Once Dattatreya was sitting in meditation when King Yadu passed by and saw this young person sitting unaffected, happy and calm.

King Yadu approached Dattatreya and humbly asked, “ How do you remain unaffected by troubles, happy and calm? Why do you always seem to be floating in bliss (happiness)? What has made this possible?”

 Dattatreya replied, “O King Yadu I have observed the world closely and obtained a little knowledge from a number of gurus (teachers). Listen carefully! I will tell you what I have learnt.”

Datta’s Guru (teacher) - the Air.

Datta said, “I learned that (i) a student (aspirant) should take food only with a view to obtaining knowledge and should (ii) be careful not to be greedy or desire more than necessary for keeping the body healthy.

I learned that the outside air comes in contact with many things, possessing many qualities, such as heat and cold, fragrant or bad odour. Yet the air is not soiled or stained by the objects it contacts. The Air soon sheds the contaminants regaining its pristine quality. In the same way, (iii) I should remain uninvolved with the sense objects with which I come in contact and (iv) I should live in the world unaffected by joy and sorrow. 

Just as the air quickly gives up smells, (v) the mind should quickly discard thoughts.

I learnt  non-attachment and stainlessness from the Air.”

Lessons learned from the AIR further illustrated