The year was 1988. Swamishri was in America.

He was having dinner. A few sadhus were also present. After dinner, an interesting discussion took place between Swamishri and the sadhus.

The sadhus had just come back from a long and tiring day of house visits (padhramanis). This was their time with Swamishri. It was just Swamishri and them. No one else was in the room. They talked about the unique experiences that they had throughout the day. Just then, the phone rang. It was from India. A devotee wanted to discuss a private matter. It was an emergency. Swamishri immersed in the conversation. Then, without hesitating, he quickly got up and went into a nearby room to finish talking with the devotee.

After a few minutes, when the phone call ended Swamishri came back into the room.

“If you had just told us, we would have gotten up and left! You didn’t have to trouble yourself and leave the room!” the sadhus commented.

Swamishri replied, “It is not right to tell sadhus like you all to get up and leave. After all, you are our mãthãnã mugat (‘crown of our head')....”

Swamishri is the guru. The sadhus, his disciples.
Swamishri is elderly. The sadhus, young.

Still Swamishri goes out of his way not to cause difficulty to or disturb others.

We on the other hand often make unnecessary noise in the home. We disturb our friends. We disturb our family. Someone might be studying. Someone might be sleeping. But we tend not to care. But if we stay courteous and respectful towards others Swamishri will surely be pleased.