In a remote forest at the Pokhara valley, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) meets Gary again, in an incredible reunion. Gary had been sleeping on the moving bus and just as he opened his eyes, he caught a glimpse of the headlights momentarily flashing on Richard as he was climbing down a cliff. Gary screamed out for the bus to stop and jumped out, in the middle of nowhere. Amongst millions of people in a huge country, the two friends met coincidentally for the second time. Both agreed unanimously that no one will ever believe this.
This wasn’t the last time in the lives of Richard and Gary that such an unbelievable coincidence took place. Seventeen years later in 1988, Richard who had now become Radhanath Swami looked into an open telephone directory at a roadside phone booth at Malibu Beach. He noticed Gary Liss’s name and sure enough meets him there.
When I first read the ‘Journey Home’, a seed of doubt entered my mind; how can something so fantastic take place. It could happen once, but thrice in the lives of two people was far out to me. I thought this was the height of mysticism and coincidence. My doubts vanished when I met Gary two years ago. When Uncle Gary, as he is popularly called by Radhanath Swami’s students and friends, came to Mumbai, I was stunned by his personality; he is a handsome, well-built old man in his early sixties but appears to have the spirit of an adventurous youth. He spoke in an emotion choked voice, tears streaming down his face, “This is an incredible act of grace on me that God has given me a friend like Radhanath Swami. Everything he writes in his book is absolutely true. I still can’t believe it. It’s God’s unbelievable blessing on me.”
I also reflected later that spiritual journeys are different from the daily humdrum of our material lives. Radhanath Swami’s life has been one spiritual experience after another, where God has been arranging amazing lessons and experiences in his life. Considering his extraordinary life, his meeting Gary is another evidence of God’s grace upon one of His dear most children. I can only marvel and rejoice at being given the rare fortune to witness these kinds of friendships, even in this mortal world. As Gary and Radhanath Swami spoke that evening I pinched myself repeatedly to assure that this isn’t a dream, but a reality that I am being blessed to witness.
Even if we disregard the divinity aspect of this astounding reunion, it is still a plausible story, for I can now recollect many such examples that I have been hearing since school days. Ten years ago I heard about two ladies Ferne Hare and Moyca Christy who met each other after sixty three years. They were both friends while graduating from the Phoneix Union High school in 1937. Finally in the year 2000, the two eighty plus old ladies met in a dramatic reunion. And they even joked that it’s hard to be nostalgic when you can’t remember anything. Elyse and Paula are another classic case of twins separated at birth. One lands up in Paris and the other was in Yale. Finally they met thirty five years later. I also read about Avi Lavi who narrowly survived the Nazi holocaust and prayed daily to meet his separated sister Erna, and sixty years later they met, in yet another incredible story that happens in this material world. For more such coincidences documented one can check out http://www.metafilter.com/43331/Incredible-but-true-coincidences.. Besides Alan Vaughan’s ‘Incredible Coincidence’ and Vikas Khatri’s ‘136 incredible coincidences’ are a rich source of astonishing and entertaining stories where we could see this world in a much different light.
Of course I understand the story of Radhanath Swami and Gary is much different from the stories I had known before. Radhanath Swami is a seeker of God and in his case God personally arranges events and people, for a loving, wealthy father personally supervises the needs of his dear child. Radhanath Swami and Gary have given me hope in the power of divine.
Table of Contents
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........
While reading the book The Journey Home, this was easily the most astounding event in Radhanath Swami’s life. And this happened two more times! 3 times cant be a coincidence.
View CommentYes i also agree that the life of Radhanath swami maharaj is full of interesting and we can learn so many valuable learning from his life after reading his book.
View CommentWe can see the hand of God clearly in the life of H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj. Nothing happens by accident.
View CommentThis particular incident in the book ‘The Journey Home’ is very faith giving and proves that god guides a sincere seeker and helps him in his journey to be connected with the Divine
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s personal example shows, how a sincere seeker should always inquire at each step and seek for the essence. God will surely guide that person throughout to reach to Him.
View CommentTrue soul-mates I must say..
View CommentThank you very much for sharing.
View Commentthank u
View CommentSpiritual journeys are more adventurous and filled with coincidences that other ordinary journeys of life.
View CommentThank you so much. so astonishing.
View CommentNothing happens,not even a leaf moves,by chance.There is always devine intervention as in the case of Gary and Richard. There is always some lesson to learn from such incredible incidents.
View CommentRadhanath swami has reunited us with Prabhupad and Krishna
View CommentH.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai
View CommentMost beautiful. As you rightly said, God Himself seems to be arranging so many unbelievable pastimes in Radhanath Swami’s life, cause He knows that this person will listen to Him always!
View CommentVery faith giving section of the book “The Journey home”
View CommentTruly amazing and deeply inspiring.
View CommentThe Journey home book is simply gripping and there is some much depth in what is being narrated it just absorbs you totally .
View CommentI very recently heard that coincidence is nothing but a result of God’s desire to remain anonymous. We too see coincidences but very few like Radhanath Swami are tuned to see the hand of God in them. This is so because of the purity in their heart. Such incidents in our lives or others are reminders that motivate us to stop and ponder as to who the real controller of our lives is.
View CommentFor a great devotee like Radhanath Swami, God gives the direction from within and fulfills all the desires. It is also true that a great devotee like Radhanath Swami always desire of the welfare and ultimate benefit of reunion with God and Gary uncle is no exception. The reunion of Gary Uncle with Radhanath Swami is nothing but the reunion of Gary Uncle and God. Imagine how happy God must be with Radhanath Swami. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful mediation on Radhanath Swami. We too have developed a great hope of reunion with God through HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj, a supreme wellwisher of all living entities.
View CommentGOD is arranging things for this ardent servant of His. Its difficult to “reason” out things as have taken place in the life of Radhanath Swami.
View CommentSurely if one depends on God, there is no need to be dependent on mobiles to stay in touch.
View CommentFor one who has dedicated his life totally for serving God as Radhanath Swami, it is a small wonder that He orchestrates such amazing incidents by taking charge of his life completely.
View CommentSuch eternal friendship between Radhanath Swami and Uncle Gary is very rare to see indeed! It can be based only on a spiritual platform.
View CommentSome relationships are made by God, & even though superficially they are far apart, but they are always connected though heart……..
View CommentEverything is pre-arranged by God Himself, and seeming coincidences are His arrangements.
View CommentFor someone like Radhanath Swami who has 100 % dedicated his life to serving God , it’s not surprising that the lord orchestrates such amazing incidents by taking charge of his life completely.
View CommentWhen it comes to spirituality, one should be ready to expect the unexpected. Lord displays this only through the life’s of pure devotees such as Radhanath Swami.
View CommentLooking at 3 coincidences with so much odd probability, we tend to think that it can’t be so. Lord is surely behind all of these meetings. Whatever we think, Lord has His own plans which we can’t fathom. Meetins of Radhanath Swami and his friend Gary are not coincidences.
View CommentThank you for providing lot of information on these coincidences.
View CommentThanks for sharing you wonderful insights. The coincidence really amazed me while reading the book, but the life of Radhanath Swami shows us that nothing is by chance, we may not see the invisible hand of the divine.
View CommentDeeply touching and inspiring pastime.Thank you so much Maharaj for sharing.
View CommentJust amazing…..Its truly heart touching incidence.
View Commentthese instances as narrated in HHRNSM’s book are spiritual re-union of two great souls who always seek each other and GOD arranges them to meet everytime, haribol, rajesh
View Commentjust blissful and wonderful experiences of HHRNSM with one of his most dearest friends Sir Gary, haribol, bhakti
View CommentNothing happens by accident, is all Lord’s special arrangement for Garry and Radhanath Swami, so that after many years readers can have faith in Him.
View CommentThis was no coincidence but Lord Krishna’s arrangement that Maharaj met his friend Gary 3 times in unusual ways. Than ks for sharing.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is a sincere seeker of God and in his case God personally arranges events and people, for a loving, wealthy father personally supervises the needs of his dear child.
View CommentAmazing and very inspiring.Journey Home book is inspiring many many people all over the world.
View CommentI have never met anyone like Radhanath Maharaj.
View Commentsurely everything happened by the will of God.
View CommentThe faith in God can do so many wonderful things. also even the insignificant blade of grass doesn’t move without the sanction of God. radhanath Swami is completely depending on The mercy of Krishna. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
View Commentits all pre-arranged and planned by God and its all in his will and mercy, haribol, bhakti
View Commentthe Lords plans are always better than our plans, haribol, rajesh karia
View CommentThank you for sharing the incidents from the life of genuine spiritual seekers like Radhanath Swami. Our spiritual strength is greatly intensified after reading such articles.
View CommentTruly, God personally takes charge of His devotee’s life.
View CommentRadhnath Swami and Gary are really good friends, teaching us how to maintain real friendship, keeping Krishna in center
View CommentGod personally arranges events and people, for a loving, wealthy father personally supervises the needs of his dear child.
View CommentAn unbelievable encounter!! Radhanath Swami’s is a divine and fascinating journey!!
View Commentradhanath swamis journey towards India is an interesting and more inspiring for a true spiritual seeker,
View CommentIt is said that there is no such thing as coincidences in Krishna consciousness, since every incident is arranged by the Lord Himself in the life of his devotee.
View Comment