Sadguru Shree Gunatitanand Swami, the revered Mahant of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Junagadh lived a life of self-control and purity. He loved to perform even the smallest acts of seva, while keeping Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan perpetually in his heart. He was an embodiment of joy, enthusiasm, and service.
One day, Swamiji was going to the mandir vadi with his sadhus and devotees. Everyone would perform seva in the vadi. Whenever Swamiji went to the vadi, he would take the path behind the village, even though there was also a shorter path directly through the village center. The devotees suggested, “Swamiji! Please take this better, shorter path.”
Swamiji immediately replied, “The long path is better. I prefer the thorny path. I cannot choose a beautiful, short, and thorn-free path because the path of a sadhu is different. The thorns of the field are better than the thorns of the market. The thorns of the field can be removed, but the thorns of the market cannot.”
The devotees didn’t understand. “Swamiji! What do you mean? There are no thorns in the market. What are these ‘thorns of the market’?”
Swamiji clarified, “When we walk through the market, we are pricked by the thorns of rup (form), such as women. We are pricked by the thorns of rasasvad (taste), and by the thorns of gandh (smell). Once these thorns poke us, can they truly be removed? If there is no proper understanding, they can never be removed.”
Swami continued, “The path of renunciates is different; their understanding is different, and their vision is different. How can devotees who see with a superficial vision understand such a sadhu?”
Hearing Swamiji’s explanation, the devotees were speechless. After that, they never again asked Swamiji to walk through the market path. All the devotees then bowed at the feet of Sadguru Shree Gunatitanand Swami.