It was a wintry day. Acharya Maharaj, accompanied by the sangha, reached the village of Banda before sundown. The sangha stayed for the night in a hall above the temple. The thatched roof of the hall was ruined. It had several windows, which let the draught in. The door had no glass panes and it made little difference whether it was open or shut. The night got progressively colder. The sadhus only had a straw mat apiece. No one had opted for the comfort of a bed of dried grass. It was too cold to lie down; we passed the night sitting up. Next morning, after we had paid our obeisance to Acharya Maharaj, he asked us with a smile, “The night was very cold. What were the thoughts that went through your mind? Tell me.” We were at a loss for words, but gathered the courage to say, “Maharaj, it was very cold indeed. We were thinking that another mat would have been welcome.” Hearing this, the face of Acharya Maharaj lit up with joy. He said, “See, this is the power of renunciation. None of you even thought of any of the things that you have renounced to protect you from the cold. This is what I expected of you all. Always be vigilant with regard to renunciation. Be careful that the thought of taking something that you have renounced never enters your mind.” This exhortation of his will keep us on track all our lives.
Banda (1982)
Edited by Vidyasagar.Guru