Bhagavan answers a little sadhaka's queries

It was the last day of our visit to the ashram. Some of the male devotees were getting a tad irritated. But on the other hand, some lady devotees like Suri Nagamma were unable to contain their joy.

It seems some 9-year old devotee whom Bhagavan kept referring to as Tiru-cub (now what was that supposed to mean) was asking Bhagavan to explain quadratic equations to him, and Bhagavan was listening to his problems with utmost interest. And being able to clarify to the little devotee's expectations. Other devotees were leaning in to listen hoping some profound spiritual truths were being revealed by Bhagavan and were perplexed at what they were hearing. Was this some instruction for only very mature souls.

Om and Tiru cub asking profound questions

Just then Bhagavan adjusted his spectacles and looked at a sheet that a 3-year old had placed at His feet. "Aah, om-cub what have you brought along?"
Now what sort of name was Om-cub?

Bhagavan read over the sheet two, no three, times. "Aah, a very profound spiritual document", Bhagavan said. Om-cub glowed with pride as everyone's attention focused on the sheets he had brought in, which contained pictures in them, too.
"Mum Lioness could not crack it, so we came to you.", explained Om-cub.
They all wondered which part of the world this scripture belonged to, and how many millenia old it must be. Was it some Upanishad they had never heard of?

Bhagavan cleared his throat and explained:
"You see, Om cub, this is the story of the ego. The ego tries it's best to strengthen itself, to become big. But invariably when one accepts and surrenders to the grace of the Self, it breaks.
In this verse, Humpty Dumpty is a strong ego, which resisted the guru by sitting on a wall. "

Bhagavan explains spiritual truths to cubs

Om cub nodded in appreciation. Now it was becoming clear to him.
"But when he surrenders, the Self breaks the ego completely. And no one can fix the ego again."
"So Humpedy Dumpedy becomes a jnani?" asked one seven-year old sitting with them.
"Sure looks like it, Aruna-cub," replied Bhagavan, "But only after surrendering to the Self!"

Om, Tiru cub and Aruna-cub (wearing a wonderful white turban), prostrated to Bhagavan and went and sat in a corner.

-- From Reminiscences of a Wandering Monk, by Sri Goraswami

more Arunacub questions for Dr. Spotty

Dr. Spotty,

I am trying to apply pressure to the question "who am I?" ... how do I keep asking the question "who am I?" instead of looking forward to things or thinking of all sorts of other things?

If you need to picture something in your mind while you are asking "who am I?" what would be best to picture? Bhagavan?

I am also wondering: is there really space and time?

love, Arunacub

Dr Spotty's answers

Dr. Spotty is our in-house export on all things, all subjegds, all people, all matters: magic or Muggle.

Stripes: ok, Dr. Spotty, if you are suffishendly resdid here's anuddy question.

Q: How does the Divine know when to come?

Spotty: Simple. The Divine is the Seff. It is within us, and thus knows we are ready.
In truth, it is the divine that makes us ready for it to come.

(Spotty breaking into laugh) Now i know Arunacub will ask how does the divine know when to make you ready, i.e., when you are ready to be made ready (for it to come).

Stripes: Duh. What woz dat again?

(Iceceam break ensues)

Stripes (wiping Spotty): The nest queschun is: What really IS the Heart?
Spotty: Aah, a tough one. But its heartening (pun unintended) that idzz the young ones who ask the creck queschuns whereas the old ones want to know what it is like to be a jnani, without ever really wanting to be one, or about siddhis and other useless things.

The Heart is where thoughts arise from, where zey subzizt and where they finally resolve. The Heart is the center of all. The Heart is the Seff.

Stripes: But how duz one realize the Heart?
Spotty: The Heart is ever realized. It is the Seff. No one can deny even fer a momend being the Seff.
(Now its time for some of those Little Hearts biscuits)

Stripes: If we are done with those infernally sweet sugar-coated Little Hearts, can we continue with Arunachala-cubz questions?
Spotty: Jus one more. Yup, shoot.

Stripes: What really is OM ?
Spotty: Gimme two more. One for the brain, one for the tumick.
Stripes: A...aaaand ?
Spotty: OM is a very deep question zat can be answered at many levels. But Bhagavan oways told us to stick to the I-thought which comes forst. Om comes later. Sometimes he said that Om is like the name of God, and God and his name are one. To some who preferred Japa, he said to awways keep Om or Rama in mind. To one boy, Bhagavan said that first find out who you are, and then the Om will be clear. (Now Stripes has dozed off)

Stripes (suppressing a yawn): Now for the final question...
How DOES somebody realise the Self if they can't get to that Magic Waterfall of Enlightenment?

Spotty: Ooooh, zats a humdinger of a question. a toughie, a whopper... Look its like zis ... ummmmm ... no matter where one is ... no matter what path one chooziz, one will eventually reach the magical fountain of -
Stripes: waterfall
Spotty: yup, zats what i meant -- the magical stream of -
Stripes: WATERFALL !
Spotty: yeah, the magical waterfall of enlightenment. As the final moment approaches, as surrender reaches ze pinnickle, and ze ego is about to be finished, at zat moment one automagically passes thru ze magical waterfall into ze magical cave beyond which is ze magical tunnel which leads to ze magical city which contains ze --
Stripes: does zis ever stop?
Spotty: which contains ze magical castle wherein all ze realized people reside.
Stripes: Phew! Thanks!
Spotty: No sweat, Stripes, the questions were easy as pie.
(Both Stripes and Spotty crumple into a sleepy heap)

Arunacub's Questions

Spottykins, I have been asking Mum Lioness a lot of questions these days .... here are some of them ...

What is the difference between a hare, a rabbit, and a bunny?

What really IS Om?

How DOES somebody realise the Self if they can't get to that Magic Waterfall of Enlightenment?

How does the Divine know when to come?

What really IS the Heart?


What do you and Med Tiger say about all this?

love, Arunacub