Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was shocked at Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Richard saw that the actual birth site of the Lord wasan abandoned mosque; a Moghul conqueror had built a mosque in the place where Lord Rama’s magnificent palace stood. Hindus and Muslims have ever since battled over the ownership of the land.
Here Richard saw military guards all over the site. Richard recalled the disputed Dome of the Rock, a sacred place for Muslims, Jews and Christians. Radhanath Swami writes in his memoir his realization of the hateful aggression in the name of religion also being a sad reality of this world. Richard ponderedover the essence of all religions being one; unconditional love and surrender to God. When people get blinded by the externals of religion, they have wars over religious designations
Radhanath Swami reveals that religion has both form and substance. The form is revealed by the way the members of the religious faith put on the robes, pray in a particular manner and perform certain rituals that are unique to their sect. However the substance is what determines the quality of the religion. The substance is the goal of the religious system. The form is useful to the extent it helps a practitioner achieve the substance. Radhanath Swami appeals to men and women of all religious faith to focus on the essence, rather than brood over the differences in the form of religion. As a practitioner of Vaishnava religion, Radhanath Swami says the substance of his religious system is not simply to know God but to develop love for God. If as spiritual students we forget this essence and focus only on the externals, we will eventually consider one religion to be superior or inferior to others. The fight over the external symbols of religion has led to riots, wars and more recently suicide bombings
Radhanath Swami points out that one of the common points in all religions is the call to chant the names of God with great love and affection for the Lord. If one sincerely chants the names of God, he or she would blossom to be become a wonderful person with all saintly qualities. Radhanath Swami gives the example from Vedic scriptures of one hunter named Mrigari who was so cruel that he derived sadistic pleasure in half killing animals. He was aggressive and violent and loved to see animals die in pain. A great devotee of the Lord, Narada felt pity on him and instructed him and guided him to chant the names of God. Mrgari’s heart and ways changed; he soon became an embodiment of compassion and was one of the most gentle and peaceful men. The holy names had dissolved all his hatred and anger. Radhanath Swami reveals how later when the saint Narada came to visit Mrgari, he was shocked to see the former hunter clear the path to make way for ants to crawl smoothly on the pathway. This is the transformational potency of one who sincerely chants the names of God.
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.
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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........
When we serve and follow the instructions of great acaryas like HH Radhanath Swami, then the essence of all religions will easily be understood.
View CommentRadhanath Swami truly understands the essence of all religions.
View CommentVery pertinent message of Radhanath Swami in today’s troubled times – “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.”
View CommentThanks for sharing.It is so important to know the essence
View CommentThis is a powerful way to see everyone in equal vision.
View CommentThe world needs to take on board this message so we can expect some peace.
View CommentThanks for sharing
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for bring out this essential understanding of variety & essence of religions.
View CommentVery nice explanation, God is One , although there are many religions and essence of all religions is Chanting of Holy names, may it be Krishna, Allah, Jehovah.
View CommentSo Nice. HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj ki Jai!!!
View CommentThe chanting of the holy names binds all the religions in common harmony.
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami words are worth more than anything in this world..
View CommentThanks for sharing
View Commentchanting the holy names of God is the essence of all religion…very beautifully portrayed by radhanath swami
View Commentbeautiful
View CommentChanting of lords names is our only hope :).
View CommentHe seems to be a saint focused on essence unlike many other fakes in India.He beautifully explains that the essence of all religions is to chant the holy names of God. I think, if we just stick to what he explained we can see a totally new world.
View CommentRadhanath 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-good solution for hatred based on externals.
View CommentAll religions talk of the Names of the Lord – Allah, Jehovah, Krishna, etc
View CommentThank you Radhanath swami for guiding the world from Chaos to peace
View Comment“The substance of religious system is not simply to know God but to develop love for God. If as spiritual students we forget this essence and focus only on the externals, we will eventually consider one religion to be superior or inferior to others. The fight over the external symbols of religion has led to riots, wars and more recently suicide bombings.” This is a perfect answer for all conflicts in the name of religion. Thank you very much Maharaj.
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami nicely explains the essence of all relgions in this meditation.
View CommentVery nice article!!!
View CommentHARE KRISHNA HARIBOL
View CommentThanks for sharing.
View CommentAs HH Radhanath Swami says, if we focus on chanting the holy names of God then all our differences will be automatically eliminated.
View CommentVery true.. Radhanath Swami had been sincerely seeking a true and bona-fide spiritual master and because of his sincerity only, Lord Krishna reciprocated.
View CommentThank you for sharing :).
View CommentA message that needs to be emphasized repeatedly so that we can really imbibe it in our lives.
View CommentIt is always nice to find a unifying principle amongst all religion.
View CommentVery nice article by Swamiji.
View Comment“However the substance is what determines the quality of the religion.”. People fighting in the names of religion don’t understand about the substance of all the religions. Radhanath Swami had been sincerely seeking a true and bona-fide spiritual master and because of his sincerity only, Lord Krishna reciprocated.
View CommentCompletely touching the heart. There is no difference between the holy name and person God. Chanting really purifies everyone. All glories to HH Radhanatha Svami Maharaja.
View CommentGreat saints like Radhanath Swami have so much faith on the holy names.
View CommentThank you Maharaj.
View CommentThanks for sharing the essence of all religion.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has so beautifully brought out the importance of focussing on essence of religion.
View CommentIt is said that if a mixture of milk and water is given to a swan, it drinks only the milk from it and water remains separated. It always seek the essence. Similarly Radhanath Swami is seeking essence from all religious paths and presenting before us as Loving service to God. Thank you very much.
View CommentThanks for getting us to the essence!
View CommentAll religion speaks of the glories of the Lord’s Names.
View CommentA constant reminder of where to find our actual shelter.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Ji Jai
View CommentBecause of focus on the form and neglecting the substance people have either rejected religion altogether or fight bitterly over it.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami. I am grateful to you for giving the essence of religion.
View CommentThe real transformational potency comes only through chanting, it is so nicely described in this article.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj has emphasized on the essence of religion, which is the most important thing, we should not be lost in this ritual or that but always focus and remember about the essence.
View CommentAs HH Radhanath Swami says, if we nurture our relationships with God as center all the differences will be removed and peace is automatically established.
View CommentIf only can everyone understand this essential principle how joyful this world would be….
View CommentAfter reading this article one’s view towards religion would surely change and one can understand that substance is more important than the form of religion. Very inspiring example of Mrigari who chanted Holy names of the Lord and trasformed his life. Thank you for this eye opening article.
View CommentHoly Names of the supreme lord is the only solution…Thanx a lot HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj
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