Gurudev was a guest in a devotee’s house, when their little daughter skipped into the living room. In her excitement to show off the latest dance steps she had learnt, she swept her hands in a graceful arch.
Crashing down came a precious flower vase standing on a corner table. ‘‘O Leena, what have you done?’’ screamed her mother and gave her a resounding whack. ‘‘Please, Mummy, it was a mistake. I did not do it purposely’’, pleaded Leena.
But would her mother listen? Unmindful of the people sitting in the living room, she scolded her daughter and dragged her out of the room. We were all a bit embarrassed and quiet.
Gurudev stroked his beard and then as the mother came back to the room, he said softly, ‘‘That is the trouble with most of us. We love THINGS more than we love PEOPLE.’’