2025-05-20 - Tuesday - becoming a thorny bush

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At one point, if my memory is correct, You were asked by someone in an interview, "Swami, why are the people in the Ashram so rough-and-tough?" or words to that effect. And You had replied, "Just as the fertile field with valuable crops is surrounded by thorny bushes to act as fencing, I too have these thorny bushes at Prasanthi Nilayam" - or something like that. This analogy is also used in a different context here.

I wonder if I have completed my transformation into 'thorny bush" now. The big tripping point is, getting upset with visitors to Prasanthi Nilayam not 'following the rules' in spite of multiple reminders. There are two options, one easy and one more difficult. Usually, You like the more difficult path!

The easy way out is to just ignore all the 'rule-breaking' and 'accept' that Prasanthi Nilayam has changed, and the 'old rules' don't work with the 'new visitors'. Perhaps in the analogy of the thorny bushes, this is akin to clearing the thorny bushes as well as the fertile field, and building a concrete skyscraper in the land instead!

The other option is to cultivate patience, to 'speak obligingly even if you cannot always oblige', but take steps like repeated reminders or more drastic measures to ensure compliance, but not lose one's composure inside, though a loud voice and or stern demeanour might be needed on the outside. And as You have repeated many times, for everything, practice, practice and more practice is the key. So, You will create situations which allow us to practice, till we get it right!

Edit: And then You supplied this instruction: Always speak softly and sweetly.