While in Patna Richard (now Radhanath Swami)’s friend Narayan Prasad took him to meet his Muslim friend Mohammed. Mohammed was born a Hindu but had later converted to Islam. Richard had lengthy discussions with him about the parallels of the Bhagavad Gita, Bible and the Koran. In his dialogue with Mohammed, Richard could begin to feel that mercy of God flows through each of the great scriptures, saints, and religions in a special way. Richard was becoming more and more aware that no matter what one’s path and no matter how narrow it became, in broadest terms, sincere devotion to God was the only way to overcome the strife and division of the world.
Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was also surprised that Narayan Prasad had so much affection for someone from another religion in a country where there is so much conflict between the two. Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was amazed by Narayan Prasad’s answer, and hasn’t forgotten it till date. “
“A dog will recognize his master in whatever way he dresses. The master may dress in robes, suit and tie, or stand naked, but the dog will always recognize his master. If we cannot recognize God, our beloved master, when he comes in a different dress from another religion, then we are less than that dog.”
Radhanath Swami’s fans include Christians, Muslims and people from many other faiths as well. I once attended a programme where Radhanath Swami spoke about two aspects of all religions. He said all religions have an exoteric, external aspect and an esoteric or internal aspect. Radhanath Swami revealed that most religious practitioners focus fanatically on the exoteric aspects such as rituals, institutions and mindsets, which often differ according to time, place and culture. These superficial religionists are often unaware of the essence of the religion they follow. Due to this ignorance they tend to become sentimental or fundamentalist and have internecine conflicts, riots and crusades. When we dig through the misconceptions, misinterpretations and mistakes that have over the centuries obscured the essential truths of all religions, we will find that these core principles are consistently identical. Radhanath Swami has time and again presented this essence in his talks and meetings. In many of his talks Radhanath Swami focuses on the following points, and I doubt if a person from any other religion would disagree with these:
1. God is the Supreme Father of all living beings and He is the Supreme Owner and Controller of everything.
2. We are accountable for all our actions to God. If we encroach upon the property of God or the rights of the other children of God, we will in time get an appropriate reaction as per the laws of God.
3. We are spirit souls, eternal children of God and our real happiness is not in material acquisition, but in spiritual realization, in lovingly harmonizing ourselves with nature and God.
4. We can easily and effectively achieve this harmony and the resulting highest happiness by chanting the holy names of God-Krishna, Rama, Allah, Christ, Jehovah or any other name as stated in the authorized religious scriptures.
Radhanath Swami’s stand has been that when people harmonize themselves with these essential principles of their respective religions, then they will be able to celebrate spiritual unity amidst religious diversity.
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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........
Wonderful pst. Please post this wonderful post in the newspaper so our great leaders can understand the importance of maintaining the harmony amongst different religion. Thanks Maharaj.
View CommentAs Radhanath Swami Maharaj says, the followers of the most religion focus on the exoteric principles of religion rather than esoteric ones. And this is the cause of so much chaos.
This is really true and can be observerd all over the world, however, in India many generations before independence lived together despite being followers of different religions. So this also proves the statement by Radhanath Swami Maharaj that “when people harmonize themselves with these essential principles of their respective religions, then they will be able to celebrate spiritual unity amidst religious diversity”
View CommentFighting in the name of religion has spoiled the whole atmosphere of the world. The leaders should understand the essence and fight against lack of god consciousness, not against different forms of god consciousness.
View Comment@Renuka
Very true. and a very good Idea to let our leaders know the way to establish communal harmony.
View Commentvery inspiring blog
View Comment@ Renuka : I agree with you …
View CommentMoreover our great leaders must also associate with HH Radhanath Swami as well so that they will understand their true duty as a leader …
Radhanath Swami’s statement will bring peace among all the religion. Thanks a ton, Radhanath Swami
View CommentThis is a truly stunning statement. Surely Radhanath Swami has realized it and is preaching further and higher truths.
View Commentwonderful explaination
View CommentSimply amazing and is the immediate need of the society
View Comment“A dog will recognize his master in whatever way he dresses”!
True saints are able to perceive Lord in every thing around them, hence they are not so much caught up with externals and able to get to the essence. Those who whorship the Lord on superficial level and usually with ulterior motives, never bother to go deeper and understand the essence. They then use banner of religion to satisfy all ill-desires…thus causing chaos in the society…
View CommentThanks for posting the common aspects in all religion.
View Commentvery nicely narrated in the book about the oneness of all religions, thanks for the article, bhakti
View Commentit is them most important aspect of life to reslise that GOD is the Supreme father of all living beings and the overall controller of everything, haribol, rajesh karia
View CommentGod in his spiritual identity is one and the same person for all religions. Yet the external aspects of each religion make people believe that god is differnet. It is common sense that there could be only one master mind one creator of this entire cosmic creation. How can there be more than one. It is just that we know him with different names. Why to divide ourselves on the basis of external aspects of caste creed and religion. It is foolishness.
View Comment“A dog will recognize his master in whatever way he dresses” . The most important thing is to become that faithful dog of God.
View CommentThe Highest understanding ever! Hope this helps reduce fanatisism….
View CommentIt is so true that people are maximizing the differences based on the externals and fanning communal tensions. More people should read the articles by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj and/or listen to his lectures and understand the commonalities of various religions such as chanting the Holy names.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has a deep understanding of what true religion means. He is indeed a ‘Sara grahi’, one who is able to extract the cardinal essence from anything. This kind of understanding of religion is quintessential in this age, to overcome all the strife based on religious diversity.
View CommentOne God concept will satisfy all religoins.The example of dog identifying his master is highly illustrative.Our political and executive leaders should be taught this basic knowledge.(an example of dog)Thanks for sharing.
View CommentBeautiful thought – the dog will always recognise his master no matter what form he comes to him in. So the real spiritualist / seeker will recognise all different forms of God and still be able to recognise him. Jai!
View Commentvery ice points summarizing the core of all religions
View Commentvery nice points summarizing the core of all religions
View CommentReligion in truest sense is never the cause of rites. Very apptly maharaj makes it clear that strife an dtension amongst religious groups because we tend to overlook the common thread of spiritual oneness amongst all living beings and focus on external rituals and take them seriously
View CommentH H Radhanath swami has this wonderful ability to explain the most complicated occurences around in a very basic manner. Thank you for sharing this nice article
View CommentFormula for “spiritual unity amidst religious diversity”
View Commentsuch a nice explanation given by Maharaj on religion.
View Commentsimply wonderful……The dog will recognise his master anywhere,anytime..If only citizens of this world understood this ,the world would be a far more peaceful place to reside in.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is the other name of universal brotherhood and love.
View CommentMaharaj thank you for sharing this knowledge. this is god conciousness . i like the quote of the master n the dog who will recognize his master any how.Wonderful. Hari bol .
View Commentsince the father is one so the teaching has be same let it be any man made religion
View CommentThere is a drastic need in the society today to understand the common threads in all appearantly different religions. Realize God as the common father which alone can give rise to the universal brotherhood, peace and happiness which everyone is looking for. Thank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj for the dog analogy and all encompasing teachings about true religion.
View CommentA dog will recognize his master in whatever way he dresses.What a profound explaination.
View CommentIf only can we realize that we are the sons of the same father how different would be this world. Thank you maharaj.
View Commentits inspiring to me
View CommentVery nice explaination given by Maharaj on religion.
View CommentI must prove my religion is better than yours at whatever cost, sounds familiar .But deep down the message is the same right across of Love and service to the Lord, the problem is with the so called caretakers, who think are the rightful owners. To cross over from this line of thought requires stripping false ego. Radhanath Swami’s book the Journey Home is an oasis from which anyone can drink and quench their thirst.
View CommentEveryone is commonly living on earth, breathing commonly the same air, eating that is growing from the earth, having so many common factors. Radhanath Swami now clearly showing the common sentiments in each religion. But each one is in different level of the same ultimatum.i everyb ody is guided properly by person like Radhanath swami, then there is no disagreement in pleasing God. all glories to Radhanath Swami.
View CommentTo use religion to suit one’ end does not render it useless. Religion is created by GOD, and if humans misuse it, let us not blame GOD. Thank you Radhanath Swami for your explanations.
View CommentGreat lesson taught by Radhanath Swami
View CommentIf all political leaders are become disciples of people like HH Radhanath Swami then this world will become peaceful and divine love spread all over.
View Commentwe must love God by praying together.thanks to Radhanath Swami
View CommentVary nice articles to unify worlds religions
View CommentJai Gurudev!!
Maharaj is so perfect in his teachings.. these are for all irrespective of his background.. thanks for sharing these insights.. JAI !!!
View CommentThe society is need of more and more people like Radhanath Maharaj who have uderstood the esssence of all religions and are presenting the same in an unadulterated manner.
View CommentH.H.Radhanath Swami’s life is full of profound realizations.
View CommentRadhanath Swami gives a wonderful solution in a strife torn world — Sincere devotion to God was the only way to overcome the strife and division of the world.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has given very points for all of us to consider and understand that all religious principles lead to glorifying the same Supreme Lord!
View CommentVery inspiring and uniting article
View CommentRadhanath Maharaj ki Jai
View Comment