Rishi Uddalaka

Rishi Uddalaka was famous as a great teacher. He had one son by the name Shvetaketu and one daughter by the name Sujata. There were many disciples getting their education from him in his hermitage. One of the disciples whom he liked most was Kahoda. Rishi Uddlaka gave his daughter Sujata to Kahoda in marriage. Ashtavakra was the son of Kahoda and Sujata.

When Shvetaketu, the only son of Uddalaka, turned twelve, was asked by his father to go and get his education from some Gurukula. When Shvetaketu returned from the Gurukula after finishing his twelve years rigorous training in all the branches of knowledge, his father Uddalaka found arrogance in his expression. Once Uddalaka called him by his side and asked him: “Shvetaketu, my boy, have you, ever sought out the knowledge of that by which the unheard can be heard, unseen can be seen, the unknowable can be known?” Shvetaketu was shocked. He had no idea about what his father asked. So he requested his father to give him this knowledge. And Uddalaka’s way of teaching to Shvetaketu makes him one of the most revered teachers of ancient India.
Uddalaka told Shvetaketu: “Son, by knowing one lump of clay you may learn about everything made of clay; the only difference between such things is the name, a result of speech. But the truth is that all such things are of the same substance. Likewise, by knowing one chunk of gold, you may learn about everything made of gold; the only difference between such things is the name, a result of speech. But the truth is that all such things are of the same substance. And the same is true for even the simplest tools made of iron. This, my son, is the knowledge of which I speak.”
Shvetaketu said: "My respected teachers must not have known this, for if they had, they surely would have told me. Won't you please tell me more of this knowledge, Father?" And Uddalaka agreed to do so. And we see a long series of teachings in the Chandogya Upanishad. Two of the most famous illustrations are given below.
Uddalaka: “Bring me a fruit from the banyan tree.”
Shvetaketu: “Here is one, Father.”
Uddalaka: “Break it open.”
Shvetaketu: “It is broken, Father.”
Uddalaka: “What do you see there?”
Shvetaketu: “These tiny seeds.”
Uddalaka: “Now break one of them open.”
Shvetaketu: “It is broken, Father.”

Uddalaka: “What do you see there?”Shvetaketu: “Nothing, Father.”
Uddalaka: “My son, you know there is a subtle essence which you do not perceive, but through that essence the truly immense banyan tree exists. Believe it, my son. Everything that exists has its self in that subtle essence. It is Truth. It is the Self, and you, Shvetaketu, are that (tattvamasi).”

Shvetaketu further pleads his father to teach him more, and Uddalaka continues:
Uddalaka: “Bring a pinch of salt my son.”
Shvetaketu: “Here, I have brought the salt Father.”
Uddalaka: “Place this salt in water, and come back to me in the morning.”

The son did as he was told.

Uddalaka (in the morning): “Bring me the salt you put in the water last night.”
Shvetaketu (after looking): “Father, I cannot find it.”
Uddalaka: “Of course not; it has dissolved. Now taste the water from the surface.
How does it taste?”
Shvetaketu: “It’s salty.”
Uddalaka: “Taste the water from the middle of the bowl. How does it taste?”
Shvetaketu: “It’s salty.”
Uddalaka: “Now taste the water from the bottom. How does it taste?”
Shvetaketu: “It’s salty.”
Uddalaka: “Go, throw it away and come back to me.”
He did so, and returned.
Shvetaketu: “But, father, although I have thrown it away, the salt remains.”
Uddalaka: “Likewise, though you cannot hear or perceive or know the subtle essence, it is here. Everything that exists has its self in that subtle essence. It is Truth. It is the Self, and you, Shvetaketu, are that (tattvamasi).”
This is how Uddalaka explains Shvetaketu about the knowledge of Brahman. This presents one of the best examples of a direct method of teaching. Uddalaka’s contribution will ever inspire the teachers and parents seeking to provide the best of education to their students and children.
There is another story about Uddalaka in which we see how this great teacher once goes to a king for learning what he did not know. The story is as given below:
After completing his education under his father, Shvetaketu went to Panchala. There, in the royal assembly King Pravahana asked him few questions which he could not reply. The king sent him back to his father saying that his education is not complete. Shvetaketu came disappointed and told his father about the king’s questions and his failure to answer them. Uddalaka listened to Shvetaketu and admitted that he also did not know the answer to these questions. Then Uddalaka decided to go to king Pravahana. There he requested this king to teach him the knowledge that he has. This is how Uddalaka kept adding to his knowledge.