Gondal. June 1989.

As thousands of eyes feasted on the darshan of their beloved Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj, a youth casually stepped forward and soon found himself in front of Swamishri. "I have a complaint," he began in a quiet but assertive tone. 

"Go ahead," replied a calm Swamishri.

"Why did you allow that tree to be cut?" erupted the youth. "You've committed a sin equivalent to killing a sadhu! You're supposed to be a great sadhu yet you do this... aren't you ashamed?"

"But... the whole tree has not been cut." Swamishri began explaining to him in a gentle manner.

"Only a few branches that were in the way have been cut." Yet Swamishri's meekness merely served to provoke the youth's bitterness. He blatantly continued to unleash words of abuse. Naturally devotees nearby tried to stop him. The incensed youth challenged them, "Go on, go ahead... hit me!"

Swamishri stopped the devotees from taking the youth away. "Let him speak. He's come in a huff; let him vent his frustration. How much can he possibly say? Let him continue for as long as he wishes - he'll soon quiet down on his own… there's no need for us to interrupt him. What do we stand to lose?" Swamishri's words appeased the hurt devotees.

By now, the packed assembly had caught on to what was going on. But their inner fury was subdued by Swamishri's benign gestures. The youth continued unashamedly for a short while before he was shown his way out. Leaving behind a composed Swamishri - unperturbed, smiling, blessing the devotees as if nothing untoward had happened!