He Always Listens to Elders

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During Summer vacations, all the children in Guru Maharaj 's family came together. They had a big family.  His father had 3 or 4 brothers and their children played there too, with their own family including 8 or 10 children. With all of them together it was like a school in the house, about 30-35 kids representing all different age groups.  With so many children together, it usually means they are going to make some nuisance, some mischief.  During Summer vacations when all children are at home, it is very difficult for parents to control the children.

One day after lunch, Guru Maharaj's paternal uncle called all the children to come and sit before him. Then he said, "You should all count backward one by one, starting from a hundred and back to one. After you finish counting you can go to play."

Near Guru Maharaj's house there is a pond.  The elders feared that the children will fall in the pond and may hurt themselves.  So this plan was devised in order to stop them from going to play near the pond.  And that uncle drowsed into sleep.

It was a nice opportunity for all the children to leave and all the children left to play in the pond.   But Guru Maharaj stayed behind, sitting.  When the uncle woke up after some time, he asked, "Eh! Where are the others?"

"They have all gone to play," Guru Maharaj told him.

"Then why are you still here?"

"I have not finished my counting from one hundred to one."

See how much of an order carrying person he was, even at such a young age. You cannot find this easily.  People look for reasons to escape from such responsibilities.  So simple he was.

—Sri Bhakti Suhrid Paramavati Maharaj
(As told to Srila Gurudev's sevaks by those who knew him in childhood)


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