In order to save His devotees, God takes many different actions in several ways. Devotees, unable to recognise and understand the inner meaning of such actions, think that God is giving them unnecessary difficulties. People only have external vision. God has inner vision. Paramatma is always caring for the well-being of His people. Even if a son, who has been brought up with much care by the mother, makes a mistake, the mother will correct the son and punish if appropriate. When we see this, we feel that a mother who has brought up the son with such care, love, and tenderness is harsh in punishing the child; but the mother does so with affection. In the same manner—God, the universal father, will punish His devotees, when needed, with love. Do not mistake it to be God desiring to punish people. God is always full of grace.

- Summer Showers in Brindavan, 1976, Ch 3.