Richard, having often heard people speak reverentially of a woman saint Anandamayi Ma, who was the guru of Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, went to Dehra Dun to visit her. Although this holy mother had grown old, and was thin and frail, she emanated an unearthly power, and radiated the exuberance of a small child. Dressed in a simple white sari, she appeared wise and sober. Smilingly she led all to the chanting of God’s holy names, and then spoke briefly. She said people are constantly tossed between pleasure and pain, and there can be no peace and security in this world. This world is a place of suffering and suffering is sent to remind us to turn our thoughts to God. Our only shelter is God and in chanting His Names, we can be in His presence.
“There is enough happiness in this world to keep you attached to your sufferings”, says Radhanath Swami, his years of wisdom reflected through succinct phrases such as these. Echoing similar sentiments as Anandamayi Ma, he reveals the dualities of pleasure and pain, “We may have all kinds of pleasures, but one pain. And that one pain becomes prominent; we may also have all kinds of pain, but one pleasure. But that pleasure will be insignificant.” He also voices the same conclusion about the nature of this world, “We get suffering in life so that we become sober and listen to God’s message. All the sufferings are therefore worthwhile if we go through them in proper consciousness, because they will bring us closer to the goal of our life.”
Besides Anandamayi Ma’s philosophical depth, Richard particularly noted that her simple unassuming nature drew renounced sadhus and yogis who typically keep a distance from women, sit at her feet seeking blessings. She also preferred her followers not touch her feet. When she entered into a trance Richard felt an aura of motherly affection beaming from her motionless form.
Whether it’s Anandamayi Ma or other women, Radhanath Swami personally practices and trains his students to revere womanhood. Even young girls who visit the centre in Mumbai, and are are fit to be Radhanath Swami’s granddaughters, he treats them all with equal honor and courtesy. Recently I witnessed this aspect of Radhanath Swami’s character in a community festival in Mumbai.
Radhanath Swami has personally trained many children of the Mumbai congregation. One girl, Radha, spent her childhood learning many aspects of spiritual life under the care of her devoted parents, and the guidance of Radhanath Swami. Radha grew up and in time got married. Recently she gave birth to a baby boy, and the family approached Radhanath Swami for receiving a name for the child. Radhanath Swami promptly named the child, ‘Radhanath’. In a recent programme, I learnt of the reason he named the child with his own spiritual name. Radhanath Swami said he often thought for years, if he were to again take birth in this material world, who should be his mother. He felt Radha would be an ideal mother, and hence named her son ‘Radhanath’.
The Vedic Indian culture awards the highest respect for a woman, and considers a healthy family life as the foundation of the society, without which there would be neither civilization nor progress. Radhanath Swami has tirelessly worked to create and preserve a wonderful family culture that makes God and spiritual values as the centre of family life.
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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........
Very inspiring article.
View CommentThank you for sharing.
View CommentJourney Home is a source of inspiration. I am understanding what is determination. Any body even non-devotees will be benefitted to work with determination.
View CommentSmitha Krishna das
Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience. Radhanath Swami leads by example as to what our attitude should be towards women.
View CommentIt is said that Mother is the first Guru of his child and by her loving and gentel affection only good culter can be given to her childeren.
View CommentRadhanath Swami, through his lectures & teachings, always emphasize that a man should always give proper respect to all women, whether she is mother, sister, wife or any other woman…….
View CommentHow Radhananath Swami preaches and practices how to respect woman is indeed commendable. All the media, advertisements and entertainment teaches otherwise.
View Comment“There is enough happiness in this world to keep you attached to your sufferings”. Such a profound realization. This gives me clue that I should look for someting
View CommentThanks for sharing
View CommentThank you so much for nice wright up.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj ki Jai.
It’s intresting to read Mother Anandmai Ma realisations are similar to Queen Kunti. Who prays for difficulties, so she can see Lord Krishna again.
View CommentVery amazing thoughts and devotion.
This sentence ‘There is enough happiness in the world to keep you attached’ is indeed another golden statement by Swami Radhanath. This is what keeps all of us going in this world though there are so many miseries to inspire us to break attachments.
View CommentTruly it is the need today to understand that a genuine progressive society is one where women are respected & honoured.
View CommentNice Article! Thank you for sharing
View Commenta very aspiring and a thoughtful article, thanks for sharing, regards, bhakti
View Commentvery inspriring article, regards rajesh karia
View CommentNice Article! Thank you for sharing.Therefore One should not be attached even to happiness.We should be attached to only Lotus feet of Krishna.Thank you for this.
View Commentin todays explotative attitude towards women this is a very soothing and assuring way of looking at women.
View CommentHow blessed is Radha Mataji? May Krishna bless the mother and the child.
View CommentRadha mataji is really blessed.
View CommentA very nice and touchy article!!
View Commentthanks for sharing such wonderful article
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami by means of his wonderful work “The Journey Home” sets before us an example how each and every experience of our life can be seen as a means to connect to the Supreme Almighty God. The only price we need to pay is to have the same burning desire to know the Absolute Truth which Richard carried in his heart…
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s realizations are so accurate & any person with an open heart can appreciate His Teachings !
View CommentAll Glories to Radhanath Swami !
Wonderful article…Loved it…
View CommentOf all affections, motherly affection is the topmost. Radhanath Swami teaches his followers how to give respect and protection to a woman.
View Commentvery wonderful article
View CommentThere is enough happiness in this world to keep you attached to your sufferings”, —– this is very deep
View CommentRadhanath Maharaj has made a profound statement on our attachments in this material world which will keep us back in the material world,though they may appear to be very pleasing now.We thus miss the goal of life.
View Commentvery pwerful statement “Our only shelter is God and in chanting His Names, we can be in His presence.” Thank you for sharing such wonderful story.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has always thru his personal example given mutilple experiences for his followers to contemplate upon and make good adherence of the same
View CommentBirth is a very painful exercise for a baby; it is said in the womb the baby pleads to get out from bondage and promises the lord to serve him for his assistance. But once out the promise is easily forgotten or taken lightly. So is the case for all the sufferings we endure.This all may sound difficult to digest but the fact is available for a true seeker. Radhanath Swami being a realized soul relentlessly works towards giving true Vedic knowledge to one and all.
View Commenttruly inspiring
View CommentThe Journey Home truly inspires one to ask oneself honestly whether his or her life is being lived in vain and that one should strive for some higher purpose..the book never leaves us directionless and always guides us back to a point where we believe that we have a chance to enrich our lives and start walking the path of self realisation from exactly where we are..And so simply Maharaj makes us understand that once we brave the step ahead and try to realise our relationship with God and make that spiritual connection, we would feel an unending surge of positive energy which would take us to the highest point of ecstacy and love
View Commentthank u for sharing.
View CommentIf everyone follows the principles of Radhanath Swami, there will be no need of so called women liberation societies
View CommentRadhanath is one amazing personality who can just see the good in others!! 🙂
View CommentWe all look for trained children but need spritually strong mothers to train them.A healthy tree will always bear sweet fruitsThank You Radhanath Maharaj for watering the root of many such trees and by such spiritual guidance giving the society much needed shelter.
View Commentvery nice
View Commentwonderful
View CommentAs written in the last line of the article, This article truly shows Radhanath Swami’s tireless endeavors to create and preserve a wonderful family culture that makes God and spiritual values as the centre of family life.
View CommentRadhanath Swami as a advanced devotee sees the spiritual soul in every living entity and hence for him there is no difference between man and woman, adult or child. Although following worldly etiquettes, he is non the less beyond it as can be seen in his dealings with even insignificant persons.
View Comment“There is enough happiness in this world to keep you attached to your sufferings” – A genuine seeker of the truth, Radhanath Swami, can speak such a profound truth, very naturally.
View CommentThank you for sharing the profound experiences that Radhanath Swami has had in his travels. They truly provide food for thought.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s realizations gives us inspiration always
View CommentTHis is such a wonderful and deep understanding of importance of maintaining family culture generally misunderstood.
View CommentThank you for sharing this with us
We see a culture today where women are abused in the name of liberation. As a contrast, Vedic culture stresses the importance of treating women with respect, as mother, and protecting them as they give rise to future generation. Radhanath Swami respects everyone, including women.
View CommentRadhanath Swami really care for the children. The Great souls like Radhanath swami always the well wishers of all living entities.
View Commentit stirred my heart, simply wonderful
View CommentYes very true, as one devotee rightly points out above, that the protection of women in Vedic Culture and treating them with respect as our own mother. Radhanath Swami is living by this essential principle and have created a Vedic Spiritual atmosphere for our spiritual progress that is beneficial for all living entities.
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