Finally, after two days of trying, they fond the lions' cave empty. Dmitri and his brother snuck in. The book was lying by Tirucub's side of the bed. Dmiti felt a twinge of guilt picking it up, thinking of how he would have treasured a book carefully made for him as a birthday gift by his little brother, but then he reminded himself that he was on a divine mission, so it was not really stealing, it was merely a rearranging. And how pleased Swami MiracleAnanda would be!
He presented the book to Swami that night during satsang.
Swami looked hard at the cover and let out a big harumph of distain. "It is not NEARLY as golden or as glorious as my books! Why on earth are creatures demanding to own and read this?" He snorted and harumphed a few more times.
Dmitri was crushed! Here he had risked life and limb, entering a lionses' den in broad daylight (at night they were ALL in there, four lionses, and even a leopard and a huge tiger!). He could easily have been eaten (he did not know the meditator creatures were all vegetarians), and look at the thanks he got. He glanced over and saw his brother was looking at him with worried eyes.
"Tonight, while I rest from the ordeal of having to look at a book that outsold mine, I want you all to study this book carefully. Figure out why so many creatures are trying to get ahold of it. Write me a report."
He stamped out of the room. Dmitri began to read the book aloud.
"Err ... this explains a little of the appeal of this book to creatures," said Dmitri's aunt. Now that Flora had defected, it had fallen to this aunt to make Swami BlissAnanda's meals, so she was all too familiar with what he ate and drank.
Dmitri, who had to do the shopping, knew what was on the shopping lists. "Aunt, in Swami's latest book, it says he lives on the 108 blades of grass a day diet. And has since he was born."
"Oh! A book of lies!" exclaimed the aunt. "Whereas this one by the lion cub is written from the heart! That explains it. Read us more."
"Nothing Swami says is a lie," Dmitri corrected. "The truth is defined by what comes out of his mouth. That is part of his teaching. We must free ourselves from the bondage of past concepts. All is made afresh, by his holy words."
"What nonsense, boy. I have known you since you were in diapers. Now don't talk rubbish. Read on with this nice cub book."
"Aunt, we are meant to be analyzing it, not falling for it."
"Read on, child."
Dmitri turned the page.
Aunt insisted on leaning over his shoulder. "Ahh! Here the cub lists his favourite foods! What sensible choices. And look, there is a little pocket small creatures can take things out of ... look, even special spotted paper."
"And look at this! Perhaps Swami BlissAnanda could learn from this. Look, it says "ask who am I instead of wanting stuff". Imagine how happy BlissAnanda could become if he took that to heart! All day long he is shouting about needing more this and more that. I have read enough! I am going to visit this cub right now. What a nice little fellow he sounds."
"Aunt, Aunt! Have patience!" said Dmitri, fearing BlissAnanda's reaction if the aunt decamped.
Just then Swami BlissAnanda appeared in the doorway. He caught a glimpse of Med Tiger's picture on the page.
"That tiger! Again! This has got to be stopped!"
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