Meditation on Radhanath Swami’s Book – The Journey Home Book
At the Bombay festival, a gigantic pandal, tent was erected and over 25,000 people attended the programme, eager to hear from the guru. Richard was seated at the rear end of the pandal. Richard saw the guru call over one of his disciples and spoke in his ear. The disciple then gazed into the massive crowd, signaled someone to come up onto the stage, but when nobody came, he finally came down and walked right up to Richard. He smilingly told Richard, “Srila Prabhupada wants you to sit with him on the stage.” Richard was stunned that of the thousands, Srila Prabhupada had picked on him to sit next to him.
As Srila Prabhupada spoke, Richard heard a voice within his heart proclaim, “This is your guru.” But the mind couldn’t accept, and a battle ensued between the mind and the heart. His mind won and he dismissed the idea that he was ready to choose a guru. After the lecture Richard extended his hand to touch Srila Prabhupada’s feet. A disciple tried to stop but Srila Prabhupada gently spoke that he could touch his feet. Meanwhile the other Western disciples of Srila Prabhupada became good friends with Richard but he was still fearful of a commitment. During one class, Richard felt Srila Prabhupada’s eyes penetrating into the depths of his soul, and silently urging him not to waste his precious time, for Krishna was waiting for him. Richard trembled:
“It is said that a saintly person is so pure that he or she acts like a spotless mirror. When we come in the presence of such a mirror-like soul, we can see both the beauty and ugliness of our inner life. Our faith and doubts, virtues and sins, strengths and weaknesses are revealed. It is both a joyful and painful experience, one that I had in the presence of Srila Prabhupada.”
Although the association of a saint fills our heart with spiritual joy, it also positively disturbs. A true saint doesn’t flatter his followers with platitudes. While he exudes warmth and affection, he also speaks the harsh truth of life, some of which may be unpalatable for the ego. The ego fears that commitment to a spiritual path may restrict our freedom. Radhanath Swami narrates the example of an uncleaned room. A room that isn’t cleaned for years may be dirty, and an attempt to clean the room only raises more dirt. However, if the cleaner persists, the room will become attractive for a person to stay. Similarly, a genuine well wishing guru attempts to clean the heart of a disciple. The process appears painful, but if the seeker persists and allows the transcendental instructions of the guru to enter his consciousness, the room of the heart once again illuminates and attracts God to reside in the heart. A God centered life then fills our lives with freedom and happiness.
The pain occurs in the initial days of our spiritual life because we hear the special position of God and our position in the cosmos as inconsequential. A genuine guru teaches that God is indeed special and we are insignificant only to the extent we are disconnected from God. A soul that endeavors to reestablish the relationship with God becomes special, and he or she then experiences a level of happiness that transcends ordinary bodily pleasures.
Radhanath Swami cites the example of a finger which is insignificant when separated from the body. However when connected to the hand, it has a special place. A screw when separated from the machine is useless but when reconnected enjoys a unique function. Likewise, separated from the Lord, no endeavors in this world can actually make our lives significant. In a loving relationship with God alone, we can be blissful. Besides, prayerful contemplation on our insignificance compared to the all great Lord and His numerous servants, makes us humble. This humility softens our heart and captures God’s heart. Radhanath Swami enlightens us, “A spiritual approach to life that is based on humility and service transforms even unknown servants to glorious recipients of Lord’s love and mercy.” Richard was one such special recipient.
Table of Contents
Founder-acharya of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
“Go to India” a sweet but commanding voice; spoke up in the heart of young Richard (later Radhanath Swami) who was immersed in meditation, his search for meaning in life has brought him to the Isle of Crete. Today he was ordered to go to India. Born and raised in the middle class suburbs of Chicago, Radhanath swami grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s era when popular musicians protested war, prejudice and social injustice. Radhanath swami would listen to these songs again and again, but their lyrics referring to God stirred his soul. Peter, Paul and Mary- the folk trio from Greenswich village sang in their debut album
“Early in the morning, about the break of day
I ask the Lord, to help me find my way”
This simple prayer was to guide Radhanath swami in the coming years of his life........
Nice. A soul endevour to reestablish his realtion with Lord is special.
View CommentIt is always inspiring and enlightening to know about the endeavors of great souls in search of God. Maharaj enlightens us with the qualities which will make us attract to God. To develop these qualities we need to clean our heart with the help of spiritual master. Thanks for sharing this enlightening meditation.
View CommentTo come under the shelter of a real guru requires so much of pious credits from previous lives and sincerity of purpose in this life, which Radhanath Swami truly exhibited
View CommentThe numerous examples given here are eye-openers. I specially like the one about the finger—its value is nil when separated from the hand, but when connected to the hand, it plays its own significant role.
View CommentKrishna has been personally taking care of Radhanath Swami . Due to his sincerity and purity Srila PRabhupada called for him.
View CommentJust on reading the autobiography of Radhanath Swami, THE JOURNEY HOME, one can easily understand that he was already a devotee from his previous lives as well. We are so fortunate to have one of the greatest contemporary saints within our reach.
View CommentGuru is a link between us and the Lord. By mercy of the Lord we get in touch with a bonafide spiritual master and by mercy of a spiritual master we can achieve love for the Lord.
Radhanath Maharaj is one such spiritual master.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is really a special soul, persists to any circumstances to please God. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
View CommentWonderful Article – “The process appears painful, but if the seeker persists and allows the transcendental instructions of the guru to enter his consciousness, the room of the heart once again illuminates and attracts God to reside in the heart. A God centered life then fills our lives with freedom and happiness” – perseverance and complete faith in Guru are pre-requisites to clean up the dirt from the heart.
View CommentIts amazing how Richard(Radhanath Swami) was struggling to get to the essence of all Spiritual practies and how the Lord arranged it so beautifully – his Spiritual master Srila Prabhupada identified him from the thousands of people who came to attend the program.
For many of us, we never struggled even 0.01% and have been given the same opportunity of Spiritual guidance. However in our utter misfortune we may not value and lose it! What a loss it would be? We should be very very grateful and eager to accept this special mercy…
View CommentWonderful Article Very inspiring
View CommentYes, that is true, in the presence of Radhanath Swami I feal the Lord’s love and mercy flowing through him and spreading all over his surroundings.
View CommentRadhanath Swami by his Determination won the battle over mind and Surrendered to his Eternal Guru. Very instructive.
View Commentsimply wonderful!!
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami Maharaj has rightly enlightened us by his quotes that “A spiritual approach to life that is based on humility and service transforms even unknown servants to glorious recipients of Lord’s love and mercy.”
View CommentIt is indeed wonderful to read that “A soul that endeavors to reestablish the relationship with God becomes special, and he or she then experiences a level of happiness that transcends ordinary bodily pleasures.”…i liked these two quotes of Maharaj and would try to remember and inculcate in my life.
inspiring and thoughtprovoking
View CommentWonderful piece.
View CommentYes,realy Radhanathswami has became a glorious recipients of Love & mercy of God after becoming a true deciple of his spirutual Master.
View CommentVery special incident.
View Commenthumility softens our heart and captures God’s heart- Radhanath swami – this instruction has touched my heart
View CommentSincerity and Character shows on one’s face. This is what Srila Prabhupada saw
View CommentSincerity and Character shows on one’s face. This is what Srila Prabhupada saw in Maharaj
View CommentEven after being singled out in a crowd of 25000, Radhanath swami was never proud. He once told that it is to prove the efficacy of his teachings to change the heart of the most fallen soul that Srila Prabhupada chose to call him to the stage.
View CommentWonderful article. Each individual needs a guru to connect with the Lord.
View Comment“separated from the Lord, no endeavors in this world can actually make our lives significant”, this seems to be the essence of Radhanath Swami’s bhakti teachings
View CommentVery nice story.
View CommentWhat a wonderful meditation. a part is always a part of the Whole and has to serve the whole. Seperated from the whole it will completley lose its existence. Similarly we as spirit souls are part of the Supreme soul and just like sparks of fire seperated from the blazing fire loses its power similarly when we are seperated we cannot remain. Radhanath Maharaj has brought out this principle so wonderfully in this section.
View Commentvery interesting!!
View CommentAll Glories To H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Enlightening Wisdom. The examples of how a finger if severed from the body becomes useless in order to make the point of how an individual if not connected is actually useless and turns to an object undeserving a heman life.
Hare Krishna
View CommentMahraj’s analogies about the screw and finger so beautifully and correctly explain how we are dysfunctional and incomplete without spiriuality in our life
View CommentA genuine guru does not flatter his disciples but speks the truth even if it is unpalatable for the ultimate good of disciple. Nice point thanks to Radhanath swami.
View CommentVery nice and inspiring article. Thank you very much for sharing the same.
View CommentWhat a sweet exchange between guru and disciple.
View CommentBeautifull article which is helping us to understand although we as an individual are insignificant but when we are connected to god ,we have a special position which cannot be disturbed.
View CommentThis is the natural outcome of a person like Radhanath Swami who is so close to God, and who has dedicated his entire life for upliftment of entire mankind.
View CommentSrila Prabhupada could detect a true spiritualist amongst thousands. This incident speaks volumes about Srila Prabhupada’s compassion and Radhanath Swami’s genuine desire to find a true guru.
View Comment“It is said that a saintly person is so pure that he or she acts like a spotless mirror. When we come in the presence of such a mirror-like soul, we can see both the beauty and ugliness of our inner life.” This is very very profound statement by Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View CommentA saintly person should be soft like a rose and hard like a thunderbolt as per time place and circumstance
View CommentThis is how HH Radhanath swami maharaj found his eternal spiritual master. Haribol
View CommentVery inspiring and thought provoking statement “The pain occurs in the initial days of our spiritual life because we hear the special position of God and our position in the cosmos as inconsequential. A genuine guru teaches that God is indeed special and we are insignificant only to the extent we are disconnected from God”. It is so amazing how much we are suffering life after life only because of our false pride and arrogance.
View CommentWonderful Artical!
View Commentvery true , mind must be under control,
View Commentthis is a very true description of the glance of the pure devotee, and a heart to heart instruction about surrender. thank you for reviewing various parts of this book that are so significant.
View CommentAS Radhanath swami is writing here, we have to realise that we belong to GOD, He is like our loving father and when we realize this then only we will experiencr true happiness.
View Commentgreat article and very well expalines by HH Radanath Swami Maharaj in order to balance both the mind and the heart, haribol, regards, rajesh
View Commentradhanath swami maharaj like his Guru Maharaj is also a messenger of god for all of us and that is the reason why from a huge crowd of 25000 people His Divine Grace ACB Swami Srila Prabhupada chose maharaj, haribol, bhakti
View Commentvery nice article, thanks for posting, regards bhakti karia
View CommentRadhanath Swami says “A true saint doesn’t flatter his followers with platitudes. While he exudes warmth and affection, he also speaks the harsh truth of life, some of which may be unpalatable for the ego” This is really an important symptom of a true saint.
View CommentI love this story, specially when Maharaja narrates it live 🙂
View CommentWonderful
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