One day at Janakpur, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) met an elderly sadhu who while blessing innocent people with an open palm, simultaneously chastised Richard for having left behind the material comforts of America. Richard was shocked that as the innocent people didn’t understand English, this man was cheating them by blessing them while he himself desired material wellbeing. Although the man was dressed in the robes of a sadhu, he was denying the existence of God. Richard reflected over the dangers of duplicity and how it gives spiritual leaders and spiritual movements a bad name.
Radhanath Swami says the first qualification to practice spiritual life is simplicity. The Vedic scriptures define simplicity as the ability to lead a truthful life, free from any duplicity and hypocrisy. This truthfulness is so ingrained in a sincere person that he is willing to speak the truth even to an enemy. Radhanath Swami says if we can have this standard of simplicity and freedom from duplicity, only then can we chant the holy names of God purely. Radhanath Swami warns us from presenting a false picture of ourselves to others. “We can never cheat others because the Supreme Lord in the heart is always watching every thought, word and action of ours. He surely records our intent and rewards us accordingly.” Duplicity also poisons the heart and prevents us from thinking of the Supreme Lord. When we lead a simple life it becomes easy for us to not get entangled in unnecessary complications in life. This also saves time which can be well spent in service of the Lord and devotees.
Radhanath Swami also defines simplicity as the simple acceptance of the Lord’s order without unnecessarily complicating matters. Doubts on the instructions of God comes from a duplicitous mind
Radhanath Swami narrates the story told by his guru Srila Prabhupada on simplicity. A young boy approached the great sage Gautam Rsi, for spiritual initiation. The sage replied he initiates people who are of higher castes and birth and therefore he would initiate the boy only if he knew who his father was. The boy then went home to ask his mother. She said she didn’t know because she was a prostitute and had relationships with many men. Therefore it was difficult for her to ascertain as to who the father of her son was. The boy went back to the sage and repeated what he had heard from his mother as it is. Gautam Rishi was pleased and said since the boy spoke the truth without hesitation, he was most well qualified and was from the highest caste, irrespective of the apparently lower birth.
“Being truthful and free from duplicity means we should abandon materialistic ambitions and politics and the tendency to say and do anything to get what we want” says Radhanath Swami. “Duplicity means thinking ends justifies the means and through this philosophy we may conquer the world but can never please God or his representatives.”
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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........
Very wonderful insight from HH Radhanath Swami which gives a crystal clear understanding on simplicity and duplicity.
View CommentNice description of simplicity and duplicity.
View CommentWonderful answer
View CommentSo mane wonderful lessons are taught by Swamiji in the short article….thanks
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for nice explaination
View CommentAll glories to HH Radhanatha Svami Maharaja
View CommentIn this age of Kali, its very rare to see a genuine sadhu like HH Radhanath Swami who preaches the message of God in the desciplic succession without any ulterior motives.
View CommentTrue! We have to be very careful of duplicitous and so-called sadhus. Real Sadhus are simple and humble who teach the truth.
View CommentRadhanath Swami very nicely explains the clear meaning of what is Simplicity and what is duplicity.The following statement by Radhanath Swami is very heart touching.He says that “the first qualification to practice spiritual life is simplicity. The Vedic scriptures define simplicity as the ability to lead a truthful life, free from any duplicity and hypocrisy. This truthfulness is so ingrained in a sincere person that he is willing to speak the truth even to an enemy. If we can have this standard of simplicity and freedom from duplicity, only then can we chant the holy names of God purely.”
View Commentsimplicity is one of the most pleasing quality because it attracts the Lord simplicity defines as the simple acceptance of the Lord’s order without unnecessarily complicating matters.“Duplicity means thinking ends justifies the means and through this philosophy we may conquer the world but can never please God or his representatives.”
View Comment““Duplicity means thinking ends justifies the means and through this philosophy we may conquer the world but can never please God or his representatives.”-eloquent essence.
View CommentGreat explanation by HH Radhanath Maharaj !!
View CommentWonderful article…….thanks
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami through this nice meditation warns us against the duplicitous followers of spirituality.
View CommentDuplicity never satisfy God. “Being truthful and free from duplicity means we should abandon materialistic ambitions and politics and the tendency to say and do anything to get what we want” says Radhanath Swami. “Duplicity means thinking ends justifies the means and through this philosophy we may conquer the world but can never please God or his representatives.”..Wonderful explanation..
View CommentThank you Radhanath swami
View Commentso well explained !!
View CommentSo much to learn from this post.
View CommentThank you for sharing this wonderful article :).
View CommentMaharaj says in this article that “We can never cheat others because the Supreme Lord in the heart is always watching every thought, word and action of ours. He surely records our intent and rewards us accordingly. ”
More often than not we forget the above fact and try to present a picture of ourselves which we are not to get some material or even some so called ‘spiritual’ benefits. However, if we are honest, we will definitely be gainers in the long run because the Lord is recording our intent and would reward us accordingly for our simplicity and honesty.
View CommentBeing honest can bring is in big trouble but at the same time it will reveal the true fact and save you from the greatest danger.
View CommentTo please lord and his representative we have to abide this quality of simplicity
The difference between simplicity and duplicity is nicely explained by HH Radhanath Swami.
View Comment“satyam eva jayate” Truth will be victorious. All glories to HH Radhanatha Svami Maharaja.
View CommentNice explaination by Maharaj of simplicity & duplicity.
View CommentThis article is very nicely and beautifully explained.
View CommentThe definition of Duplicity as given in the last para by Swamiji is so appropriate……..
View CommentVery nice explanation…
View CommentTrue spiritual leaders like Radhanath Swami are expert in diagnosing the problem and even curing it.
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami Maharaj has so nicely explained the quality of simplicity!
View CommentMost sublime principle of selfless service overcoming selfish interests is clearly coming out from this mediation of HH Radhanath Swami.
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami has very effectively emphasized the need of adopting simplicity & giving up duplicity for making spiritual progress.
View CommentAs HH Radhanath Swami nicely explains in this meditation, simplicity is the most natural quality of a devotee and easily attracts the mercy of Krishna.
View CommentSrimad Bhagavatam Ki Jai
View CommentVery wonderful article. Simplicity is one of the prime qualities of one trying to achieve spiritual perfection. Thank you so much Radhanath Swami Mh.
View CommentAs HH Radhanath Swami nicely meditates in this article, simplicity is the basic principle which attracts God.
View CommentTruly, the quality of simplicity is so divine that, it attracts all the living entities. The great saints like HH Radhanath Swami are the living examples of this fact.
View CommentSo much to live up to.
View CommentThank you very much for sharing the importance of simplicity through story. Thanks
View CommentThank you HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj for explaining what is meant to be simple with nice examples.
View Commentwonderful lecture by HH Radhanath Swami
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj has explained simplicity wonderfully in a simple way.Thank u Maharaj
View Comment“Being truthful and free from duplicity means we should abandon materialistic ambitions and politics and the tendency to say and do anything to get what we want” – HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai!
View CommentOnly then can we truly attract the mercy of the Lord and His devotees…
Thank you Radhanath Swami maharaj
View Commentthank you , will try to be truthful and simple, thank you for giving a clear understanding,
View CommentPowerful message.
View CommentSo much to learn from this post.
View Commentnicely explained by HH Radhanath Swami.
View CommentThank you very much HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj
View CommentEnd does not justify the means
View Commentvery interesting meditation by HH Radhanath Swami. We can not win the hearts of anyone without simplicity, what to speak of God.
View Comment