the Gurunathans hear the promises

Just as mum lioness was reading aloud Bhagavan's promises to the cubs, the Gurunathans dropped by. They made a small gesture with their wing tips, as if to say, "Please, keep reading."



The cubs, who had taken a great liking to them, smiled welcomingly and pushed the Ramana Munch basket in the swans' direction. Jyoti and Gurunathan were both quite hungry from trying to make their last few rupees last. They began nibbling on the Ramana Munch and almost fainted from the deliciousness of it. They had heard rumours of this treat, and how the recipe had been invented by Omcub, but had never seen it till now.

And the promises! They had never heard anything so beautiful!

After Mum Lioness had finished reading, Jyoti said, "How wonderful it would be if it were all true ... can it be true? ... we tried so hard to trust Namechangeananda ... and here we are ... Gurunathan and I gave up our positions a few months ago to come and serve Changeananda, and now those positions have been filled ... our son, dear boy, is studying to become an engineer but we have no money to pay his fees next month ... our savings were all stirred into a prosperity puja pot. Heaven only knows what was in that drink we had that night. We woke up next morning with a taste of toxic pond bottom in our beaks, and crashing headaches .... but out hearts are telling us Bhagavan Ramana is our real sadguru ... can it be so?"

"If you sit in front of Bhagavan, all those thoughts will be stilled," said Arunacub. "Fly to his feet at once."

"Oh we do not like to go too often ... our wings take up so much room in the hall. We do not want to become a burden there."

"Follow us," said Tirucub, before there could be any more humble protests. He took off at top speed. Spotty and Omcub jumped up onto Mum Lioness' back, Arunacub leapt up so fast he almost lost his turban, and all the lions ran together. The Gurunathans had no choice but to follow.

They soon caught up with the lions and the baby leopard. They entered the hall quietly together. The four young sadhus whose robes had been whipped off them by the speeding truck yesterday were present, their robes somehow returned to them. The young sadhus had brought nuts and dried grapes to Bhagavan, and these were soon distributed as prasad.



Just as Arunacub had said, the Gurunathans' were filled with peace the moment their eyes fell on Bhagavan. All their worries vanished. Somehow, it will all work out, was the last thought each of them had, and then they had no more thoughts till quite a long time after Bhagavan had left the hall. Gradually, they realised the lions and little leopard were waiting to walk them home to their little cottage.

As they were strolling along, they came upon a little monkey whose wrist had somehow been badly hurt. The monkey was lying down crying pitifully.



The Gurunathans rushed toward the monkey, gently inspected his wrist, reset it, made a little splint, and tied the splint on firmly with strong grass. The little monkey stopped crying and, sensing their competence and also feeling a sudden relief of the pain after his wrist was re-set, watched them wide-eyed, not pulling away.

"Are ... are you doctors?" asked Tirucub.

"Why, yes," said Jyoti. "We practiced medicine for years ... but it is tough to get a position these days."

"But we need two more doctors!" exclaimed Omcub.

"Are you sick in some way?" asked the puzzled Gurunathans. The cubses seemed to be bursting with health.

"No, no, not for ourselves. For the new hospital!"

"You mean that beautiful new hospital so close to here?"

"Yes, that that one. More patients than ever have been coming, more that the doctors have time for. And a North Indian prince who once shot tigers has made an enormous donation to help hurt creatures. Bhagavan's grace has turned him from hunter to furlandthropressed."

"Philanthropist," corrected Mum Lioness.

"Yes, that's what I meant. There is enough money now to hire two doctors ... until now we have relied on volunteers completely, but we need two doctors who do not have to divide their time with another hospital. Please come and see the hospital."

Jyoti and Gurunathan looked at each other ... a look which said, "Since when are very small lion and leopard cubs hiring doctors for hospitals?" but then dashed along to see the hospital.