In the neighbouring cave, Uncle Stripes (Meditator Tiger) was lost in the name of Bhagavan Ramana and did not notice Spotty and the three lion cubs bouncing off in the direction of the Cave. Mum Lioness had told them in the morning about how Bhagavan got His name and how beautiful it was, and Stripes was quite overwhelmed by the thought. In any case, he needed a little break from Self-enquiry and what better break than a bhakti break!
And so the little cubs skipped and jumped their way happily towards Virupaksha Cave.
A North Indian man was asking Bhagavan questions. We will have to believe he was North Indian because Tirucub said so, and he knows more than us, at least.
Tirucub's jaw dropped as he heard the question. The man was asking if he could have a darshan of the real form of Lord Krishna, and if so he would narrate all his woes to Him and be rid of all problems.
Tiru whispered to his brothers, how can people sitting in front of Bhagavan Himself not ask for Bhagavan's own darshan, a darshan of the Self!
I want only Bhagavan Ramana's darshan, said Om cub in a very matter-of-fact manner.
The other cubs nodded in agreement.
They were even more shocked at Bhagavan's reply.
Bhagavan said something like: Yes, what is the difficulty. It can certainly be done. After seeing Him all our burdens can be transferred to Him.
The cubs looked at each other unable to decide whether Bhagavan was being serious or not.
Then Bhagavan continued, "Even now why worry! Throw all your burdens on Him and He will take care."
The gentleman then asked Bhagavan how he could have a darshan of Lord Krishna's real form. Should he meditate in Vrindavan, or would meditating anywhere work?
There was then talk about realizing the Self which the little cubs did not follow.
When the others had filtered out, the cubs went up to Bhagavan. Bhagavan was overjoyed to see them, as though he had been waiting all along for them.
"O Father," said Tiru cub,"It is the darshan of your real form that we cubs wish for!"
"Others call you their spiritual father or guru or sadguru. For us you are our real Father", said Spotty. "That is all we know."
Bhagavan smiled and whispered to them: For those of you who know Bhagavan as your real and true Father, you will certainly have not just a darshan of Bhagavan's real 'form' but you will know that you are one with Bhagavan!
The cubs were overjoyed at this assurance. They saw Bhagavan looking above them and smiling. They turned around to see Mum Lioness sitting peacefully behind them. In the distance, Unca Stripes was saying Namaste (greeting) to a rhino from another continent. He saw them and came running over, hands folded.
After sitting for a while, Mum Lioness reminded the cubs that it was time to take over Uncle Annamalai's lunch, and so they prostrated and left.
On the way back Arunacub asked Tirucub to explain what Bhagavan had been saying about Arjuna and Lord Krishna.
Tiru cub told the younger cubs that Bhagavan had quoted from the Bhagavad Gita, in which Lord Krishna tells Arjuna: "I am the Self, seated in the heart of all beings."
What that means to me, continued Tirucub, is that Ramana Bhagavan is the Self, and He is within us all, in our Heart. To me it is Bhagavan's hint to us, who love Him and completely believe in Him, that He is in all of us, and can never be apart from us.
The younger cubs were overjoyed to hear this.
Arunacub then asked Tirucub: Do you think Lord Krishna and Bhagavan Ramana are one and the same?
Tiru cub answered with authority: Of course! There is only One. Can there be a second? Can there be anything apart from Bhagavan?
Om cub and Spotty vigorously shook their heads as though the possibility was inadmissible.
No comments:
Post a Comment