There's another Chazal that tells the story of their leaving the cave as follows: After Reb Shimon and Reb Elazar stayed in the cave for twelve years, Eliyahu HaNavi arrived at the cave entrance and announced, "Who will notify Bar Yochai that the king died and the decree was annulled?" Hearing the message, they left the cave.
The Maharal (Netzach Yisrael 28) writes, "Know, it is certain that there are locations in the world conducive for holiness. The cave where Reb Shimon hid is such a place. There is no doubt that Eliyahu HaNavi appeared to Reb Shimon several times in the cave. And makes no difference whether Eliyahu appeared to him in a way that Reb Shimon saw that it was Eliyahu HaNavi or if Eliyahu appeared to Reb Shimon and no one saw him. Eliyahu often tells someone something, giving him an idea or a thought, and the person doesn’t know where the idea came from. He thinks it is his thought, but they are really Eliyahu's words, speaking to him."
It states 'ה תושיע ובהמה אדם, and the gematriya is י"רשב (Magdil Yeshuos Malko, Barniv, 55). This tells us that even when one is at a low level, the level of an animal, Hashem will help him in Reb Shimon's merit.
Rambam (Pirush HaMishnayos, Parah 3:3) writes, "There is no difference between a person who had never become tamei, to a person who was tamei, but was purified with the parah adumah. [They are both equally tahor.] And even more, the one who was once tamei is better because the Torah speaks about him and says that he is tahor!" Some quote this Rambam in connection to the Beis Aharon who says that Lag b'Omer is for everyone, even for those on low levels. Since he mentions, specifically, the people at low levels, this means that Lag b'Omer is even more for them than for the greater people.
Year 5695: The Ahavas Yisrael of Viznitz’s children arrived in Meron on Lag b'Omer. Someone shouted, "Make room for the Viznitzer children!" An old lady shouted back, "Near Reb Shimon, we are all children." The Imrei Chaim zt'l of Viznitz would often repeat her words. "We are all Reb Shimon's children." A father has compassion on his children, even when they don't deserve it. This is why Reb Shimon is for everyone, even those at low levels.
When Rebbe Avraham Elimelech of Karlin hy’d zy’a was in Meron, he didn’t take kvitelach from his chassidim. He told them that in Reb Shimon's merit, everyone has an exceptional power of tefillah. Similarly, Rebbe Moshe Mordechai of Lelov zy’a would go with his chassidim to Meron for Shabbos parashas Behaloscha and wouldn’t accept kvitelach from them, as he felt that there was no need. In Reb Shimon's merit, everyone would undoubtedly receive their salvation.
Rebbe Avraham Elimelech zt'l and Rebbe Moshe Mordechai zt'l said that after going to Meron, there is no need to go to any other kever. Rebbe Avraham Elimelech zy’a said: "After pouring one's heart out in Meron, one should have the sensation that he left all his troubles in Meron with Reb Shimon." There are many large stones on the mountain going up to Reb Shimon’s kever. Tzaddikim said that these are the heavy stones people shed from their hearts while praying in Meron.
