While learning Zen Buddhism at Bodh Gaya, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was pained to witness the hypocrisy of the Zen master. While professing to practice spiritual principles strictly, the master himself was having an affair with a girl every night. He even took LSD. Richard realized that if the leader is a hypocrite, it stains the image of all the flowers and the traditions that the leader represents.
Radhanath Swami often quotes the spiritual master of his own guru, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur who was called as a ‘Lion guru’ because he never tolerated hypocrisy. Whenever and wherever he saw anyone in the renounced order cheat in the name of religion, Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati would expose him, and he considered hypocrisy as one of the greatest sins.
Radhanath Swami quotes the scriptures to explain that the present age and time is called as the age of ‘quarrel and hypocrisy’. At a slight provocation, there is quarrel and hypocrisy is rampant. Radhanath Swami says, “When hypocrisy comes into the system of religion it becomes the greatest threat to the human society. When hypocrisy is present within our material dealings it creates impious life. But when hypocrisy comes into religion it destroys the very fiber of saintliness which is the only means of creating harmony in this world.” Often quoting his guru, Radhanath Swami says a sincere sweeper in the street is better than a charlatan meditator.
Radhanath Swami particularly laments at the renounced order’s hypocrisy. The renounced order is supposed to abstain from sex life. But when one in the renounced order as the Zen master in this story has double standards, people lose faith in the whole system of spirituality. Any position of leadership brings with it lot of responsibility. Quoting Bhagavad Gita, the Indian book of wisdom, Radhanath Swami says, “Whatever the leader does, the common man follows.” Therefore Radhanath Swami appeals to all in leadership positions to cultivate a high level of character and integrity. Radhanath Swami defines character as the substance of ideals that the person holds sacred in his life. “A leader should not only have high ideals, he should also harmonize every aspect of his life to live by those ideals.”
Radhanath Swami says the easiest method to save ourselves from hypocrisy is by cultivating the principle of humility. “A real leader never thinks of himself as a master”, says Radhanath Swami, “He always feels ‘I am the servant’. He always meditates on ‘I am a caretaker and not a proprietor. And the only thing that belongs to me is my service to all of God’s children’“
Hypocrisy has to make way for cleansing of our own hearts. And that is spirituality’s basic thrust. “Cleaning of our own hearts is in essence the essence of all religion and spirituality”, says Radhanath Swami. Radhanath Swami urges us to conquer our hypocritical tendencies with genuine humility. “We have to do good to others but knowing fully well that whatever good we do is due to being an instrument of a power beyond ourselves.” The more humble we seek to become, the more we access this power and more our lives are in congruence with our sacred ideals. Hypocrisy then makes way for high level of character and integrity.
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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........
Cleaning of our own hearts is in essence the essence of all religion and spirituality” simple but deep
View CommentVery beautiful article…..in this age of quarrel & hypocirsy, it is very rare to get association of a pure & genuine saint like Radhanath Swami……thanks Swamiji for your instructive articles….
View CommentWonderful realization
View CommentVery nice article. Thank you very much for sharing the same.
View Commenttruely genuine thoughts….
View Commentthanks a lot
thanx for wonderful post.
View CommentVery inspiring and good advice for those on the spiritual path.
View Comment“Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati would expose him, and he considered hypocrisy as one of the greatest sins.”- Very important article for those who represent any spiritual movement. Thank you very much for this.
View CommentWonderful solution given here by Radhanath Swami for solving the hypocrisy problem – the all conquering quality of humility.
View CommentHumility destroys Hypocrisy. This is very inspiring. Thank you Swamiji.
View CommentAwesome, thank you very much, we are deeply grateful.
View Commentfantastic article to contemplate upon. Thanks for posting.
View Comment‘I am a caretaker and not a proprietor. And the only thing that belongs to me is my service to all of God’s children’ – Wonderful thought. Servant leadership seems to be a viable solution to such ugly incidents. Thanks for sharing.
View CommentWonderful Article!!! Hoping to implement this principle in our lives
View CommentVery nice article and realization by Radhanath swami.
View CommentThanks for positng this wonderful article. Maharaj always advises us to develop Trinadapi Sunichena mood which is the basic ingredient for our spiritual progress.
View CommentThank you for sharing this enlightening article on overcoming hypocrisy through cultivating humility.
View CommentThank you maharaja for educating the effect of hypocrisy if adopted by leaders on society. A leader must be free from hypocrisy to instill right ideals among masses.
View CommentTo overcome hypocrisy humility is the solution, thanks to Radhanth swami for this point
View CommentVery rightly said….”Cleaning of our own hearts is in essence the essence of all religion and spirituality”
View CommentJai jai.
View CommentCleaning of our own hearts is in essence the essence of all religion and spirituality”
View CommentCleaning of our own hearts is in essence the essence of all religion and spirituality”. Absolutely true!
View CommentGreat Article!! Thanks to HH Radhanath Swami for emphasizing so much on humility which is a necessary quality for the people of Kali Yuga.
View CommentRadhanath Swami says the easiest method to save ourselves from hypocrisy is by cultivating the principle of humility.
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