For no apparent reason, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) had an urge to walk from Swayambhunath to Kathmandu. As he walked along the paddy fields, it began to drizzle. He saw a man carrying an umbrella over his head. Richard scurried along in hope of sharing his umbrella. Richard struggled to keep himself under the umbrella and after ten minutes, he offered thanks to the stranger. As their eyes met, both were thunderstruck and their mouths dropped open, and their eyes filled with tears. It was Gary from whom Richard had sadly parted on the isle of Crete. Both agreed that nobody would believe this story of incredible reunion, thousands of miles across, in an isolated rice paddy in Nepal.
Radhanath Swami writes, “We were childhood friends but got separated by destiny, and today that invisible puppeteer had once again pulled us together.”
Later Richard (now Radhanath Swami) saw the place where Gary stayed; a little structure where rock and roll music blared, men and women danced seductively, and opium pipes passed abundantly. Richard took Gary aside and pleaded with him to give up this hippie culture, at least while in this land of spirituality. Richard reasoned Gary was doing the same old things in a different setting. Richard then begged Gary to travel with him to holy places and learn the life of a sadhu. Gary agreed and bid goodbye to his friends.
As Richard convinced Gary to abandon the hippie culture, Radhanath Swami too, often says that human beings could do well to abandon lower pleasures and seek real spiritual bliss. He reasons that human life is very rare and a precious gift of God because only humans have been bestowed with the wonderful and fertile intelligence to seek divine enlightenment. Therefore it behooves humans to seek spirituality. Radhanath Swami quotes his guru who repeatedly implored that animals on the other hand are busy with eating, sleeping, mating and defending, and can’t go beyond these basic necessities. If in the human life, our ambitions are restricted to these pleasures, Radhanath Swami’s guru exclaims, “then we are no better than animals.”
Talking about animals I can’t help comparing humans with animals. Compared to animals, humans have no extraordinary external ability; their bodies are soft and vulnerable, they are not particularly fleet-footed and they can do little to camouflage themselves when in danger. And yet humans stand far above all other species. A puny human can tame a massive elephant and encage a ferocious lion. How? Undoubtedly it is the advanced human intelligence. Empowered by their intelligence, humans have subjugated all the lower species. Not only that, humans have also build civilizations, developed cultures, devised languages, written literatures, come up with fine arts, inquired into metaphysics and advanced in science and technology. Strangely enough, in the modern times, by that same intelligence, humans have created weapons of mass destruction, which threaten to wipe out all life on the planet. Furthermore by that same intelligence, humans have developed perverted ideologies, by which they foster animosity and hatred for others of their own species. William James states in The Atlantic, “Man, biologically considered and whatever else he may be, is simply the most formidable of the beasts of prey, and, indeed, the only one that preys systematically on its own species.” This then is the strange irony of the present condition of humanity: the very source of protection for the human race – its advanced intelligence – is threatening to become its cause of destruction.
Radhanath Swami reveals the cause of this degeneration of human intelligence as our preoccupation to improve the four basic necessities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. Radhanath Swami further says that human intelligence is meant for a purpose far loftier than searching for better ways of obtaining bodily pleasures. Equipped with their special intelligence, humans are meant to probe into the deepest mysteries of life, and achieve the fullness of a relationship with the Supreme consciousness. Radhanath Swami’s words of wisdom echo in the innermost recesses of my soul, “Only in the human body does the soul have the intelligence to penetrate the superficial world of matter and perceive the spiritual energy within the cosmos. Humans alone can harmonize themselves not only with the cosmic energies, but also with the Supreme Energetic Person, who is the source and the basis of the cosmos.”
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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........
Amazing story of reunion.
View CommentWhat Radhanath Swami is saying here is a true fact and can be seen practically everywhere. As the scriptures say, unless human beings inquire about higher aspects of life they will be no better than two-legged animals.
View Commenthmmm. great thought. i’ve talked to ppl about this. but they seem to be uninterested in these talks. anyways. i hv to be on my way to realise god
View CommentVery powerful reminder from Radhanath Swami that
View Comment““Only in the human body does the soul have the intelligence to penetrate the superficial world of matter and perceive the spiritual energy within the cosmos. Humans alone can harmonize themselves not only with the cosmic energies, but also with the Supreme Energetic Person, who is the source and the basis of the cosmos.”
Most of the times we do not take human life seriously & waste it in acquiring animal comfort of life.
By the lord’s arrangement, Radhanath swami met his long lost friend. How they met is really a miracle.
View CommentThis is a very fundamental thought that one should ponder upon. But the attachments and the other material pleasures of this world covers up the mind of a person so badly that one forgets these fundamental concepts so easily. Radhanath Swami through his book has again brought this to light.
View CommentThe book is amazing – Hats off to Radhanath Swami…
very nice lesson learnt here
View CommentAll GLories To.H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
What an amazing anecdote.It cannot be more easier than this to understand the purpose of life
Hare Krishna
View CommentAll GLories To.H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Great Anecdote
Hare Krishna
View Commenthumans without god consciousness is not less than a polished animal in a sophisticated world,
View CommentWonderful explanation by Radhanath Swami of how humans, by their superior intelligence over animals, is able to conquer the animal who are superior by physical strength. But that’s not the purpose of human life and its intelligence. The purpose is really loftier than this one and that is “Know about yourself, God and your relation with God”.
View CommentRadhanath Swami shows us what true friendship is & how it should be maintained always !
View Commentbeautiful explanation of value of human life. Thank you Radhanath Swami
View Commentnice article with true understanding of the significance of the human species, regards, rajesh karia
View Commentvery nicely explained by HHRM that one must give up bodily pleasures and serve for a higher purpose, haribol, bhakti
View CommentThis instance gives a glimse that Radhanath Swami’s life and pastimes were orchastrated by the Lord in mysterious ways.
View CommentThe statement one is no better than animals if his life’s activities are restricted to eating,sleeping,mating and defending is an eye opener.
View CommentHuman life is very precious and can give us opportunity to get the highest, however if we become misers and only run after animalistic pleasures, we waste this once in a zillion chance!!!
View CommentHuman life is a rare gift, which we realise only when we get the association of God Conscious people.
View CommentHuman life is a life of great responsibility, but in today’s materialistic, selfish world humans demonstrate the highest irresponsibility.
View CommentThankyou Maharaj
View CommentMaharaj had clearly explained the real prerogative of human life knowing which one can attain the highest perfection. Thanks for sharing this wondeerful meditation.
View CommentAmazing article.
View CommentWhat a story,everytime u read or go thru a para of Journey Home,u feel like u should read it all over again !
View CommentMaharaj has beautifully summarized the meaning of Human life…to seek diving enlightenment. If we dont understand this meaning, we are animals. Hari Bol!
View CommentRadhanath Swami is correct that human life is special because out of all the species that exist on earth, only humans have the superior intelligence to contemplate rationally about the purpose of our existence and to dwell on the God’s divine power & our relation with Him.
View Commentthnks maharaj!
View Commenthuman intelligence is meant for a purpose far loftier than searching for better ways of obtaining bodily pleasures- H H Radhanath swami
View CommentThank you very much for sharing this wonderful article!!!
View CommentRadhanath Swami maharaj’s message from Fox News: –
View CommentEveryone is looking for pleasure. Whatever sex or nationality or religion or even species, everyone is looking for pleasure. And the essence of pleasure is to love and to be loved. And that pleasure is dormant within the heart of every living being. And to access that love within us is the true fulfillment that we’re all looking for, it’s the purpose of every great religion, to seek the essence within ourselves, our relationship with God and our relationships with all living beings. And to be an instrument of compassion is the greatest need in this world. And to go beyond sectarian concepts and really search for the essence within our self is where we can find true peace, true fulfillment and be an instrument of that to others. And we believe that chanting divine sound vibrations or mantras helps us to awaken and access that source of love that’s within all of us.
Human should use his intelligence to raise above the platfrom of basic Animal instincts and to connect with the transcendence.
View CommentThanks for the article
how nicely explain how today’s society is diverting towards animal life so we have to be very cautious.
View CommentIt’s very amazing story.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for revealing the positive alternative to make use of human life and intelligence.
View CommentYes, so many people eulogize courageous acts motivated by the animal instincts in man. But this is just like eulogizing a sophisticated animal.
View CommentVery nice article. Thank you very much for sharing the same.
View CommentHuman life is meant for self realisation. H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s life is an ideal example and people should try to understand this.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has so aptly pointed out the difference between human beings and animals and also explained the purpose of human life. We as human beings are fortunate to have got this body and should understand our reponsibility and not misuse it. There is nothing more unfortunate than that.
View CommentRadhanath Swami comes straight to the core. While everyone recognizes that human intelligence is far greater and advanced than that of animals, Radhanath Swami is quick to point out that it is not just the advanced intelligence per se that make us humans superior; rather it is simply a wasted opportunity if humans do not use that intelligence to probe deeper into the mysteries of life.
View CommentOnly in the human body does the soul have the intelligence to penetrate the superficial world of matter and perceive the spiritual energy within the cosmos….wondeful realization..because as Lord says in Bhagavat Gita..Human life is meant for self realization..thanks Radhanath Swami
View CommentOnly in the human body does the soul have the intelligence to penetrate the superficial world of matter and perceive the spiritual energy within the cosmos. Thank you maharaj.
View CommentRadhanath swami beautifully teaches deeper truths thru incidents in life.
View Commentmaharaj exhibits the teachings of lord chataniya to give mercy of lords love to everyone no matter what that person must be.he pleaded and forced his friend out of that miserable place and took him to divine place.jai…jai
View CommentThank u
View CommentMaharaj explains nicely about the real goal of human life. Thanks for sharing.. JAI !!!
View CommentVery nice. Thank you for sharing.
View Comment“Only in the human body does the soul have the intelligence to penetrate the superficial world of matter and perceive the spiritual energy within the cosmos. Humans alone can harmonize themselves not only with the cosmic energies, but also with the Supreme Energetic Person, who is the source and the basis of the cosmos.” very very touching and powerful statement. thank you Radhanath Swami for enlightening the specialty of human life.
View CommentOne must take shelter of a realized soul like HH Radhanath Swami who can make one realize the supreme goal of the human form of life, which would otherwise degenerate into animalistic way of living.
View Commentso much is the importance of the human form of life as explained in this meditation, otherwise the tendency is to take up the life very casually. thank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj for the instructions.
View CommentI appreciate the author’s ability to recall Radhanath Swami’s priceless messages….
View Comment