Meditations on The Journey Home – Lesson from Chapter 1
Richard and Gary often visited bookstores and glanced through various books for inspirational passages. One day Richard found a book that taught lessons on playing Harmonica, a musical instrument that Richard poured his soul into. Since he couldn’t afford to buy the book, he was tempted to steal, and carefully slipped it under his vest. Gary approved of the theft and later showed his own prized possession of a carved wooden crucifix of Jesus. Richard was upset that Gary had stolen from the Church, a house of God. Gary argued back that Richard had been a hypocrite because he too had stolen a book, and was now preaching on the virtue of honesty. Later Richard reflected on a lesson he had learnt that evening, “I’m a hypocrite. Was it not hypocrites that nailed Jesus to that crucifix? How dishonest it is to preach but not practice.”
Radhanath Swami’s personal preference for practice over preaching has inspired thousands of men to dedicate their lives for a spiritual purpose. Once a student complained to Radhanath Swami about a few members in the monastery who had become irregular and lenient in their spiritual practices. Radhanath Swami took the blame on himself. He said since he was the teacher of the ashram residents, he should be setting highest standards and promised to be stricter with himself. The complaining student’s protest fell on deaf ears as Radhanath Swami, despite his sixty plus years and ill health, daily attended all the rigorous spiritual services, beginning at four in the morning. He was already a regular participant but now extended his services for a longer period. Once despite a high fever, the Swami attended the morning japa, meditation session, with all other members. A friend of Radhanath Swami burst out, “Why don’t you take some rest and chant your prayers later when you are healthier?” Radhanath Swami spontaneously expressed, “I am here chanting prayers because I need this association for my spiritual purification. I want to be with other devotees.” The illusion of many that he was attending to teach others a lesson on strictness was shattered. He is not practicing spiritual discipline to teach others; he’s convinced it’s for his own development. That’s a real teacher- not conscious of sermonizing others, rather accepting the teachings for one’s own spiritual growth and enlightenment.
Radhanath Swami often guards his students on accepting superior positions, and instructing others beyond our level of realization. He warns that God will test us for all the lofty principles we teach. We will be put into challenging situations and then practicing what we preach will be difficult. His advice, “Don’t speak beyond your level of realization, and be honest.” He however implores us to rise beyond honesty and attain a high level of integrity. The difference- the former refers to telling what we do, while the latter is doing what we tell. Thus integrity requires us to work hard and raise our spiritual standards.
Radhanath Swami requests us to be careful of two contaminating influences of modern times- quarrel and hypocrisy; when we come together we quarrel over trifles, and when we are alone our hypocrisy is exposed. These negative influences can be overcome if we are humble and consider ourselves as servants of God and all living beings. We should be conscious of our own faults and never take a holier than thou position. Once a student asked what in the Swami’s opinion the greatest sin in the world was. Radhanath Swami replied, “When we self righteously see others as sinners we are sinning ourselves.” “But we can see some are indeed sinful”, challenged the student, “and they are doomed to suffer, both in this life and next. Aren’t we supposed to be compassionate on them, as we are better situated?” Radhanath Swami’s sagacity shone forth like the mid-day sun, “We can’t be compassionate ourselves, but rather strive to be the instruments of Lord’s compassion. We may be presently more fortunate than them but we are certainly not better than anyone. If those wayward men and women are to seek a spiritual path, they would leave us all far behind. They are certainly more glorious but aren’t aware of a spiritual purpose of life. Pray for them and be humble.”
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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........
“We can’t be compassionate ourselves, but rather strive to be the instruments of Lord’s compassion. We may be presently more fortunate than them but we are certainly not better than anyone. If those wayward men and women are to seek a spiritual path, they would leave us all far behind. They are certainly more glorious but aren’t aware of a spiritual purpose of life. Pray for them and be humble.”
What profound words! I’ll meditate on these for a few days. Radhanath Swami Maharaja’s new book “The Journey Home” is full of such deep insights.
View CommentI really like the fresh perspective you did on the issue. Really was not expecting that when I started off studying. Your concepts were easy to understand that I wondered why I never looked at it before. Glad to know that there’s an individual out there that definitely understands what he’s discussing. Great job.
View Comment“Don’t speak beyond your level of realization, and be honest.” I love this.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s realizations are straight from the heart and hence they influence the reader.
View CommentRadhanath Swami requests us to be careful of two things quarrel and hypocrisy. When we come together we quarrel over small things and when we are alone we tend to act hypocritically.
View CommentNice and powerful messages.
View CommentWe may be presently more fortunate than them but we are certainly not better than anyone. If those wayward men and women are to seek a spiritual path, they would leave us all far behind. They are certainly more glorious but aren’t aware of a spiritual purpose of life. Pray for them and be humble.”—so true maharaj has said —
View Commentand also maharaj has pointed out- how god will test us for all the lofty principles we teach.that we should not spaek beyond our realisations and we should be honest.
So many valuable lessons to be learned from one article:
I am here chanting prayers because I need this association for my spiritual purification.
Don’t speak beyond your level of realization, and be honest.
Rise beyond honesty and attain a high level of integrity.
Be careful of two contaminating influences of modern times- quarrel and hypocrisy – can be overcome if we are humble and consider ourselves as servants of God and all living beings.
We should be conscious of our own faults and never take a holier than thou position.
We can’t be compassionate ourselves, but rather strive to be the instruments of Lord’s compassion.
If those wayward men and women are to seek a spiritual path, they would leave us all far behind. They are certainly more glorious but aren’t aware of a spiritual purpose of life. Pray for them and be humble.
Thank you, Radhanath Swami.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s compassion is really a kind of shelter which is exposed to everyone even to those who are not devotees today, but may become so if they come in contact with him.
View CommentNice article!!!
View Comment“Pray for them and be humble.”-such a wonderful solution to stop criticism.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is teaching that honesty should be practiced but even more important is integrity. And very clearly the difference is defined. In short, don’t preach beyond your realization, but don’t stop sincere efforts to learn, understand and realize deeper and deeper.
View CommentAs Radhanath Swami points out, we sadhakas need to follow what we preach. In fact one day Premnidhi Prabhu told me that better we preach strictness and then we ourselves will be forced to follow what we preach because preacher always in the public eye.
View CommentHello there, I just wanted to say how great this blog is!
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for exposing the tendency to find faults in others and giving us a practical way of dealing with it.
View CommentAmazing!
View Commentoutstanding article…..
View Commentthank you very much
Such honest and pure hearted souls are becoming incresingly rare in the world we live in.
View CommentVery nice article. I like Maharajah’s advise
View Comment“Don’t speak beyond your level of realization, and be honest.”
Thank you Maharajah.
One finger may be pointing out but three are pointing back.
View Commentoutstanding article…..
View Commentthank you very much
Amazing book by Radhanath Swami. So many things to learn from Radhanath Swami
View CommentThanks Radhanath Swami for bringing out the danger of quarrel and hypocrisy
View Comment“We should be conscious of our own faults and never take a holier than thou position” says Radhanath Swami. He is a perfect example of this principle as he never takes a superior position over others inspite of leading thousands of dedicated followers and is always unassuming and unwilling to take any credit for what he has done.
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