Spotty shares his dream with the other cubs

Mum Lioness peeked outside to see what the cubs were up to. Spotty was speaking in hushed whispers. Seemed he was recounting a dream to the other cubs.

I was going past this big house. There were signs outside. One said "Instant Enlightment -- 5 days for Indians". The cubs giggled at the "Instant Enlightenment".
Another sign said "Enlightenment - only 21 days for foriegners"
There were huge sums of money mentioned.
On the gate was a sign saying "Swami Enlightenmentananda".

Om cub asked, how much money.
Oh, they were really large figures, i can't count that much. But there were many zeros.
Oh, that's big, said Tirucub.
The one for Indians said rupees, the other one said dollars.

Then i went past a window, and the Swami was sitting in front of a safe. The safe was open,
(The cubs' eyes opened wide).
There was a lot of money inside, but there was something different about the notes. This was ego money.
What!!!! asked the cubs, what's ego money?"

Well, explained Spotty, it sort of had ego written all over it. Like the money paid by the seekers gets converted to ego. It inflated the ego of the Swami!

Then I peeked into the other rooms where the participants were sitting. I could see that they were looking quite happy.

Arunacub interjected: Yes, the ego is getting happy, since it is getting inflated.
Om cub added: Participants come to these programs for Instant Enlightenment, but their egos get inflated, and they feel happier.
Tiru asked: So they are paying to have their egos inflated? Then the programs should be called: Instant Ego-inflatenment !

The cubs laughed at this.

Then Spotty continued:
The Swami was charging more for giving the participants the ablity to heal others and pass bliss onto others.

Ah, a big ego trap, observed little Omcub sagely.

Some sort of special connection to some divine force, added Spotty.

A neat way of getting more people to hear of this Swami, so they can come to him for Instant ego-inflatenment, remarked Tirucub.

You mean like whenever you see someone unhappy or unwell you offer healing, and then start telling them about Swami EnlightenmentAnanda, asked Arunacub

Precisely. Subtle is it not, asked Tirucub. As against just going around stopping people and telling them about him.

So what else happened in the dream, asked Om cub impatiently.

Oh, yes I just remembered. These people were going in for instant enlightenment and their heads were swelling up. I just knew that their heads were getting filled up with --

EGO, the other cubs shouted.

Spotty: Some were shouting, I am enlightened, I am enlightened.
Others were looking sad, and were being told that they have to submit to Swami EnlightenmentAnanda in order to get enlightened. Only if they accepted him as God would they be enlightened.

How did Swami Enlightenmentananda look, asked Omcub.

Well, if you took ego-stuff and made a human being out of it -- that's how he would look. But the people around him were saying how handsome he is looking, and how beautiful his wife was.

Wife!!! shouted the cubs.

Yes, did i not say there was a wife, too. Really filled out, like Mama Hippolyta.

The cubs laughed.

Truth to tell, I thought it was Mama Hippo wearing a saree.

(At this, even Mum Lioness, preparing idlies, burst into laughter).

They were very fancily dressed up - aspensive clothes, jewelry, sitting on a throne.

A THRONE!! shouted the cubs.

Yup, did i not say so earlier. Everything there was stinking of ego.

Ego has an awful smell, observed little Omcub wrinkling his tiny nose. Worse than poo.

Only Bhagavan Ramana can destroy the ego, stated Arunacub. Those who surrender to Him, will be realized. Maybe one or two more can, too. The rest will only inflate the ego.

Spotty said: In the dream there was talk of Swami Enlightenmentananda causing global enlightenment.

Omcub almost choked on this. It looks like he is preventing it!

Bhagavan Ramana is the only one who can bring about global enlightenment. But He never speaks about such things. He is the highest power, way way above and beyond a jnani, said Arunacub.

Bhagavan sees all as realized, explained Tirucub.

There was one very disturbing thing about the dream, said Spotty. There was a constant fighting of animals going on. Dogs barking at each other ferociously and biting each other. Monkey fighting viciously.

Bad energy over there, observed Om cub.
Very bad energy! added Arunacub.
A clear sign, said Tirucub, Humans can be hypnotised and brainwashed, but animals can't. This shows that the energy at this Swami Egoananda's -- (the cubs burst into fits of laughter) -- was not good energy. Had it been, the animals would have been living peacefully like they do on Arunachala, especially in the vicinity of Bhagavan Ramana.

At that moment, Uncle Stripes appeared, and sat down along with the cubs.

Unca Stripes, is there anyone other than Bhagavan Ramana who can help people realize the Self.

I sure hope so, cubs. But it seems that most poeple are only amassing a fortune at the expense of others. Some may be realized, but can they help others ? Bhagavan certainly has, and can.

People say Self-enquiry is difficult, is that true, Unca Stripes, asked Arunacub.

Maybe for those who are not devoted to Bhagavan. I think they will find it harder to disengage from the mind and be by themselves. The ego is a very attractive thing. However, there is only one thing in this world that is more attractive than the ego. And that is our Father Arunachala Ramana. If you love Him, you will believe and follow his words. When he says you are not the mind, you will be able to disengage from the mind. If devotion is not there, the ego will keep pulling you, and the instruction "I am not the mind" will fail.

When deep devotion is there, we will do anything to find the real Bhagavan, even detach from thoughts. If that longing to be one with the real Bhagavan is not there, what incentive have we, to detach from the mind which can be so attractive.

What if we have devotion, but can't do Self-enquiry? asked the cubs.

That's okay. Since your aim is to defeat the ego and be one with Him. He is clearly guiding your life already. He is already holding your hand and carrying you. Keeping one's thoughts on Bhagavan, or in silence seeking the Self, are both ways that allow Bhagavan's grace to flow in, although like sunlight, His grace is always there.

So you little cubs are doing just fine -- melting lovingly into the Self.

Swami MiracleAnanda's whereabouts

The lion cubs had just finished Math class. Spotty was outside playing with Rumple and Crumple, the unruly hippo babies.

Spotty had now made it quite clear that he was having none of this mathematics business.

Mum Lioness had also enforced a new rule. All were to wipe their feet before entering the cave. And Rumple and Crumple so hated to do that, and that meant that they would have to stay outside. Which some suspected was the reason for the doormats.
So the headache of broken furniture and soiled cushions was more or less over.

When the cubs bolted out they found with quite a large gathering of the hill animals. He was telling them a story!
The three cubs peered through the circle of larger animals to see what was happening. Spotty was sitting in the center.

One deer was asking what had happened to the swami who had been taking money from everyone. Someone said "Namechangeananda", someone else said "MiracleAnanda".
Commotion prevailed with each animal trying to get himself heard.
The cubses' ears stood up at those names.
Would little brother Spotty really know what had happened to that swami?

Spotty shut his eyes for a minute. There was silence. And then little Spotty theatrically opened his eyes.

Swami Miracleananda also known as Blissananda or Swami K has gone quite far away. The officials and villagers and others chased him away. And i don't believe he will be coming back here again, Spotty said.



A giraffe poked his head through some other animals and asked, "But where is he and what is he upto?"

Spotty said "Om" three times and again closed his eyes for a moment. He could see Swami Blissananda and his followers quite clearly in his minds eye!

Swami K was talking to a follower named Chakrananda. In the background, a large tract of land was being cleared. Trees were being felled. The Swami was explaining that a large temple was to be constructed in this spot. And this spot was to be declared as the holiest spot on earth, the spiritual axis of the universe. Stories were to be circulated that the consciousness of all the Gods and saints since creation were hovering around here waiting for advanced seekers to arrive, so they could be given enlightenment.
Let them also say that all the Gods and saints are coming here for My darshan.

Another follower, Kundalini-ji, came with a fancy jewelled dress. Spotty was momentarily blinded by the dazzle of the gold and other stones on the kurta (shirt). Let everyone know that I wear these clothes only because my devotees insist. Otherwise i would wear orange robes. And what is the progress on my throne? Please tell that stupid fellow that if he does not deliver by tomorrow then the wrath of the gods, er, my wrath will befall him.

He then called another follower. We must focus on the West European countries and United States. They have rich people. We need land and money. Forget the asians and east europeans and south americans and africans.
The follower swallowed hard. He was a Russian who had sold his house to pay for MiracleAnanda's programs.

The scene cleared. Spotty opened his eyes.
A buffalo asked, what will happen to all the money and jewels we turned over to MiracleAnanda for his grace?

Again Spotty closed his eyes and narrated as he saw:

It was another day now. Swami K and his people had just reached the place they were in. They were unpacking and taking stock of all that they had brought over.
K was asking where his trunks full of money were. Dmitri was swallowing hard afraid of telling Swami K the truth. We could not open the safe, my Lord.
So, you did bring the safe, did you not. I will open it.
Lord, we could not lift the safe for some reason. We all tried. We could not move the safe one millimeter.

Swami K's eyes opened wide in anger. Dmitri almost died of fright. "And the suitcases full of jewelry and dollars?"
"Even that, Your Holiness. It would not budge!"
"So are you telling me that we have come all this way empty-handed?", glared Swami K.
"No, we did bring the suitcase with a million dollars which Chakrananda donated. And also what Kundalini-ji donated. About half a million."

The scene cleared. Immediately there was an animated discussion among the animals. They were all wondering where their money and jewelry was.

One skunk asked, "What for is the temple they are building ?" Spotty said he had just explained it. But everyone wanted to know more about it.

Spotty shut his eyes. A scene different from the first appeared in his mind.
Swami MiracleAnanda was introducing a lady to his devotees. This is my spiritual wife he told them. She represents the Mother. Those who have problems worshipping me, can worship her. She will grant boons to you.


Ma Boonananda put her fair feet in front of her. Devotees came forward one by one and tied golden anklets on her feet. She raised her hand and blessed them.

Then the devotees cleared away. Only the closest remained. Swami K spoke in a hushed whisper.
The temple we are building is actually to control mankind completely. However, we must communicate to all that the world is coming to an end soon, and only I can save the earth. Only I. And for that I need to build a huge fantastic temple, to myself. A temple that will require billions of rupees to build. When you ask people to donate, tell them it is not for me, but for the temple that will save the earth from sure destruction.

The devotees nodded. Tell everyone that sitting in that temple will give them enlightenment. We will think of more details later. We must rope in some scientists to talk of magnetic waves, and radiation and brain waves and other such scientific mumbo-jumbo.

Spotty opened his eyes suddenly. He pressed his forehead a bit. Questions were being fired at him.
The cubs signalled to him. He came to the side.
Tirucub told Spotty, "Spotty, you must not use these powers like this!"
Spotty looked a little dismayed as though pulled away from something fun.
"We'll talk later. I feel a little off", replied Spotty.
"No now.", insisted Tiru. "Spotty, don't expose yourself to that dark energy."
Arunacub added, "Spotty, you must only think of Arunachala Siva."
"Arunachala is the highest and purest power!", said Omcub.
Spotty felt much better. He agreed, "It felt just like being back in that mansion when Swami K was there. It was full of that dark, controlling energy. Ugh!"

Tiru advised Spotty to use such powers only if really necessary and preferably to ask Mum Lioness first.

Inside the cave, the cubses were hard at work on their math.



Lord Ganesha kept an eye on things, in case there were any obstacles that needed to be overcome and someone called upon him.



"Is there a pattern to how these perfect squares increase?" asked Arunacub.



Bhagavan popped in for a moment as they were figuring out the answer of Arunacub's question.

Meanwhile, tucked in a little hide-out, unsure where to go next, Flora could hear Swami Miracleananda shouting for her.



"Flora! Get back here at once!" he was bellowing, not even bothering to use the new name he had given her. "Terrible things happen to those who try to escape my grace! Beware!"

Flora shivered.



Just then a dragon appeared before Flora.



"Hop on!" the dragon said.

Somehow, Flora knew this was a freindly dragon so she hopped right on.



Without asking Flora where she wanted to go, the dragon flew directly to the lions' cave where a Mum Lioness was reading to the cubses and some of the displaced creatures.



No one said a word about Flora and the dragon listening too. As soon as the chapter was over, everyone got up and rushed down the hill, as if a bell only they could hear had suddenly been struck. Flora ran with them. Judging by the happy smiles on everyone's faces, they could only be hurrying somewhere very good.

Ah! She was soon back in the presence of Bhagavan Ramana.

The Dilemma of GraceAnanda

Flora the goat, recently given the spiritual name of Graceananda, by her guru Swami K, who had himself changed his name to something even he couldn't remember before having his second cup of coffee, and then to Paramguru Parameshwara MiracleAnanda Maharaj (that was so much easier to remember!), was standing right behind Stripes. She only got a fleeting glimpse of Bhagavan Ramana.

There must have been a hundred animals if not more in that small clearing having Sri Bhagavan's darshan. No one noticed each other, or even themselves. Only when Stripes' tail hit Flora on her nose did she come to.
Stripes muttered 'sorry'. Luckily the cubs (such pesky devils, always turning up at the wrong time) had not noticed.
She inched back and hid in the bushes.

This was such a golden opportunity, she thought. She could bring those posters of Swami Miracleananda and paste them in this place. This way all these animals would become devotees of his, and she would get immeasurable grace. Such nice posters she had made saying "Enlightenment, only Rupees 5000". The only catch was that Swami had changed his name two times since she made them. She would have to change the name on the posters, and pray that he didn't change his name again for a few days.

Then she wound her way back to Swami K's (oops, what was his name this week?) mansion. Her mind was full of thoughts and doubts.

Swami Miracle had promised enlightenment after the 3 day program. Nothing had happened. Then he said you will get it after the high level program for which you must bring fifty attendees for this program. She had done that within a few days and now was slated for the higher program in a month.
In the meantime, Swami MiracleAnanda had declared that the young swami on the hill was not really enlightened, or about half enlightened. And that one of his own followers was more enlightened that the young swami.

The young swami told aspirants that they had to put in effort for realization, but MiracleAnanda kept saying "i will give it to you, you need do nothing!". Some money was understandably required to grease the cosmic wheels, but beyond that it was supposed to be a cakewalk.

I have gone so far, she thought. I should give it another month and see. If nothing happens I can always move over to the young swami. But the young swami lives in one old loincloth, whereas MiracleAnanda dresses like an emperor and lives in a mansion!

Still, in her heart, she felt something. Something beating for the young swami. Never had she felt anything for Swami K, er, MiracleAnanda.

She had served MiracleAnanda for quite some time, toiling day and night, asking only one wish: devotion for him, which never happened. And now surprisingly, it was devotion for this young swami that she felt. Her prayers had been heard all along, she realized, but by something higher. And here was the answer!

Two days ago she had come to this same clearing in the afternoon. She had lain down there and shut her eyes. She had taken a few deep breaths and said, "Dear God, talk with me. Guide me!". A few more deep breaths and she was asleep. And then barely had a few moments passed when her eyes opened. She felt clear and calm. It was hard to explain but a conversation had happened, and the import was very clear in her mind.
The voice had explained to her that God does not favor any one person above another. He does not give grace to one and not another. Grace goes to all, whether they ask or not. And God does not sell grace. Nor can He be bought. There are no rituals required to please Him.

Although no names were taken, but it was clear to Flora that this was the answer to her dilemma. She was quite sure that the answer was not a figment of her mind. And even if it was, it sure made better sense than what she was in currently, and what MiracleAnanda kept saying, and what she kept telling others.
The voice clarified that God needed no middlemen, no touts. It was so clear that it advised that she should steer clear of godmen.

Now, she reached the vicinity of the mansion. Immediately she felt the energy of the mansion, dark and negative. She backed out. Finally, she came back to the clearing where the animals had stood and gazed at the young swami.

She lay still for some time, then got up and gazed at the rock where the young swami had sat. She felt a deep love for him in her heart and knew that this was grace. But who would believe it, she thought, in a world where God's grace is measured by wealth and fame. She clambered up the rocks to a spot close to the cave. There he sat, He, the young swami, in nothing but a piece of cloth, but looking like a real emperor!

Flora sees Sri Bhagavan clearly

As she looked at Him, she somehow felt that for the first time in her life she was looking at herself, at the face of love, and yet at her Father. She realized as she wiped the tears from her eyes that she had truly lost herself to Him. She realized she had truly found herself at last.

Silently she fell to the ground, prostrating to the young swami, and to all of creation as well, thanking them for bringing her home.

What a rough ride it had been (she could laugh over it at last!) but worth it.