A thinker writes, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.”
Once, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was in Bochasan, Gujarat. A young devotee had just bought a new set of Flexon eyeglasses. He explained, “Swamishri, these glasses cost 18,000 rupees. They are more durable and resistant than conventional metals, allowing them to be flexed, bent, or twisted and still they return to their original shape.” He then took off his glasses and bent the frame, but it did not break. Swamishri smiled and said, “If we are flexible in life, we can adjust to any situation. Accordingly, we become stable, and our value increases.” Flexibility is the key to stability. Problems, difficulties and hardships disappear when we are willing to become flexible.
Following his 59th birthday celebration in 1979, Rajkot, Swamishri was visiting the homes of well-wishers and devotees in the city. Suddenly, his car ran out of fuel and came to a halt. The driver requested Swamishri to remain seated in the car while he looked for a petrol station. But Swamishri told him, “If we wait around, we’ll be late for the next town which is at least two hours’ drive from here.” He got out of the car in an instant and took a three-wheeler public rickshaw to continue with the rest of the home visits. It was nothing new for him to travel that way, because earlier in his life there were no special travel arrangements for him. Sometimes, he travelled in a bullock cart or in a wagon attached to a tractor. But his main mode of transport was either a State Transport bus or a third-class compartment on a local train. Even as the President of BAPS, no special provisions or privileges were ever afforded to him. Often, he slept on wooden benches or under a neem tree. Sometimes, he even slept on a heap of sand. He had no specific office or workplace; wherever he worked became his workplace. Amazingly, Swamishri never complained about anything or made a fuss. For him, serving humanity was of paramount importance, with or without special arrangements.
In February 1965, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s guru, Yogiji Maharaj, requested Swamishri and Doctor Swami to fly to New Delhi for some important work. Doctor Swami noted in his journal, “I was travelling in an aeroplane for the first time, and I remember being excited to see the view from the window. However, Swamishri was occupying the window seat. Unable to contain my curiosity, I kept leaning across Swamishri to try and catch a glimpse below. Then, suddenly, he got up. Instead of becoming irritated with my constant obstruction, he gently sat me in his window seat. That was the first time I truly experienced Swamishri’s remarkable ability to understand the wishes of others. He not only understood my eagerness, but he was so humble and flexible to vacate his own seat so that I could enjoy the journey.”
One cold winter’s evening in 1977, Swamishri took a break from his constant travels to stay the night in Ahmedabad. A small group of swamis and youths had also accompanied him. As they were getting ready to sleep, one of the swamis started looking for a blanket for a youth who had fallen ill during the journey. He had a fever and chills. The swami looked around, but he could not find a warm blanket, so he went to sleep. Swamishri understood the scenario and thus got up to wrap his own blanket around the ailing youth. He did it so discreetly that it wasn’t until the next morning that everyone realized what had happened. All night, Swamishri had suffered the cold with just a thin upper garment covering his body. Flexibility is a vital quality of leadership. It is said, “Those who are most able to adapt, become successful.”
In 1971, there was a procession in honour of Swamishri’s visit to Nadiad. Swamishri was seated on a decorated chariot. The streets were baking under the sun. Swamishri noticed that one of the younger swamis did not have his sandals, so he called him closer and said, “Here, take mine and wear them. It is not good to walk barefoot in the scorching sun. It is harmful and may damage your health.” The young swami accepted the sandals as a blessing and put them on. But after a few moments, he realized that those sandals were Swamishri’s. Consequently, he removed them. Swamishri again noticed and said, “I didn’t give you the sandals to hold them in your hand. Wear them.”
Swamishri’s deep concern for others underlined his flexible nature. He always strived for the comfort and happiness of others.