Da-da-da

From The Brhadaranyaka Upanisad V,ii,1
Translated by Swami Madhavananda, Advaita Ashram

Abdridged Note:
Dama-Dana-Daya. The first two letters of each of these three words are the same ‘Da’.

Dama means Self Control.
Dana means Give (Charity).
Daya means Compassion.

Three classes of Prajapati’s sons lived a life of continence as students with their father Prajapati (the Creator)- the gods, men and demons. (Devas, Manushyas and Asuras).

The gods on the completion of their term, said, “Please instruct us.”

Prajapati told them the syllable ‘Da’ and asked, “Have you understood?”

The gods said: “Yes we have understood. You tell us to CONTROL OURSELVES.”

Prajapati said: “Yes, you have understood”.

Then the men said to Prajapati: “Please instruct us.”

Prajapati told them the same syllable ‘Da’ and asked, “Have you understood?”

The men said: “Yes we have understood. You tell us to GIVE.”

Prajapati said: “Yes, you have understood.”

Then the demons (Asuras) said to Prajapati: “Please instruct us.”

Prajapati told them the same syllable ‘Da’ and asked “Have you understood?”

The demons (Asuras) said: “yes we have understood. You tell us to HAVE COMPASSION.”

Prajapati said: ” Yes, you have understood.”

That very thing is repeated by the heavenly voice, the cloud (through thunders) as ‘Da’, ‘Da’, ‘Da’ : Control yourselves, Give and Have Compassion. Therefore one should learn these three – Self Control, Charity and Compassion.

[Note: Swami Tatwananda, Sri Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama, Kerala further explain this story]

The gods are the inhabitants of happy regions in the heavens. They gain those regions as their rewards for leading meritorious and virtuous lives. For them the pursuit of pleasure becomes the business of life. Unless they avail themselves of the superior opportunity available there to attain the knowledge of Brahman (Supreme Self), they would have dissipated all their acquired merits and virtues in the indulgence of the senses, and they would have to start again at the human level.

For the gods, pleasures of the flesh (senses) was the temptation and the control of the senses was their ally.

Men are generally avaricious, selfish. Therefore Prajapati told them to have charitable heart. Give of their ability, time, wealth, service etc.

Demons (Asuras) are generally cruel and given to injuring others. They lack compassion and therefore the demons should learn about compassion and practice compassion (Daya).

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The Fox and the Bramble

A Fox was mounting a hedge when he lost his footing and caught hold of a Bramble to save himself.

Having pricked and grievously tom the soles of his feet, he accused the Bramble because, when he had fled to her for assistance, she had used him worse than the hedge itself.

The Bramble, interrupting him, said, “But you really must have been out of your senses to fasten yourself on me, who am myself always accustomed to fasten upon others.”

Moral:
To the selfish all are selfish.

The Flies and the Honey-Pot

A Number of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been overturned in a housekeeper’s room, and placing their feet in it, ate greedily.

Their feet, however, became so smeared with the honey that they could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and were suffocated.

Just as they were expiring, they exclaimed, “O foolish creatures that we are, for the sake of a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves.”

Moral:
Pleasure bought with pains, hurts.

The Fisherman and the Little Fish

A Fisherman who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught a single small Fish as the result of his day’s labor.

The Fish, panting convulsively, thus entreated for his life: “O Sir, what good can I be to you, and how little am I worth? I am not yet come to my full size. Pray spare my life, and put me back into the sea. I shall soon become a large fish fit for the tables of the rich, and then you can catch me again, and make a handsome profit of me.”

The Fisherman replied, “I should indeed be a very simple fellow if, for the chance of a greater uncertain profit, I were to forego my present certain gain.”

Moral:
Do not under judge your success, by size.

Enjoy this conversation

A Project Manager working in a MNC (Indian Govt. office), as usual after lunch goes to the cafeteria for coffee.

He relaxes in canteen. He sees a canteen boy cleaning tables there. so he decides to have fun with him. He calls him.

Project Manager – (Asks canteen boy): How much do you earn?

Canteen boy smiles…

Project Manager: what are your future plans?

Canteen boy keeps quiet…

Project Manager: where do you see yourself 10 years down the line?

Canteen boy gives a cold stare.

Project Manager: Jab mai Bangalore aaya tha tab mere paas bhi kuch nahi tha…. Aaj mere paas kya nahin hai… naam hai, shohrat hai, paisa hai…. tumhare paas kya hai?

Scroll down to find out his answer
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Don’t think that he answered like Shashi Kapoor of Deewar ki “Mere paas Maa hain”
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Scroll some more
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Canteen boy: Sa’ab mere paas kaam hai….

Project Manager leaves the cafeteria silently…….

By: Jagadeesh, for http://www.19.5degs.com

The Fisherman Piping

A Fisherman skilled in music took his flute and his nets to the seashore.

Standing on a projecting rock, he played several tunes in the hope that the fish, attracted by his melody, would of their own accord dance into his net, which he had placed below.

At last, having long waited in vain, he laid aside his flute, and casting his net into the sea, made an excellent haul of fish.

When he saw them leaping about in the net upon the rock he said: “O you most perverse creatures, when I piped you would not dance, but now that I have ceased you do so merrily.”

Moral:
To do the right thing at the right season is a great art.