Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was wonderstruck to know of Srila Prabhupada’s journey to the west. He compared it with his own journey and felt humbled and inspired to know about Srila Prabhupada’s sacrifice and compassion for the people of this world. Radhanath Swami writes he was a nineteen year old with no money travelling from America to India, but Srila Prabhupada began his journey at the age of seventy and travelled to America with no money, knowing no one-only to be an instrument of the Lord’s compassion.
One day Richard informed Krishnadas Babaji that Srila Prabhupada was in Vrindavan. The Babaji asked him to take to Srila Prabhupada. Radhanath Swami writes that when these two great souls met, their faces bloomed in joy and they exclaimed ‘Hare Krishna’ in great happiness. Radhanath Swami says the blissful smile he saw in Srila Prabhupada’s face, he never saw in any human face. Both embraced each other and tears of happiness filled their eyes. For the next hour they conversed happily in native Bengali language, oblivious to all external situations. They laughed aloud and Radhanath Swami realized this is an incredible spiritual relationship these two great souls had. Radhanath Swami claims to have never seen such love and honour between two human beings. He felt he had received a glimpse into the spiritual world.
Radhanath Swami also shares such loving exchanges with his friends. During my travels in India, I once met Niranjan Swami, an old time friend of Radhanath Swami. Niranjan swami described to me his friendship with Radhanath Swami. “The last night I had a special dream”, confessed Niranjan Swami. “I dreamt that I am in deep sleep, and Radhanath Swami is sitting next to me and lovingly pouring sweet rice, (a special Indian sweet) into my mouth. As he was feeding me spoon by spoon, he was lovingly calling out, Oh, my dear Niranjan Swami, please wake up.” This is the only dream I had whole night. I am eagerly waiting to meet him.” I also remember feeling then that this is a glimpse of a deep spiritual friendship. On another occasion I heard Radhanath Swami speak a long class on the glories of his close friend, Bhakti Tirtha Swami. It was on the order of Bhakti Tirtha Swami that Radhanath Swami has written his autobiography. After Bhakti Tirtha Swami left this world, Radhanath Swami felt great sorrow and separation from him and glorified him for over six hours in a class in Mumbai. I was fortunate to attend that discourse where over two thousand people heard the whole class in rapt attention.
Generally every spiritual centre or temple as the seat of a speaker, called vyasasan, on which the spiritual leader sits to give discourses. Generally this vyasasan is one small chair or cushion where only one person can sit. But the vyasasan in Mumbai itself speaks of Radhanath Swami’s mood to serve and glorify all sincere spiritual practitioners. The vyasasan is big and six people can sit, and hence is unique of its kind. When Radhanath Swami gives classes he invites many of his friends to sit next to him, and then he glorifies them as if he has thousand mouths. Later when they get a turn to address the assembled crowd, and they express feeling embarrassed by so much love and praise, Radhanath Swami, with the twinkling of his eyes, grins, “aha…if you are embarrassed then our mission is successful”. His genuine appreciation of devotees serving in his guru’s mission is most inspiring and reminds me of one of his instructions he gave in a talk, “One should be willing to undergo any austerities to develop the mood of genuinely appreciating the good qualities of other devotees”. No wonder his god brothers and god sisters love Radhanath Swami so much because he is wonderfully following his guru’s final instructions, “your love for me will be shown by how much you cooperate with one another”.
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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........
Radhanath Swami is simply amazing
View CommentRadhanath Swami has written “The Journey home book on the special request of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami”
View CommentHare Krishna!
View CommentSo much we have to learn from you Maharaj!
View CommentRadhanath Swami has unlimited love for BHaktiTirtha Swami its very rare in america to find someone from Jewish Origin having unlimited love for someone from African origin. But Krishna Consciousness teaches one to get out of the bodily conception of life. Radhanath Swami is demonstrating the same through his example
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj has only love & compassion for everyone!
View CommentThank you very much for sharing.
View Commentwonderful,thank you
View Commenti pray to have a drop of Radhanath Swami’s sincerity.
View CommentReal Spiritual life is not dry and lonely. It is pleasant journey towards spiritual world in the association of loving friends . Thank you for sharing such wonderful instance.
View CommentMaharaj is a very wonderful person with full of transcendental qualities. I humbly pray at his lotus feet to develop a speck of his humility and compassion. Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience.
View CommentWorld over people are getting inspired by Radhanath Swami culture of love and respect..
View CommentThank you so much Maharaj.Really,this co-operative mood to serve Guru and Krsna is perfectly seen in the dealings of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View CommentReal spiritual journey is never lonely. The life of H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj is a source of inspiration to several devotees.
View CommentIts nectar to the eyes seeing 2 godbrothers love for each other
View CommentNo one can better Radhanath Swami in glorifying anyone, nor in assuming a humbler position for himself.
View Commentthank u very much
View CommentThank you so much.
View CommentRadhanath swami glorifies such a way that Guest feels embarrassed by such love and praise. How amazing !!
View Commentradhanath swami is one of the best example of a sincere disciple of the spiritual master in todays world,
View CommentIt’s amazing to see how Radhanath Swami practices what he preaches.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s idea of having a 6-seater vyasasan has won my heart!
View CommentRadhanath swami maharaj is inspiring every one by his example and the results which he has given to the society.
View CommentA Life-Saving Project…Something that actually makes people ‘LIVE’ the teaching of Simple Living High Thinking. Radhanath Swami ki Jay
View Commentvery touching. thanks for sharing.
View CommentWonderful !!
View CommentExcellant
View CommentHare Krishna
View CommentI am greatful for sharing this wonderful article.
View CommentNice see such loving relations in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy.
View Commentnice article and very well explained by HHRM the importance of good relationship, haribol, bhakti
View CommentHHRM always embraces his devotees amidst other people and always wants them to co-operate with one another and maintain good relationships in order to accomplish this mission, Maharaj ki Jai! regards rajesh
View CommentHHRNSM always embraces his devotees amidst other people and is always happy to see them co-operate with each other and have good relationships, hari hari, rajesh karia
View CommentThe heart yearns for pure innocent relationships. And Radhanath Swami prepares our hearts to be able to find them.
View CommentThe heart yearns for pure innocent relationships. And Radhanath Swami prepares our hearts to be able to find them. Thank you.
View CommentIt is very true that Radhanath Swami is following the instructions of his spiritual master to the hilt – co-operating with his godbreothers and sisters to further the great sankirtan movement of ISKCON
View Commentwe need to always support each other
View Commentvery nice blog
View CommentAwesome lessons as usual!
View CommentI have heard Radhanath swami glorifying devotees on number of occassions and it matches the writer’s description – he does it as if he has thousand mouths.
View CommentRadhanath Maharaj’s love and compassion is genuine and sincere.
View Commentradhanath swami maharaj is dear to all due to his wonderful wodnderful loving and caring nature
View Comment“LOVE” – what it means to someone, is so infallibly the nature of Radhanath Swami, a person who has ever witnessed or heard about Radhanath Swamis loving relationships for all souls is wonderstruck and would necessarily have to pinch himself to believe what he is witnessing. Radhanath Swami reflects the mood and instructions of Srila Prabhupada in a very humble way.
View CommentI liked a lot one thing which Radhanath Swami once said. To protect a community, intelligence is required and to mourish/nurture a community, humility is required. True humility is manifest in the culture of love and appreciation for one another.
View CommentThank you very much for sharing this article on Radhanath swami
View CommentAppreciation of everyone and humility about one’ existence go hand in hand. We see it perfectly displayed in Radhanath Swami’ personlity.
View CommentH.H Radhnath Swami is Love and Compassion personified
View Comment“your love for me will be shown by how much you cooperate with one another” Following Guru’s instruction as his life and soul, living upto it and guiding us how to do that.
View CommentRadhanath Swami teaches how to respect others and see the good in them.
View CommentThis is known as disciplic succession…….Prabhupad had love for his dear godbrothers & Radhanath Swami imbibed the same quality of love, respect, adoration & appreciation for his Godbrothers……..relationships like this create family atmosphere……..This is the real meaning of UNITY IN DIVERSITY……..
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