Tripura Rahasya

Sage Dattatreya

The desire (for emancipation) must be accompanied by efforts for the accomplishment of the purpose. Then only will there be concerted effort. Just as a man scalded by fire runs immediately in search of soothing unguents and does not waste his time in other pursuits, so also must the aspirant run after emancipation to the exclusion of all other pursuits. Such an effort is fruitful and is preceded by indifference to all other attainments. 

Starting by discarding pleasures as being impediments to progress, he develops dispassion and then the desire for emancipation, which grows in strength. This makes a man engage in the right efforts in which he becomes thoroughly engrossed. After these stages are passed, the most unique consummation takes place.

When Dattatreya finished, Parasurama was completely bewildered and asked him further:

Lord, You said earlier that association with the wise, divine grace and dispassion are the prime factors for attaining the highest aim of life. Please tell me which is the most essential and how it can be accomplished. For nothing happens without an antecedent cause. This is certain. What is the root cause of the fundamental requisite? Or is it only accidental?

Thus asked, Dattatreya answered him as follows:

I shall tell you the root cause of it all. Listen!

Her Transcendental Majesty, the Absolute Consciousness, being self-contained, originally pictured the whole universe in Her being, like images in a mirror. She took on the individuality, named hiranyagarbha (the Creator), and considering the predispositions of the egos enclosed in that egg (hiranyagarbha), She unfolded the scriptures - the reservoir of sublime truths - for the fulfilment of desires. Since the embryonic individuals were full of unfulfilled desires hiranyagarbha began to think out the means of their fulfilment. He elaborated a scheme of cause and effect of actions and fruits and consequently the individuals were born later to revolve in that wheel of cause and effect. They take different shapes and are placed in different environment with their predispositions.

(to be continued)