone asked the arrow maker how he liked the procession's music, he replied that he had no idea what procession they were talking about or when it had passed. Similarly, we ought to be so concentrated on the Ultimate Truth and Consciousness, that no external object or event should ever be an obstacle.

22nd Guru: Snake

The snake lives in solitude, avoiding the company of other creatures. Instead of building its own hole, it resides in a hole dug by other creatures. In time, it sheds its old skin and grows a new one, symbolizing a process akin to death and rebirth. Similarly, A true Sanyasi (renunciant) never constructs his own dwelling; instead, he resides in caves or temples established by others. Undeterred by the prospect of death, understands that the cycle of reincarnation persists as long as one is entangled in karmic actions. Regardless of apparent worldly activity, the Sage withdraws his mind into the sanctuary of the heart, where he transcends illusion and attains the genuine immortality of Ultimate Reality.

23rd Guru: Spider

Just as a spider spins an intricate web from within itself, relies on the web for survival, and, once the purpose is fulfilled, the spider eventually consumes the web back into itself, returning to a state of inherent potential without the web, so too does the Supreme Consciousness project Its power to create the universe. This power is manifested as the created universe, and then, when withdrawn, the Supreme Reality returns to its unmanifested state. A Sage, understanding this process, merges with True Reality in both its manifest and unmanifest forms, fully aware of the cyclical nature of creation and dissolution.

24th Guru: Caterpillar

A caterpillar enclosed inside its cocoon focuses solely on becoming a butterfly. Through time and patience, the caterpillar eventually transforms into a butterfly. This illustrates that whatever form a person consistently contemplates, they ultimately achieve. Therefore, one should strive to relinquish all attachment to the body and meditate upon the Atman (Soul). The body is transient, but the soul is the ultimate reality. Meditation on the soul or the ultimate truth is the path to spiritual enlightenment and liberation. When one meditates and concentrates with full devotion and without deviation upon the Supreme Reality, with time, one will surely become that.

In conclusion, Guru Dattatreya learned the most profound lessons on his spiritual journey from the elements of nature and the simple activities unfolding around him. These insights were pivotal to his enlightenment. Similarly, we all have numerous lessons to learn from our surroundings; the key lies in our mindfulness and ability to observe and absorb these lessons. Each day, we learn from our experiences both within and around us, and these experiences shape our spiritual path. Yoga serves as a powerful tool to navigate this path, acting as a driving force that sustains us physically and mentally. A guru, like a guiding light, directs us on this journey, offering the right approach to absorb and comprehend the vast knowledge and wisdom encountered on the path of yoga towards spiritual enlightenment.