How can child-like innocence be made one's nature? How to be a पद्मपत्रम्?
Child-like simplicity is not childish gullibility, as one may infer. It is purity of a child. Of course, that child-like purity is expected from an adult. How can you do that? By REALISING that YOU ARE THE CHILD OF THE DIVINE and not of X,Y,Z person.
The moment you realise this, you will begin to express the simplicity of the Divine’s child. What is the nature of the Divine’s child? The same which is of the Divine. The Divine is present everywhere but isn’t stuck anywhere. He is the container and the content both. This nature of the Divine is best expressed by his child through the lotus sutra of the Gita—Padmapatram Evaambhasa (chapt 5/shlok 10). Like the lotus leaf stays in the ambhas—this Sanskrit word has two meanings, which connote to one image only. First is the space and the other is water. Unfortunately, it has been partially translated as “like the lotus leaf in the water.” It should be “like the lotus leaf in the water and the space.”
Now, ambhas is water, where the lotus is born. Isn't it? The leaf stays in it but remains afloat. Now at the same time, the same lotus leaf is in the space. The lotus petals are pointing upwards—blossoming in the space, undisturbed. This is how a child blossoms in the Mother’s lap. But, how does a child get this position? The moment the child recognises the world (Ambhas, water and space) as his mother, he begins to radiate the divine nature. This lotus-like expression of divine nature by someone is called child-like simplicity! Without this you cannot be a lotus. It is easier said here but it is difficult to attain the state without having that simplicity. Don’t take simplicity to be kiddish nature. All parmahamsas are like a child, but they radiate the highest spiritual principle. First, develop the child-like simplicity. This means don’t be a child, but be a divine child—the child in Mother’s lap. This state cannot be attained by mere imagination. One has to work for it. Therefore, child-like nature is the primary and final nature of a realised soul.--VS