Brahma the creator - god of Hinduism has sunk into insignificance now but he was once a very important presence in the mythology of the country. In one of the Upanishads is this unusual tale of how he dispensed wisdom to the three great classes of beings - Gods (devas), Humans (manavas) and Demons (danavas).

The traditional method of receiving spiritual knowledge in India used to be to stay with the guru for a time while he observed you and gauged your level of receptibility. It was also a process of learning humility, as the newcomers usually had to perform the menial tasks in the ashram or residence. After you spent some time being suitably humble and reverent, you might be initiated into a course of study or provided a mantra or some such thing.

The devas were the first to undergo this course. After many years spent in service and with no sign of any spiritual knowledge forthcoming they became apprehensive and asked for permission to go back home. Brahma is always occupied with the task of creation and his absentmindedness is perhaps understandable. To their consternation, the great god made no objection to their desire to leave. Some of the bolder spirits screwed their courage up to the sticking point and asked for some final instruction.

The Creator brooded for a while and then replied with one syllable.

Da
Then he asked them, "Have you understood what I mean by this?" As it happens they did understand. Their minds were so keen and receptive now that this seed - syllable induced a satori like experience for all of them. They caught it straight off the bat.

Replied the Devas, " Yes, oh Lord. We as the guardians of heaven are a bit too prone to enjoy all the celestial pleasures. (In passing let it be said that there is no greater voluptuary delight in all the mythologies of the world than in the Hindu heaven.) You are hinting that our challenge is to overcome this delight in sensual pleasure. "Da" means Damana or the control of the senses. It is only by controlling the senses and then the mind that we can develop detachment. And it is only by so doing that we can attain the realization of the Absolute."

Brahma was pleased and said, "You have understood rightly."

In this context it must be explained that such word games were a legitimate part of spiritual training in ancient India. The ability to perceive the right meaning through a haze of obfuscation was highly prized. Instruction used to be given in this cryptic manner so that people who were not spiritually ready would not end up harming themselves by attempting to implement knowledge they were not yet ready for.

Manavas saw the gods increase in splendor and power as a result of their new understanding. They too hastened to Brahma and asked to be taken on as students. Brahma was as reticent with them too as he was with the devas. The manavas felt that they were being excluded and that made them only more determined to wrest this knowledge out of the Creator. Brahma observed this covetous attitude but he kept quiet. However human lives are much shorter than that of the gods and they are consequently less patient. Very soon they too asked to go back home and requested a farewell teaching.

Da
said Brahma. "Now, have you understood?"

"Oh yes! Da means Dana or charity and generosity. We should not be grasping and covetous. We should be helpful and share what we have. Only thus will our hearts be purified of the sin of greed and we attain the Absolute."

Brahma was rather pleased that they did after all understand the right meaning.

By now however the Danavas were getting rather apprehensive. What were these wily devas and manavas upto? They marched up to Brahma and demanded that they not be left out when knowledge was being transmitted. Realizing that the demons were in a very rare state of receptivity to good sense, Brahma told them that he would tell them exactly what he had told the others. This was only fair and they were all agog for the great teaching.

Da
What on earth was this? Were they being made fools of? Some of the less grumpy danavas however realized that they had just been handed a great lesson.

"Yes, we understand. "Da" means Daya the quality of mercy and compassion. We are cruel and ruthless by nature, and consequently always unhappy. This lack of compassion prevents us from ever gaining the Absolute."

"You too", said Brahma, " have understood rightly."