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Life is ever-changing. I recall a story. There was a beautiful, ancient banyan tree. Year after year, its leaves fell away until only a single leaf remained, clinging to the highest branch. One day, a strong wind blew, and that final leaf fell. The tree was overcome with sorrow. "I am all alone here," it lamented. "No one comes to me anymore, not even my own leaves, my good friends. I tried so hard to hold on, but only a few remained." One day, a gardener came, holding that last leaf in his hand. The tree spoke to him: "My friend, what will you do? My life is hopeless. There is only disappointment. Everything has separated from me. No one comes. I have so much to tell, so many things I have witnessed in this truth over 2,500 years. But now, even this last leaf has left me. I think my end has come. Yet I am deeply sad, for when I die, all the wisdom I have gathered over 2,500 years will be lost." The gardener replied, "My dear old friend, I will help you. Soon, leaves will compete with one another to come to you." He then pruned away some of the tree's diseased parts. The old banyan tree protested, "Now I look ugly! You have cut my arm here and another there." "Just wait," said the gardener. "You will become the most beautiful tree by spring." When spring arrived, the entire trunk and every small branch were covered in countless big, healthy, green leaves. The gardener returned and asked, "Grandmother, how are you?" The tree answered, "I thank you. I am so blessed. I have my best friends back again. I feel so rich, surrounded by all these leaves. I believe I look more beautiful than any other tree." "Yes," said the gardener. "And you are 2,500 years old." So it is that some friends become sad. They think, "I hold satsaṅg, and nobody comes. Five come, but six go away. Ten come, but twenty-five leave." These are the ill leaves. The time is right for them to fall away. And what remains? Some others you must cut out yourself. Be thyself. Then they will realize, "Oh, this person is gone. Why has this person gone? There must be something to it." --- Recording location: Croatia, Umag, Weekend seminar