Richard (now Radhanath Swami) wasn’t even a teenager when he enquired from his Rabbi the meaning of the prayers he was being taught. The Rabbi was overwhelmed by this sincerity and tears welled up in his eyes.
Most people don’t pray. Many who do aren’t aware of the meaning and goal of these prayers. Radhanath Swami is teaching us even as a young boy that we should invest our feelings and emotions into the prayers we offer. A prayer session should not be an empty ritual; it’s also not to be a parrot-like repetition of some chants or verses; instead we are supposed to offer our heart to God. Although the scriptures of all religions teach us the art of praying, many followers have focused on the externals of these religious rituals. As a result, the world has seen wars and conflicts based on externals of religion. Radhanath Swami has focused on the essence even as a young boy.
Radhanath Swami explains that there are essentially four levels of approaching God. At the lowest level is the practitioner who approaches God out of fear. A little higher motivation is to worship God so that He bestows blessings and pleasures on us. The third level is a little higher religious system which invites its followers to worship God out of a sense of duty and obligation. While the fundamental elements in each religion play the card of fear and reward, the authentic spiritual paths emphasize on serving God out of duty.
However the goal of a genuine spiritual path is to take its followers a step higher, to the fourth level. The final goal of a true spiritual path is to help the practitioner reestablish his/her dormant, uninterrupted and unmotivated loving service to God. Love is the highest aspiration of a seeker of God. Radhanath Swami has always held sacred the aspiration of a spiritual seeker to love God and not want anything material in return. This kind of prayers, Radhanath Swami says fills the heart with the highest spiritual bliss-pure and free from any material contamination.
Radhanath Swami implores spiritual practitioners of all faiths to offer prayers to God out of love and a desire to serve. Only when our prayers are devoid of any selfishness will we find deep inner contentment and meaning to life. Little wonder then that Radhanath Swami reminisces the Rabbi’s teaching from the Talmud, a book on Jewish law written by Rabbis thousands of years ago, “It is better to pray to God for the strength to overcome temptations, difficulties, and doubts in order to do His will, rather than to pray for Him to do our will.”
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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 nicely explained!!!
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The final goal of a true spiritual path is to help the practitioner reestablish his/her dormant, uninterrupted and unmotivated loving service to God – wonderful advice!
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