Nani’s Bhagavad Geeta - Who Am I?

“Nani, O Nani, come out. I need to speak to you." a crying, breathless Chintu was at Nani's doors, insisting she come out immediately. Bala and Pushpa caught up with him, and the trio was now at Nani's door, continually banging at the metal knob. 

"Can't you wait, you monkeys? It takes time for my old bones to get and open the door." Nani said irritatedly but stopped midway upon seeing Chintu's state. He was bruised and sweating profusely. "Oh my God! What happened to you, Chintu? Did you fight with someone? Your donkey friend will never mend his ways and always get in trouble." scolding all of them, Nani turned to go inside and fetch the first aid box. "Come here, you scoundrel. Let me clean the wound and apply a bandaid." She sat down on the rocking chair in the front yard, pulled Chintu, and applied the medicine to his forehead and lips. "Ah! Ah!" cried Chintu as the spirit burned his skin.

"Tell me what happened." Keeping the medical box aside, Nani demanded an explanation for the incident.

"I will tell you, Nani." Bala opted to speak on Chintu's behalf. Chintu, still occupied with tending to his wounds, signaled Bala to go ahead and narrate the incident.

"Nani, we played on the school playground when Satish and his gang approached us." Bala started to tell the tale. "They always bully us. Nothing new," smirked Chintu.

"They were four of them. They took our ball, then when we asked them to return it, they called Chintu and asked him, "Who are you?" "Bala narrated.

"Is it? Then what did Chintu reply?" curiously, Nani asked.

"Chintu said, "I am Chintu, obviously Nani." underlined Bala.

"Then?" enjoying the conversation and the direction it was going, Nani probed.

"Then, they again asked Chintu. We know that you are Chintu, but who are you?" They repeated. Bala continued. "This time, I said I am Chintu, the cobbler's son." Chintu joined the conversation now that he had some relief from the pain.

"That's correct! So then, what happened?" Nani was now watching the boys and their confusion.

"Then Nani. They hit Chintu and mocked him as "cobbler's son, cobbler's son" and ran away." Bala completed.

"And they also took away the ball," Pushpa added sadly.

"Hmm! You guys are hurt because they called out your caste?" Nani asked.

"Yes, Nani. We are hurt because they mocked and teased me about my caste. But, Nani, you always say that we are not what we are by birth, right? Then why did they mock me, and why did I feel bad about it." Chintu asked, tears welling in his eyes.

Nani sympathized.

"Who am I?" Chintu asked, soliciting Nani's answer.

 

"You are Chintu," Nani answered laughingly. Irritated at her callousness, Chintu frowned.

"Seriously, Nani, tell me, Who am I?" he insisted.

"Okay fine. I will tell you." Nani pulled him close

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r lovingly and made him sit on her lap.

"You are the consciousness. You are Brahman - The Ultimate One," Nani began. She had the full attention of three innocent children, hearing her every word wide-eyed and with protruded ears.

She continued, "We all share the same consciousness. It is known as oneness - whether humans, animals, or plants. It is like the air that we breathe. The air is the same across all beings. It is within, yet it's outside. You can compare consciousness to electricity. Imagine a bulb as the body. When the electricity passes through it, it glows. The same electricity runs a fan or an air conditioner. The electricity neither claims that it is a bulb only nor does it claim to be a fan or an air conditioner. Electricity shared between the appliances is independent and not attached to any one appliance's identity. Consciousness is that electricity that runs through the mind and body without favoring or judging any state."

"You are one with everyone, and you share the same components with all. You and the Consciousness are ONE," Nani added.

"Nani, please explain." Chintu requested to know more.

"Our mind and body are mortal functions." she was interrupted by Bala. "Mortal means?"

"Mortal means physical matter, which has a physical form," Nani answered.

Bala bobbed his head, signaling her to continue.

"The consciousness reflects the mind and body, yet it is not in that state. Our mind and body react to the external world and remain in a state accordingly. If the circumstances are favorable, the mind and body are happy, and if the circumstances are not as desired, then .." "the mind and body are unhappy," Bala completed her sentence. Nani was pleased with Bala's involvement in the conversation. "Yes, Bala. The mind and body are driven by the five bodily senses - smell, touch, hearing, taste, and sight. Anything pleasing the senses appeals to the mind and body." she articulated the concept of the relationship between the mind, body, and consciousness.

"When the consciousness falls on the Mind and Body, it illuminates the state. If the mind is sad, it radiates sadness, and when it is happy, it radiates happiness.

"So Nani, I am not just Chintu, or he is not just Bala, and she is not just Pushpa - We all are One connected consciousness, and we all are parts of the divinity," Chintu said elatedly. Nani nodded smilingly.

"I am not just a cobbler's son; I am the divinity, unattached to any form or state," Chintu said.

"Yes, very true. You are the consciousness. We all share the same consciousness." Nani chuckled. "Now, go home and think about what I said. You should never be disturbed by anyone who questions your identity because you are..." before she could complete the sentence - Chintu shouted, "I am Brahman - Aham Bhramasi. I am the divinity." 

They all laughed and thanked Nani for yet another outstanding teaching.