World Teacher Trust
{"timeout":"7000","width":"990"}
  • Dattatreya
  • The Meaning
  • The Teacher

Dattatreya

I am Datta. I am the sole phenomenon that pervades millions and millions of universes. Directions are my dress. I am ‘Digambara’.

The Meaning

Only by strict observance of spiritual discipline, you can know My corporeal cosmic form encompassing all forms of deities and all forces as My integral parts, only by strict observance of spiritual discipline.

The Teacher

Even if you are following your own righteous path, if you remember My name, I will protect you like the eyelid the eye.

Dattatreya: The Teacher



“I am Datta. I am the sole phenomenon that pervades millions of universes.”
- Srīpāda

Book: Sri Dattatreya Overview Dattatreya section Back: The Parents | Continue: The Hierarchy of Teachers

Dattatreya

Since Srī Guru Datta (Dattatreya) is the synthesis of the Trinity who preside over the seven planes of creation, he is considered to be the foremost one.

The foremost one is called in Sanskrit as the Guru, the Teacher. In any group, the groupal head of wisdom is therefore called Guru, meaning “the foremost one in that group and for that group”. Srī Guru Datta is the foremost one, the Guru in creation, if we take the creation as a group.

A teacher who has become one with the Absolute God is a visible form of the invisible God, a visible presentation of the invisible presence. A teacher is but an envelope to the Teacher/Master. The Teacher expresses through an individual teacher. The Teacher is the presence and is expressed as a teacher. It is One Teacher that expresses through many. For this reason he is called Jagad Guru, the World Teacher. From him everything begins, into him everything culminates. The presence of the Teacher is endless. Any true teacher is but a representation of Lord Dattatreya.

The One Teacher/Master of the universe is invoked through every teacher/master. The Teacher is always One. An individual teacher is a representation of the Teacher and the Master, hence all forms of teachers should be accepted and respected as forms of the “One Teacher“. The One Teacher radiates through all such accomplished beings.

The shloka, “Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnuhu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara…” is originally attributed to Lord Dattatreya. It means, may the Absolute lead me through my guru. May the Lord of Cosmic Will reach me through my guru. May the Lord of Cosmic Love reach me through my guru.

“If you salute your guru, he salutes to his guru and in this way all these salutations will reach Me only, being the First Guru.” - Srīpāda

Continue: The Hierarchy of Teachers

Sources:

  • K. Parvathi Kumar: Sri Dattatreya / notes from seminars. The World Teacher Trust - Dhanishta, Visakhapatnam, India (www.worldteachertrust.org)