With Swamishri showing such deep-rooted detachment from worldly attractions on one side, he is just as particular when it comes to practical day-to-day affairs.

One day, Swamishri was staying at Bhagubhai's house in Hoboken, New Jersey. Before coming to eat, he decided to go and see the devotees eating in the backgarden. The devotees were enjoying a buffet dinner using disposable plastic plates. After making a small suggestion about serving water to everybody, Swamishri sat down to eat in his room.

While Swamishri was having his dinner, someone brought a plastic plate to show him. Swamishri inspected it closely and asked Bhagubhai, "How much do these cost?"

"Five dollars a dozen," he answered, "And the cups, two dollars a dozen."

Swamishri laughed and remarked, "In India, our leaf-plates are much better. Bigger and cheaper too." Then he asked, "Can you reuse these plates?"

"No, Swami," the yuvaks replied, "They're 'use-and-throw' plates. You use them once and throw them away."
"But they're so nice, you could wash them and use them again," Swamishri commented.

Even though Swamishri regards everything as merely dust, he can still give the lesson of value - not to waste even the smallest, seemingly insignificant of things in life.