radhanath-swami | Radhanath Swami

Essence of all religions

Radhanath Swami Fan Blog – Essence of all religions

Radhanath Swami therefore appeals that instead of bickering over the externals of various religious systems, let us all focus on chanting the holy names of God and serving each other in the mood of being the servant of servant. This way we can transform hatred to love.

Relief from material attachments

Radhanath Swami Fan Blog – Relief from material attachments

Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was carrying quite a few spiritual books with him and was attached to them. He had Bhagavad Gita, Bible, Upanishads, Autobiography of a Yogi, books on Buddhism, one by Shankaracarya, and the Krishna book personally given by Srila Prabhupada. He felt it was a small library in his bag, although the weight of these books impelled him to consider giving away some of these books.

From free samples to paying the price

Radhanath Swami Fan Blog – From free samples to paying the price

One day near Connaught Circus in New Delhi, a man stormed at Richard (now Radhanath Swami) and grabbed his neck and cleaned his ear with a lump of earwax. Richard was delighted as he could now hear better than he had in years. However the man had cleaned only one ear and demanded a rupee as the price to clean the other ear.

Society of Cheaters and Cheated

Radhanath Swami Fan Blog – Society of Cheaters and Cheated

Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was intrigued by an incarnation of Krishna who had apparently descended to earth. This was a thirteen year old Prem Rawat who was worshipped as the incarnation of Lord Rama and Krishna and he was now being addressed as Guru Maharaji. He wore a crown and peacock feather and played a flute like Krishna and also stood in the pose of Krishna.

The Scientific basis of Varnashrama system

Radhanath Swami Fan Blog – The Scientific basis of Varnashrama system

While travelling in a train from Haryana, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) saw an ugly incident of a teenager being beaten by his employer. On enquiry, Richard discovered that because the boy was from a lower caste, he was being discriminated against and was unlikely to get any facility to advance in life. However Richard also discovered that this was a perversion of a scientific system called varnashrama, which teaches that, just as the human body has a head, arms, belly, and legs, and each limb is meant to perform its function for the benefit of the whole body, in the social body, one is taught to accept responsibilities….

Lessons from Bhagavad Gita

Radhanath Swami Fan Blog – Lessons from Bhagavad Gita

Richard (now Radhanath Swami) studied the Bhagavad Gita sitting under the very banyan tree at Kurukshetra where Krishna originally spoke to Arjuna. Richard had read so many spiritual books but nothing so far had struck to him as so highly practical. In the world of dangers, temptations and fear, Richard found immense solace and direction in the immortal words of Lord Krishna. The Gita became Richard’s handbook.

Radhanath Swami at his Poetic Best

Radhanath Swami Fan Blog – Radhanath Swami at his Poetic Best

Richard (now Radhanath Swami) would often be lonely but used this opportunity to connect to God through prayer and meditation. I liked a prose that Richard wrote in the solitude of this mountain cave.

Living in harmony with mother Earth

Radhanath Swami Fan Blog – Living in harmony with mother Earth

Radhanath Swami teaches us to live in harmony with Nature, and mother Earth. He talks of principles that can help us respect all life on planet earth. Radhanath Swami explains that yoga means union and harmony with our father and harmony with our mother. When we learn to live in harmony with mother earth, naturally we also learn to live in harmony with our father, God.

Selfless service attracts all

Radhanath Swami Fan Blog – Selfless service attracts all

One of the most endearing of all human virtues is the virtue of sacrifice and service to others… Radhanath Swami observes that if people’s hearts are very deeply affected by unconditional service even on the material platform, how much more it would if there is unconditional service on the spiritual platform, with consciousness of God, the all attractive Supreme… This selfless service binds the hearts of the served and the one serving…

Beauty of religious diversity

Radhanath Swami Fan Blog – Beauty of religious diversity

Radhanath Swami has also often emphasized the need for us to appreciate the beauty and diversity in God’s revelations. Unfortunately people in this world get affected by externals negatively rather than see the differing externals as an opportunity to increase our appreciation for the Lord. So we need not be alarmed by the number and variety of God’s appearances as recounted in the world’s revealed scriptures.

Radhanath Swami