Meditations on The Journey Home – Lesson from Chapter 1
While attending Miami Dade College in Florida, Radhanath Swami, as nineteen year old Richard, had the passion for adventure. However, he soon noticed an overwhelming desire taking precedence over everything else in his heart: the desire for spirituality, and an inner quest for subtle realities. He reverentially chanted the sacred syllable Om and practiced Maharshi Mahesh Yogi’s mantra meditation techniques. Thus the seed of spiritual inclination was now slowly growing.
The Vedic teachings extol a human to seek a spiritual goal of life. This quest is a unique endowment of human beings in comparison to animals, who can’t think beyond the four needs of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. The dormant spiritual spark in all of us needs to be fanned, and we need to go beyond mere bodily needs.
Richard’s long hair and open expression of rebellion towards the norms of establishment attracted hatred from many. However, he felt it an honor to be persecuted for a noble ideal rather than ‘sell out’ to popular opinions or fashions of the society. Richard and his friends were disappointed with the temporal ambitions of the materialistic society in the 1960’s, and preferred to seek a deeper meaning to life.
The Vedic sayings assert that a human who refuses to search for inner meaning of life is no better than an animal. Richard’s desire to rise above mediocrity and live a life centered on a noble ideal is noteworthy. Crass animal pursuits by modern man have caused havoc in modern society. Men, due to their insatiable greed have degraded themselves to lower than animals, for an animal society doesn’t face scarcity of food caused by a member of the same species. Animals also do not face a threat of extinction created by other animals; it’s the humans who create artificial scarcity and threaten to destroy all life on this planet. Animals do not have addictions, insomnia or suicidal tendencies, a feature unique to a hedonistic human society.
During this time Richard also began to understand that to hate those who hated him was to share the same disease. He took part in a civil rights march in support of Dr Martin Luther King’s vision. His participation in the march was unique because a white boy had shown up for an Afro-American march, but the meeting almost turned violent when the speaker hurled abuses, incited hatred and revenge, and used Richard as a symbol of everything they despised. Richard escaped in time and later reflected on a passage, “If a person does not have an ideal he’s ready to die for, he has nothing really meaningful to live for.”
Whether it’s the Afro-Americans v/s the whites, or the hundreds of other ‘us’ v/s ‘them’ issues, cultivating hatred rather than love, while seeking justice, is a sad reality of modern times. Radhanath Swami often appeals that the major hunger problem in this world is the hunger to love and be loved. He is emphatic to declare that if we can tap this power of love within all of us, the world will not only be a better place to live in, but also we can have a higher degree of motivation to serve. His logic is simple; he asks, “Who will take care of a child more-a nurse who’s paid thousand dollars a week, or the mother who isn’t paid anything?” what’s the motivation for the mother vis-a vis the nurse? It’s love. He tirelessly appeals to the world to tap the power of forgiveness. “If there is to be any peace of mind or harmony in this world, forgiveness is absolutely crucial. If we cannot forgive, then there is no possibility of any relationships surviving at any level”, says Radhanath Swami.
Young Richard’s realizations grew with his spiritual quest, and from knowing that he shouldn’t hate those who hated him, he now shares a profound wisdom, “ If we understand the underlying cause of what we think of as bad in someone, instead of being hateful, we will be compassionate. For is not every soul inherently good? A saintly person will hate the disease but love the diseased.”
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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........
brilliant
View CommentNever thought earlier that any one exists on earth with such qualities.
View CommentWhen there is unhealthy competition, fear and hate arises. Maharaj said while glorifying Lord’s pastimes with His cowherd boyfriends that those boyfriends of Krsna would also compete but their mood will be to inspire others to outperform themselves. Following in the footsteps maharaj replied brilliantly to a devotee.
Devotee: Maharaj during this marathon we are planning to distribute 1 lac mahabig books. What should be our prayer to Lordships?
Maharaj: Pray that we may distribute 1 lac books but also pray that may our score be the lowest of all temples. Let all other temples distribute more than 1 lac books.
Maharaj’s above words reflect the thinking, feeling and willing of a non envious soul in its original pure state. He perfectly portrays the mood of genuine well-wisher.
View CommentThis is the one I will never forget
View Comment“Hatred paralyses life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”
Radhanath Swami is teaching this by his example. Thank you very much for this post.
http://www.radhanathswamiweekly.com
View CommentRadhanath Swami is a Saint by birth who has come to show the way to achieve perfection in this lifetime. He shows how mind could trick a person and trap him in his clutches. By freeing oneself by not coming under influence of the mind one can forgive others even if he is abused by them. Radhanath Swami always says ones greatness is estimated by how he tolerates provoking situations.
View CommentThe best line I liked is “A saintly person will hate the disease but love the diseased.” – WOW
View CommentIt’s not easy to go beyond the externals. When we perceive envy, hatred, anger, and similar bad things against us, we immediately become affected. The message reveals the need for us to see beyond; to see the all good soul affected and covered by material disease. I hope to keep this lesson close to my heart so that I may see beyond and thus may become compassionate instead of hateful.
View CommentReally its true – major hunger problem in this world is the hunger to love and be loved
View Comment“If we understand the underlying cause of what we think as bad in someone we would be compassionate rather than hateful” :-
View CommentTHis is what one would think of himslef when others think of him as bad but to think this about someone else’s behavior shows that Radhanath swami has real insight and deep concern towards others.
Every soul is inherently good. If we can only remember this 24 x 7 our minds would be freed from hate. Hare Krishna.
View CommentVery True. Thanks for the insight.
View CommentWhole life goes in these activities – here is friend, here is enemy.
We usually spend more time on cultivating wrong desires for enemies than loving relationships with friends …in the end hurting ourselves more than anyone else
All this is simply a game mind! Only way out is when we engage our mind in hearing and understanding from saintly persons like Radhanath Swami
View Commentmaharaj! in ur book there are some sensitive situation in ur life and how u handle them with so much of grace and intelligence.ITS NOT ORDINARY!
View CommentSincere thanks to young Richard who got immense realisations to become a powerful devotee of Lord Krishna in future……….
View CommentLove is really most powerful force in this world which can do amazing things. It’s interesting how basis for all our needs is this single need to love and be loved. Still we hate others. Whatever you give, you get…
View Comment“If a person does not have an ideal he’s ready to die for, he has nothing really meaningful to live for.”
View CommentWow, this one made me pause….the statement has such depth!
Very inspiring realisations of Radhanath Swami…….great
View CommentA great soul never sees faults of others. We read Jesus Christ and Haridasa Thakura humiliated but never tried to take revenge on them. Now we are seeing directly the same quality in Radhanath Swami.All glories to Radhanath Swami.
View CommentThe faults in others become more obvious to us than the good qualities. Also hate spurs within a moment in the heart which so difficult to get rid of. Had it not been for the guidance & teachings of sadhus like Radhanath Swami, I would practically live the life of an animal.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s book THE JORNEY HOME and the subsequent teachings are so inspiring……..
View CommentWorth the time to read these notes!
View CommentRadhanath Swami says that every soul inherently good. Therefor a saintly person will not hate anyone, rather will love one and all
View CommentRadhanath Swami truly practices what he preaches and hence loves every one and all who come in contact with him.
View Commentthis one is just too good and is one of my favourites, haribol, bhakti
View Commentits just brilliant, HHRM ki Jai, thanks for sharing, rajesh karia
View Commentexcellent article, just wonderful to read, rajesh karia
View Commentvery correctly said a spiritually elevated person will hate the disease but love the diseased, HHRM ki Jai! bhakti
View CommentImagine what would happen if GOD hated us for our shortcomings. To love all means to be one with the quality of GOD to treat all equally and lovingly.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for opening my eyes to this facet of life.
So true. Major hunger problem in this world is the hunger for love. Thanks maharaj for this beautiful post. Moreover hatred is not the solution , its a problem in general. So why hate and create more problems in our life.
View Comment“If we understand the underlying cause of what we think of as bad in someone, instead of being hateful, we will be compassionate.” Pray to to imbibe this divine quality one day.
View CommentDuring this time Richard (H H Radhanath Swami) also began to understand that to hate those who hated him was to share the same disease—such a wonderful understanding.HH Radhanath Swami ki jai
View CommentNice.
View CommentAdvantageously, the post is in reality the sweetest on this deserving topic. I harmonise with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your coming updates. Just saying thanks will not just be enough, for the wonderful clarity in your writing. I will immediately grab your rss feed to stay abreast of any updates. Good work and much success in your business efforts!
View Comment“Radhanath Swami often appeals that the major hunger problem in this world is the hunger to love and be loved.” What an amazing realization Radhanath Swami has within his deep heart.
View CommentThanks Maharaj, in your book there are such an sensitive matter that really touches my heart and give an inspiration and motivational to practice sincerly the spiritual path
View CommentRadhanath Swami has nicely spoken about peace formula for better relations.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami to teach us these sublime principles. Hatred is so deep rooted..
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for sharing this higher perspective with us.
View CommentThis article is wonderful. Thank you radhanath swami
View CommentI FOUND THE ARTICLE INTERESTING
View CommentWhen we hear of vedic principles they seem very lofty…we may wonder how people practised these…the main difference today is the lack of teachers…not PhDs in sanskrit, but those who live by these principles and hence make it practical for common man to follow…very rare is to find such genuine teachers like Radhanath Swami…
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for tirelessly inspiring millions of love-starved humans to tap this great power within themselves and hence make this world a better place.
View Commentthe desire for spirituality, and an inner quest for subtle realities.–Modern education no doubt is a spiritual slaughter house.
View CommentHH Radhanath Maharaj teaches us how to have the correct approach towards bad experiences.
View CommentA saintly person will hate the disease but love the diseased – the hallmark of a great soul – to be compassionate to all living beings!
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