Decision That Started Everything

There used to be a squirrel who was quite daring and energetic compared to the rest of the pack. He would venture out often to the treetop and try to see what’s in there. A Hunter observed this good-looking squirrel and thought of capturing it. One day as the Squirrel ventured out, he got trapped by Hunter and was caught. Hunter brought him to his place and kept him in the backyard near a tree. The Squirrel was mighty upset in the beginning and cried aloud. However, after a few days, he realized that the Hunter might have kept him captive but all his needs get fulfilled. He was fed well and on time. Also when he felt to go out of the cage he could move out and roam a little bit as a rope was always tied on him. He could go up the tree too but the rope won’t allow him to go further. He was growing to be happy with this arrangement. There was one problem though. There was a dog in the neighbor's house and he would come and bark at the squirrel at times scaring him to no ends. When the dog came, the squirrel would run-up to the tree as much he can to stay safe and would come down only once the dog was gone. 

Also one day, the squirrel heard some noise and chirpy voice up the tree. He was curious and he liked the sound, he moved up the tree to see that a pack of squirrels led by a head squirrel had arrived there. They were playful, very happy, and seemed to be in a blissful state. Our daring and energetic  Squirrel wanted to join them. He could only go so far, the Head noticed him and asked him to join them: thus the squirrel would go till the rope allowed him and hear to the nice chatter the pack used to have, especially the Head Squirrel would guide and help the pack. Our Squirrel had this desire to someday join that pack but he couldn’t do so as he was tied to the rope. 

One day the Dog came rushing and barked profusely. Our Squirrel was really scared and felt that the dog might just reach him and grab him to eat. Desperately our squirrel started climbing the tree as far he could go. The Head Squirrel saw his struggle and how far our Squirrel had reached up the tree despite being tied by the rope. The Head came over, untied him, and pulled him Up to the top of the tree where the pack was. The Squirrel free and liberated, merrily joined the effervescent and vibrant pack. 

He stayed there with them for a while and one day recalled how it used to be back then with the Hunter taking care of his needs of food and water, shelter, etc. he was tempted to go down just for a while to experience it and that’s when the Head stopped him saying once you go down there wasn’t any coming back. Our squirrel realized his mistake quickly and left the thought of ever going down to the fear, anxiety, feeling of scarcity by being bound by the hunter's rope. Our Squirrel focused on staying on with the pack and live a life that was filled with bliss and joy. 

Each one of us has been that enthusiastic and daring Squirrel who was brought to earth. As we grew we were haunted by the problems just as the barking dog and when in the wake of adversity we would move further to the path of spirituality yet not liberated fully as the rope of Maya would pull us back. We, the divine souls, spot our Satguru like the Head of the pack and feel like getting there to the top and stay in an elevated state. We keep making attempts till one such day, the dog grows really fierce and makes us run to the edge of that rope and Satguru unties us from that rope of Maya to help us join the pack and blissful Supreme. 

Tatvamasi, Aham Brahmasmi