There is a wonderful story in the Rig Veda about a woman Master. It dates back to an era when women were free and had equal rights with men. There were few female Masters in the world: Garji, Rabia, Sahaja, Daya, Lala, Mira.
The emperor of the country usually organized a great meeting of sages every year, at which they talked about the meaning of life. The winner was awarded a prize - a herd of cows whose horns were hung with gold.
Early in the morning, discussions began between the sages. Yajnavalkya was one of the famous teachers in those days, but he was not a Master.
Garji was a Master, she was not interested in the reward, she came alone, modestly sat aside and listened.
Yajnavalkya arrived with a large retinue of disciples later than everyone else. The sun was already blazing mercilessly. The cows intended as a reward, rotten, stood in front of the palace. Confident of his own victory, he said to one of the students:
- Take these unfortunate animals to our commune. Why should they languish in the sun in vain?
Yajnavalkya defeated all his opponents and said to the emperor:
“Forgive me for the fact that my students took the cows away before you awarded me the reward.”
Gargi stood up. Perhaps she might have remained silent if Yajnavalkya had not shown such self-confidence. She said:
- Wait! You defeated everyone and showed your learning, but this does not mean that you have learned the truth. I sat silently, watching. If someone claims the truth, why should I speak out? But you've gone too far. I am forced to discuss with you.
She asked just one question and Yajnavalkya was defeated. Garji asked:
- You said: “God created the world.” Why did you say that? Did you witness when he created the world? In any case, no matter how you answer, you will confirm your mistake. If you were a witness, then the world would have already been created, because you are part of the world; If you were not a witness, on what basis do you claim that everything needs a Creator? Explain, or return the cows!
Yajnavalkya was shocked. Everyone present was shocked. She was right. Gargi said:
- Just for the sake of argument, even if I admit that God created the world, I want to know on what basis do you believe in this hypothesis?
Yajnavalkya said:
- Everything must be created. This beautiful, vast life cannot come into existence out of nothing.
“Let’s say,” Gargi answered. “But you’ve already missed the victory.” Bring back the cows!
- What do you mean? - asked Yajnavalkya.
—If every existence needs a Creator, then who created the Creator? Suppose the Creator was created by another Creator, more vast, and that, in turn, was created by an even more powerful Creator, but in this case, who created the Creator of all Creators?
Yajnavalkya realized that it was now impossible to get rid of this woman. All his greatness crumbled into dust. He became angry and, no longer able to control himself, forgetting all politeness, shouted:
“Woman, if you don’t stop, your head will roll on the ground!”
Gargi said:
- Is this an argument? Do you think that by cutting off my head you will become the winner? This will undoubtedly become the fact of your defeat.
The cows had to be given to Garji.
It is said that after this defeat, Yajnavalkya, realizing the depth of his ignorance, announced his decision to leave his disciples and family. He divided his property between his two wives and intended to go in search of the Truth.
Then his wife Maitreya addressed him:
“Tell me, my beloved, can’t your wealth really help in acquiring the Truth in search of which you are going?”
Yajnavalkya answered her:
“Even all the riches of the world could not contribute to this, for they belong to this world, in which everything is transitory, everything belongs to death.” I go in search of immortality, so I renounce this world!
Then the wife said to him:
“I have always followed you, and if you have renounced wealth and it cannot help me follow you and does not give me any hope of immortality, then why do I need it?” Tell me what you know.
And he told her about Atman (God's spark in the human heart):
- If they beat a drum, then there is no other way to capture its sounds in the air than by holding the drum itself or the drummer, as a result of which you also hold its sounds. If you strike a lute, there is no other way to keep its sounds in the air than by holding the lute itself or the player playing it. The breath of this Great Being is like a fire in which damp wood is placed, spreading clouds of smoke in all directions. Atman is the Rigveda, he is the Samaveda, he is the Yajurveda, he is the songs of the Atharvaveda and Agniras, fairy tales and tales, science and sacred teaching, poems and rules, he is the laws and explanations, everything that exists in this world is his breath. I go in search of him so that I can become one with my Supreme Self.
Having said this, Yajnavalkya took leave and went to the mountains.
After 12 years, he returned to people as an enlightened Master.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru