Yogiji Maharaj boarded a train. It was a stuffy compartment, and on
the facing bench were seated some carefree youngsters. Once the train
picked up motion, Yogiji closed his eyes and began to sing a devotional
song; he was soon lost in love for the Lord. His resonant voice, its
sweet and soothing tone filtered through the atmosphere. "Anubhavi
anandma brahmarasana bhogi re......." Yet these divine words pricked
the ears of the youngsters. They were blatant and impudent, and highly
inflammable. "Stop your foolish singing ! It's disturbing us!" they
complained vehemently and resumed their game of cards that had them
glued. Before a fellow sadhu could explain in defense, Yogiji Maharaj,
abruptly stopped singing and took out his rosary to quietly chant
the name of the Lord. For him, the name of the Lord was important,
not the manner. The train moved along and Yogiji remained steady in
devotion, while the youths sank deeper and deeper into the excitement
of cards. Game after game, they continued ceaselessly. Then suddenly,
one of them realized that they had missed their station. The train
had passed it long time ago. Instantly, their joy vanished. They grew
agitated and frantic, not knowing what to do. Quite pleased to see
them in trouble, the sadhu quipped, "See Swamiji, they insulted you
and stopped you from singing the Lord's song. This is why they've
missed their destination. They deserved it..." But Yogiji intervened;
"No, one should not say that. Just think how deeply engrossed they
were in playing cards that they forgot everything else; we too, should
become so engrossed in devotion to God." Perhaps the sadhu could not
instantly see goodness in the youngsters, but he did sense the great-
heartedness of his Guru. Yogiji never ever found a fault with
others.
