Richard (now Radhanath Swami) learned to live in harmony with nature. His companions in the ‘Valley of Saints’ at Uttar Kashi were snakes, mongoose, brown and white monkeys, and leopards, besides other wild animals. Richard had learnt from Kailash baba the sacred virtue of respecting all life; he was also beginning to appreciate the difficult life of the sadhus, living all alone in the forests.
Radhanath Swami has always emphasized on the need to respect all life, especially on the need to protect environment. I was personally inspired by Vandana Shiva who was born in the Himalayas and grew up in the mountain forests, with her father who was a forest conservationist. In the 1970s, when logging of the mountain forests intensified, the women of her region rose to stop the deforestation. They said they would hug the trees to prevent the logging. In Hindi, Chipko means to hug [or stick]. Vandana joined the movement as a volunteer and spent every vacation working with the Chipko till the ban on logging in 1981.
Quoting from the Vedic scriptures, Radhanath Swami reveals that if we protect the environment and the forests, these forests in turn protect our lives. Quoting the Buddha, Radhanath Swami says, “In protecting oneself, others are protected; in protecting others, oneself is protected”. It’s important that we have reverence for all of God’s creation and live in harmony with nature. Radhanath Swami also clarifies that the nature of life in this world is that one living entity is food for another living entity and violence in some form is unavoidable. However Radhanath Swami insists that as human beings- the most evolved of all species- it’s our responsibility to ensure that minimum possible damage is done to the environment. Radhanath Swami says that civilized human life means a life of gratitude and and we can express our gratitude to Mother Nature by respecting all life.
Hearing Radhanath Swami’s words of wisdom I am reminded of Sufi teachings, a branch of Islam that teaches the need for all of us to respect life and feelings of others. The basis of Sufism is consideration of the hearts and feelings of others. “If you haven’t the will to gladden someone’s heart, then at least beware lest you hurt someone’s heart, for on our path, no sin exists but this”, said Javad Nurbakhsih, a master in the Sufi order. It’s amazing how all religions essentially teach us the same lesson; to live in harmony with nature and respect all life. Mahatma Gandhi’s words also ring in my ears, “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Radhanath Swami explains the root cause of the abuse of nature is the selfish pursuits of man. “It’s the pollution of the heart that has to be cleaned first before we clean up the pollution of the environment” says Radhanath Swami. As long as human endeavor is directed to meet only our needs, strife and crisis is inevitable. We need to begin looking at the needs of others. He loves to quote Gandhi who said, “There is enough in this world for every person’s need but not sufficient for even one person’s greed.”
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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........
If we all become devotees, there will be no problem, such as pollution, nature problems, etc. Because, we ourselves are the cause of problems, as Maharaj explains, selfish man is the core reason..
View CommentBeautiful point here on gratitude “civilized human life means a life of gratitude and and we can express our gratitude to Mother Nature by respecting all life”
View CommentThere is enough in this world for every person’s need but not sufficient for even one person’s greed….Amazing but True!
View Commentso true…we need to stop for a minute in our rat race & so called economic growth to see where are we really growing? As they say Earth we dont inherit from our parents, we borrow it from our children…
View CommentAbsolutely true. We must respect every living entity!
View CommentA very nice article. It makes us realize our priorities and how misguided we are. Thank you.
View CommentVery beautiful statement by Swamiji – “It’s the pollution of the heart that has to be cleaned first before we clean up the pollution of the environment”
View CommentWe are all children of a very rich mother, but we do not realise how much wealth she has given us. Hence we fight and plunder her to get more and more and more. Radhanath Swami has explained this principle very nicely.
View CommentAmazing article.Haribol!
View CommentVery nice article.
View CommentGreat article…..what a beautiful place this world would become if everyone follows Swamiji’s teachings…..
View CommentWe should always aspire to give respects to other without wanting any in back and then only we can chant the Holynames with pure heart.
View Commentbeing in harmony with the nature is the best way to make sure that there would be no further complications in one’s and everybody’s life,
View CommentGandhi who said, “There is enough in this world for every person’s need but not sufficient for even one person’s greed.”
this was followed once, thats why the british historians reported that there were no beggars in India.
View CommentCleaning the pollution within one’s heart is the solution for cleaning the pollution of environment. All glories to HH Radhanatha Swami Maharaja.
View CommentVery nice thoughts!
View CommentRadhanath swami’s statement that only by cleaning our heart can we clean the environment is worth contemplating upon
View CommentThanks for sharing the article.
View CommentHare Krishna, nice article.Humanitarian he is.Really such articles should be there in each and every school text books..
View CommentMaharaj ki..Jai..Hare Krishna
Yas anshu jaiman
Such a beautiful comment ““In protecting oneself, others are protected; in protecting others, oneself is protected”. If we just learn thisprinciple mentioned by Radhanath Swami we could extend so much for true causes of protecting others
View CommentWe must learn to respect Mother nature otherwise the world will be attacked by natural calamities and disasters.
View CommentRadhanth Swami correctly points out the reason for environment disorder – “Selfish pollution of the heart”
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj is infinitely more happy in dusty paths of Vrindavan and Mayapur than all the skyscrapers and mansions he visits.
View CommentThank you very much Srila Radhanath Swami for making us realize how its important for all us to respect all living beings & live in harmony with Mother Nature !
View CommentHare Krishna !
yes, we have exploited mother nature recklessly. now the time has come to respect and rejuvenate her.
View CommentSo rightly said after all its because of mother nature who is providing every molecule of oxygen which is keepin us alive its our duty to safeguard mother earth to whatever extent possible
View CommentEnvironment got polluted because of our own sinful desire. Thanks for sharing.
View Commentnice sharing, very much essential to be grateful for day to day life,
View CommentRadhanath Swami says that civilized human life means a life of gratitude and and we can express our gratitude to Mother Nature by respecting all life……Very simply said!
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj’s Journey Home story is simply wonderful!! I remember he once said that nature is constantly speaking to us but is audible only to a calm and stress-free mind.
View CommentLiving with harmony with Mother nature is like recognizing God’s energy & appreciating it.
View CommentVery nicely said by Radhanath Swami that we first need to clean up the pollution in our heart from lust, greed, anger, pride, envy, illusion before we can clean the outside environment.
View CommentSimply wonderful……
View CommentSuch wonderful explanation by His Holiness…
View CommentThe greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.- Today India is the biggest exporter of beef – the land where the Cow is worshipped as mother – what more can be said of the leaders of India ?
View CommentIf we just live as Radhanath Swami Maharaj has explained, world will be much better place to live in.
View Commentwonderfull
We must learn to respect Mother nature otherwise the world will be attacked by natural calamities and disasters.
View Commentamazing as usual
View CommentWe can see around us the devastation caused by greedy men.
View Commentonly solution to all problems is to give hari naam to everyone…
powerful point mentioned by maharaj…………
View Comment“It’s the pollution of the heart that has to be cleaned first before we clean up the pollution of the environment”This profound statement from Radhanath swami,says it all.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s words are so true. Only by changing the landscape of our heart can we really hope to make some change.
View CommentOh Wonderful!!!!!!!!!
View CommentThank You for sharing HH Radhanath Swami’s teachings on caring for the environment and all living beings.
View CommentAwesome!! no words to express.
View Comment““It’s the pollution of the heart that has to be cleaned first before we clean up the pollution of the environment” — Very deep thoughted statement.
View CommentBecause of selfish desires man is making havoc to mather nature.He is becoming greedy day by day.That is the reason for this degradation in the society.With the grace of saintly people like Radhanath swami it can be solved, to some extent.Thank you maharaj.
View CommentReally what a heart transforming article.
View Commentvery vividly explain relation between nature & us & how to harmonize with nature.
View Commentnature is prakriti and thus god . living with nature rather than against nature should be the idea . very nice website !
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