Radhanath Swami ‘accidentally’ (or so, it appears to my ordinary vision) lands up at Mathura, on his way to Amarnath. Promising Gary he’d meet him a few days later, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) then goes alone to Vrindavan.
I find it somewhat amusing to read Radhanath Swami’s first experiences in Vrindavan. He meets friendly and loving people, especially a farmer, who gets desperate and insists on offering his loving service to him. I can’t help feeling humbled on reading Radhanath Swami’s description of Vrindavan and its residents. I too visited Vrindavan many years ago with my family. During this first visit, I thought I met some unfriendly men, and in some temples felt the priests aggressively soliciting for money. As the saying goes, ‘beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’. Since Radhanath Swami is very charming, humble and sweet, he feels all vrajwasis (residents of Vrindavan) are same. I am sure that’s the way they are, but my hard heart sees with a material vision. Even at other places, the sweetness of the culture and love and warmth Radhanath Swami received from the locals has left an indelible impression in his heart. Radhanath Swami writes in ‘Journey Home’ that seeing the natural beauty of Vrindavan, temple bells resounding and children singing Krishna’s names, he felt finally after more than a year of wandering, he’s found home again.
I once heard Radhesh Lal Goswami, the head priest of Radha Vallabh temple, one of the prominent temples of Vrindavan say that Radhanath Swami should have been born in Vrindavan, but somehow he took birth in Chicago. With a mischievous smile the head priest said, “Maybe God also makes a mistake sometimes, that he puts his loving devotees in a different place than He intends to.” I cautioned myself not to subscribe to his opinion about God making a mistake, but I could appreciate his sentiment. He found Radhanath Swami’s character and traits as natural as any Vrajwasi that he couldn’t fathom how such a soul as Radhanath Swami could be not born and raised in Vrindavan. At another place I chanced to see Radhanath Swami’s exchanges with other vrajwasis, some elderly and not knowing English. But Radhanath Swami is completely at home with them as they too feel at ease sharing love and laughter joyfully.
Externally Vrindavan appears no different from other North Indian villages. I guess it requires a divine vision (which I am sure Radhanath Swami has) to see Vrindavan the way he perceives it. I once heard that we see and perceive everything in this world according to our limited senses. If we have an ordinary vision, we will find the most spiritual place as ordinary, whereas one whose eyes are anointed with the salve of love will see God even in the most ordinary place. What then to speak of the holy place of Vrindavan being perceived by a holy person, Radhanath Swami. This powerful combination can be spiritually exhilarating.
That’s why the mauni sadhu, one who has taken a vow never to speak, communicated to Radhanath Swami by scratching on a slate that people of Vrindavan are crazy for Krishna and if Richard (now Radhanath Swami) stayed there, he too would soon become crazy. Holy places carry spiritual energy, and one whose consciousness is fine tuned with a prayerful attitude, quickly catches these vibrations. Richard was now all set to experience the spiritually electrifying vibrations of Vrindavan.
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........
wonderful meditation
View CommentIndeed Radhanath Swami is a natural resident of Vrindavan or a true Vrajwasi
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj carries Vrindavan in his heart & freely gives to anyone & everyone he meets.
View CommentHoly places like Vrindavan are full of spiritual potency. One need only the proper consciousness to catch the vibrations. Radhanath Swami’s personal loving exchanges with Vrahbasi are indeed heart touching.
View CommentIt takes a vaishnava to know a vaishnava.Radhanath swami’s love for Vrindavan & vrajwasis is very difficult to undertstand.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is always carrying the spirit of Vrindavan in his heart and sharing with others.
View CommentIt takes a great saint to understand Vrindavan and to reveal it to others.
View CommentThank you for sharing
View Commentthank you very much
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for your shining example & sublime teachings
View CommentRadhanath Swami carries Vrindavan in his heart.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is truely not from this world. Radhanath Swami is such a pure devotee that he is naturally attracted to Vrindavan.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for showing by your personal example the importance of the holy names of God.
View CommentRadhanath Swami always carries the spirit of Vrindavan in his heart and is willing to share it with us.
View CommentAmazing story of Radhanath Swami. There is no doubt that he has Vrindavana as his home, which we can’t see with out material vision.
View CommentAnd Radhanath Swami has been so merciful to reveal the same Vrindavan to us. Thank you.
View Commentvery rightly said that “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”, both HHRM and vrindavan together is a spiritual bliss, regards, rajesh
View Commentnice article, HHRM definitely has an extra ordinary vision and that is the reason why he cherishes every moment with the Vrajwasis of vrindavan, haribol, bhakti
View CommentIf we have an ordinary vision, we will find the most spiritual place as ordinary.Amazing article.
View CommentKrsna is alwayws present in Vrindavan and in the hearts of his pure devotees and thuis the hearts of the Lord’s devotees is non different fro Vrindavan.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has a spiritual vision & therefore yatras to holy places with him are always very very special…..
View CommentAll Glories To H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Truly Said Prabhuji, what Maharaja’s Vision can see, may not be seen by us because all the limitations of our attitude or lack of faith that should be impeding us from experienceing it.
And what an wonder ful narration was this, it truly humbles us and ignites if not a flame but a small spark of aspiration for that vision through which Maharaj experiences Vrindavan and Other Holy Places.
Hare Krishna.
View CommentHariiii bol. Thanks for sharing your realization.
View CommentThanks for sharing this wonderful and nectarine article about Radhanath swami
View CommentRadhanath swami is really a vrajvasi at heart.
View CommentMaharaj is a tue brajwasi
View CommentVrindavan only reveals to the one who has complete faith and love for Krishna. Else it is just a village with hogs and other anumals. With faith, every inch of Vrindavan reminds you of Krishna.
View CommentThe comment of a sadhu “Yes we are crazy. Crazy for Krishna” is very inspiring.
View CommentVery much inspiring.Thank you very much.
View CommentYou are so right in saying that “If we have an ordinary vision, we will find the most spiritual place as ordinary”. The other thought that crossed my mind was that it is Lord Krishna’s mercy upon us that Maharaj was born in Chicago. He is showing us through Maharaj what true love for Him is like and what a true lover is willing to do to please Him.
View Commentsure, we also need the spiritual vision to perceive the holy place. Thanks a lot for sharing.
View Commentthank you maharaj
View CommentRadhanath swami and Vrindavan are not separable – wherever he goes he carries Vrindavan spirit and also makes his audience experience it.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for revealing Vrindavan
View CommentMore than the externals, it is the spirit that is important. Radhanath Swami has not only imbibed the spirit of the loving residents of Vrindavan, he is also sharing the same spirit with everyone in the world. Thank you for sharing today’s meditation. As we are progressing through he book, things are getting more and more exciting and I am looking forward to future posts.
View CommentVibrations in Vrndavana and catching them —-Is very inspiring. Radhanath Swami is an expert to catch them. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
View CommentMaharaj has been extremely merciful to show and share the love of Sri Vrindavan dham
View CommentGood one, very inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
View CommentEither Chicago or India Radhanath Swami always remained spiritually charged.His spiritual vision gave spiritual benifits to so many conditioned souls in this material word.Thanks for sharing it with us.
View Commentvery true for a person whose eyes are anointed with the salve of love for Godhead, he can see the presence of God in the seemingly ordinary place. and Radhanath Swami is such a person!!
View CommentThank for sharing sentiment of Lal Goswami. Interesting though.
View CommentThankyou Radhanath Swami for giving us Vrindavan and the Vaishnavs
View Commentwonderful meditation
View CommentWe know that “Beauty lies in the eyes of the Beholder”. But our consciousness really shapes our vision.
View CommentBeing in the holy Dhaam is not something casual, it is the lords mercy upon us to be allowed there, now how would we behave if we are invited to, lets assume house of the president of a country, so now ponder upon how we need to behave when we are in a holy Dhaam. One may have plenty of resources for the best comforts of all kind and be in a high position, yet even the richest man in the world cannot afford to own or control a single ‘STAR’ in this universe which is one of the many universe which are created by the Lord. Radhanath Swamis book ‘The Journey Home’ is full of enriching experiences and learning’s which cannot be bought at any monetary cost and to imbibe them requires a person of great humility, a thought which draws one’s attention to Radhanath Swami who is a muti- billionaire in the art of ‘Love for God’ and distributes it to others out of sheer compassion.
View CommentThis is a very good meditation on how Radhanath Swami is a true Brijwasi in his heart !!
View CommentH.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj is always in Vrindavan by consciousness. He creates Vrindavan environment wherever he goes. Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, Chowpatty is a wonderful example of this.
View CommentA deeply realized soul, a saint from 17th century India,Narottama Das Thakur, says that only when we are freed from mundane desires can we perceive Vrindavan as it is…
View CommentRadhanath Swami has divine vision to to see Vrindavan
View CommentTrue, Vrndavan can not be percieved by ordinary vision. Radhanath Swami Maharaj is truly a Vrajbasi in spirit. By his association and mercy, we also get a glimpse of Vrindavan.
View Comment