Richard (now Radhanath Swami) met an extraordinary saint, Neem Karoli Baba, in Vrindavan. The Baba was affectionately addressed as ‘Maharaji’ by his followers. He taught that by chanting the names of Krishna and Rama everything desirable is accomplished. His solution for avoiding the addiction of criticizing and finding faults with others is very simple, “Love everyone, serve everyone, and feed everyone.” Radhanath Swami learnt that Neem Karoli Baba was a siddha Purusha, a perfected being. It had been documented that sometimes he could be in two distant places at the same time.
One of Radhanath Swami’s most endearing qualities is his humility, and I can therefore understand his natural liking for Neem Karoli Baba, who also exemplified this precious quality. I once heard that a certain sadhu who had heard that Maharajji was a great saint, decided to test him. He went to Maharajji’s house in the village and asked for food. Maharajji served rotis (flat bread) but the sadhu threw them into the fire and angrily got up and walked away. Maharajji was unperturbed in his service; he begged forgiveness from the sadhu for his offense and then requested him to wait for some time. Neem Karoli Baba then personally cooked rice, vegetables and sweets for him. Seeing this great soul’s humility, the sadhu was moved, and fell at Maharajji’s feet and begged forgiveness. He truly practised, “Love everyone, feed everyone and serve everyone.” Radhanath Swami once fondly recollected Neem Karoli Baba’s instruction on remembering God, “Keep God in your heart the same way as you keep money in a bank”.
Radhanath Swami describes his soul-searching discussions with Ram Dass, a celebrated disciple of Neem Karoli Baba and the author of the classic ‘Be Here Now’. Ram Dass was formerly Richard Alpert, a professor at Harvard University, and along with his friend and colleague, Timothy Leary had popularized LSD as a means of expanding consciousness. Radhanath Swami saw Baba Ram Dass’s deep affection for his guru and was touched by their exchange of spiritual love.
Radhanath Swami writes about Ram Dass in his autobiography as a friendly person with whom a sense of brotherhood grew as they shared the realizations and inspirations they had gained in their spiritual journeys. Radhanath Swami also learnt that in 1967, Ram Dass (who was then Richard Alpert) travelled to India, where he met the American spiritual seeker Bhagavan Das. As he guided Alpert barefoot from temple to temple, Bhagavan Das began teaching him basic mantras and asanas , as well as how to work with beads. After a few months, Bhagavan Das led Alpert to his guru, Neem Karoli Baba. Maharajji soon became Alpert’s guru and gave him the name “Ram Dass,” which means “servant of God.” Under the guidance of Maharajji, Ram Dass was instructed to receive teaching from Hari Dass Baba, who taught in silence using only a chalkboard. While in India, Ram Dass also corresponded with Meher Baba; however, he remained primarily focused on the teaching of Hari Dass Baba.
Among other things, Hari Dass Baba trained Ram Dass in raja yoga and ahimsa. It were these life-changing experiences in India that inspired Ram Dass to write the contemporary spiritual classic, Be Here Now, in which he teaches that everyone is a manifestation of God and that every moment is of infinite significance.
Radhanath Swami was meeting many saints in India as well as western seekers like himself who impressed him with their sincerity.
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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........
Nice write up on the Radhanath Swami’s Journey Home book. Thank you very much.
View CommentThank you very much for sharing. It is only by the pure devotees, the love of Krishna can be given to every one.
View CommentNeem Karoli Baba’s humility is amazing. thanks to H.H.Radhanth Swami Maharaj for bringing all these gems of experiences to us about people who would have otherwise been lost in obscurity. Also H.H. Radhanath Swami interprets it for us to learn life’s greatest lessons.
View CommentHare Krishna.
View CommentNice expressions and explanations.
Nice analogy – keep God in your heart like you would keep money in a bank. First, it is precious, second it is easily accessible if only we want to see our heart for it and third, it grows with time provided we feed the relationship by chanting the Holy names.
View CommentThank u for sharing
View CommentThank you very much for sharing this moment from Radhanath swami maharaj’s life
View Comment“Keep God in your heart the same way as you keep money in a bank”.- Great analogy
Thank you very much for sharing these moments from Radhanath swami maharaj’s life
View CommentIts amazing to see how Radhanath swami has great appreciation for different gurus he met on his journey home…
View CommentRadhanath swami maintains high regards for all the saints even after having met his own guru. That is glorious. Generally people respect no one except their own teacher.
View CommentI agree with Swaminathan Pr.
View CommentKeep God in your heart as you keep money in bank.
– Very important.
Very nICE.
View CommentThank you very much for sharing this
View Comment“Keep God in your heart the same way as you keep money in a bank”.
View Commentinteresting way of enlightening a person.
Thank you swami ji
thank u ver y much for sharing this RNS maharaj ki jai
View CommentInsightful read – Thanks a lot for sharing these wonderful stories.
View CommentHari Hari
View CommentThank you very much.! Nice Article.!
View Commentthank you Maharaj
View CommentThanks to Radhanath swami for reminding us to be humble 🙂
View CommentRadhanath Swami’ ability to shower appreciation on and express gratitude to all those who influenced him by their teachings and behaviour is exemplary, worth emulating.
View Commentit is very difficult in the followers of religion to find some one who follows what he teaches, Maharaj has given given us a hint through his spiritual journey that there are followers who are genuine and are dedicated to the service of Lord, presence of such genuine followers increases our faith in religion and God.
View CommentWe should keep God in our heart like we keep money in bank. Love of God is precious and also it is easily accessible if we look into our heart for Him. The love of God grows with time provided we feed the relationship by chanting the Holy names. A nice analogy.H.H Radhanath Maharaj is an example and is teaching the same all over the world.
View CommentIts amazing , how swamiji takes valuable lessons from each of the gurus he met, without any bias or prejudice.
View CommentLove everyone, serve everyone, and feed everyone. Wonderful instruction to follow.
View Commentthank you Radhanath Swami for so wonderfully explaining about every aspect of life as part of purification of our heart.
View Commentthank u radhanath swami maharaj
View CommentIf we understand Swamiji’s statement, we will see God’s hand in everything, and thus achieve God Consciousness.
View CommentThank u Radhanath Swami for teaching us to see each & every situation of our life as a mercy of Lord & accept every moment with positive attitude.
View CommentHari Hari
View CommentHare krsna Dandavat Pranam
View Commentthank u radhanath swami maharaj
View CommentMost remarkable lesson of keeping GOD within Heart
Thank You Radhanath Swami
View CommentWonderful article. Just by reading The Journey Home, we receive knowledge from many saints in all faiths. Radhanath Swami extracts the essence from all faiths for our benefit.
View CommentThank you Maharaj for exemplifying that a real seeker of the spiritual truth takes out the essense from everything and everyone.
View Comment“Keep God in your heart the same way as you keep money in a bank”. Wonderful advice!
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