On his journey northeast to Nepal, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) arrived at Patna and met Narayan Prasad and his guru Rama Sevaka Swami. Rama Sevaka Swami was a practicing bhakti yogi and his devotion to Lord Rama moved Richard deeply. He learnt about the behavior of an honest and genuine holy man.
While staying at Rama Sevaka Swami’s temple, one evening a visiting sadhu offered to cook for all. He cooked kichari made with rice, mung, and some potatoes. With the first bite, Richard (now Radhanath Swami)’s mouth blazed, as the kichari was unbearably spicy. While eating the kichari, Richard was sweating profusely, and in the excruciating pain he hiccupped uncontrollably. The others however were enjoying it so much they never could have dreamt of Richard’s suffering. The cook insisted on serving seconds and then thirds. Richard’s attempt to block his plate failed, and the cook was very pleased with Richard’s honoring the food.
Ever since he was a child, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) had always felt bad when he caused other people sorrow. So intent was the cook on pleasing them that Richard didn’t have the heart to reveal the pain the cook was causing him. Richard had tears in his eyes caused by the kichari, but the cook thought Richard was crying in gratitude. Radhanath Swami narrates in his autobiography:
“Yes, I’m crying, and it may as well be in gratitude, as he believes. To please others is not always easy, but it is part of my deepest nature to wish to do so. Enduring the burning pain of that food was a small price to please this sadhu.”
Pleasing others is difficult. I may want to please someone by taking him out for a movie. However he may like a game of cricket instead. A critical aspect of pleasing others, I now learn from Radhanath Swami, is to understand what the other person wants. I can’t impose my liking or dislikes on another and expect him to like the same. We are all uniquely different. Each one of us has unique likes and dislikes. I grew up hating one vegetable preparation, karela, but my family loved it. I could never understand how they enjoyed it so much while they too were perplexed by my dislike for the prep. I now learn that an essential part of pleasing others is to be willing to give up our conceptions of likes and dislikes, and accept some inconveniences voluntarily.
I guess for a person to be a spiritual leader of the stature of Radhanath Swami, one has to really extend oneself to please others. I wonder how Richard who loved to live in solitude, now as Radhanath Swami manages a huge community of devotees and inspires them in their spiritual lives. He is constantly surrounded by people who approach him for advice and guidance. His interactions leave people happy and encouraged. But that must be quite a price to pay. His privacy and comforts are disturbed, as he has to always extend himself for others. But the same mood that drove Richard is now inspiring Radhanath Swami- to serve others even if it means personal inconveniences.
Radhanath Swami’s account reminds me of an interesting experience I had in college. My two friends had a big argument and they swore never to talk to each other. Later they individually felt and confided to me in private that I should mediate and settle the dispute. I didn’t want to and was disgusted with the squabbles that they always had. Reluctantly, with great struggle I called for a meeting and I spent time trying to make each person appreciate the other. It took hours and in the end both of them were crying tears of gratitude to me, thanking me for resolving their misunderstanding. Now after reading Radhanath Swami’s autobiography I wonder if with great reluctance to please someone, I actually landed up pleasing them, how much more meaningful my life would be if I actually intend to please and serve others.
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........
‘An essential part of pleasing others is to be willing to give up our conceptions of likes and dislikes, and accept some inconveniences voluntarily.’ What a beautiful thought! And one that is so lacking in us. Thank you Radhanath Swami for awakening my eyes to this aspect.
View CommentRadhanath Swami emphasises to all his students to be grateful and here is a live example of how he shows his gratitude even at the cost of personal suffering.
View CommentI remember Radhanath Swami once stating this point ” In Giving we receive”. How very true is this fact we can practically see from the Life of Radhanath Swami who has extended so much for sake of his students and followers that he is receiving lots of Love, Adoration, support, cooperation in reciprocation from them as well.
View CommentAll Glories To H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
What an amazing experience. We can if possible follow even a little of what has been prescribed with utmost sincerity, it will genuinely help us to grow on the path of spirituality.
Hare Krishna.
View CommentA natural devotee and well wisher and true friend of all living beings like Radhanath Swami can not see the difficulties of others. Radhanath Swami is one person who would go to any extent to please even a stranger, just because he sees the hand of God every where and in every body. Its amazing that Radhanath Swami takes care and endeavour to please even other living entities, what to speak of humans of all ages including children. Forget about pleasing others, we don’t even think of the likes and dislikes of even our family members, friends what to speak of others. I sincerely pray to Radhanath Swami to bestow His mercy to imbibe this unique quality, please others and ultimately please Radhanath Swami.
View CommentRadhanth Swami Speaks by experience that’s why he teaches his students that try to please others ,try to give as real happiness is there in giving not asking..Thanks Swamiji.
View CommentSuch an high standard of selfless service set by Radhanath Swami.
View CommentThank you very much for sharing this article with all of us. This is really inspiring. Radhanath Swami is bringing revolution in the material world by his personal attention to each and everyone of us.
View CommentRadhanath Swami can go all out to please others inspite of inconveniences which might come his way.
View CommentIt only takes a person like Radhanth swami to teach all of us this wonderful quality of ‘giving and not asking’ as he teaches by his own example. Thankyou Radhanath Swami for moulding us in this wonderful way.
View CommentRadhanath Swami sacrifices so much of himself to help the devotee communities he helps – its difficult for us to comprehend.
Seeing his amazing personal example some of his leading students have taken so much responsibility for serving others and doing a similar effort.
View CommentRadhanath Swami always sets an example for others to follow.
View CommentThis principle is so difficult to follow even artificially let alone to try to please someone geniunely the way Radhanath swami has showing us by his experience here
View Commenttake home statement for the day for me “I now learn that an essential part of pleasing others is to be willing to give up our conceptions of likes and dislikes, and accept some inconveniences voluntarily”. We see the same mood which Radhanath swami maharaj lives with.
View Commentvery nice article with a profound message, rajesh karia
View Commentvery rightly explained in this article that its very difficult if you have to please someone, bhakti
View CommentRadhanath Swami is always teaching everyone to live a life of selfless service
View CommentSo much to look forward to !
View Commentgood lessons that pleasing others depends on whta actually the other person wants and not the way we think it is to be done.
View Commentmuch more meaningful my life would be if I actually intend to please and serve others.- H H Radhanath swami
View CommentTo please others is not always easy, but it is part of my deepest nature to wish to do so- H H Radhanath swami
View CommentVery nice. Thanks a lot for sharing.
View Commentmaharaj has rightly said that it is ot not so easy to please others
View CommentAccepting personal inconveniences to serve and please others brings great satisfaction. I haven’t had much of experiences of that in my life but one or two incidences here and there have really made my moments very fulfilling.
Thank you Swamiji for highlighting this aspect.
View CommentRadhanath Swami had sacrificed much of His personal life for the welfare of all humanity by reviving the lost vedic Indian culture. This was the promise made by Radhanath Swami to the border security person when first time He was entering India. So many sacrifices He had done. Its now time for all of us to repay Radhanath Swami. The only way we can repay Him is by simply following in His footsteps and spread His preachings which are purely based on Bhagavad Gita in the line of disciplic succession.
View CommentMaharaj’s stories are always inspirational
View CommentIt’s a fact that our inner self(soul) derives real pleasure only through the personal inconveniences that we undertake for the sake of others’ love & satisfaction. Radhanath Swami is absolutely correct in this regards.
View CommentPersonal example teaches more than anything else & most effective too. Thank you Radhanath Swami
View CommentHere Radhanath swami is teaching us how to be a good guest.
View CommentRadhanath Swamis book the ‘Journey Home’ is like a Treasure Dove, best part is each time one particular thing strikes you as you want to read it again and then again and yet again, till you want to change your life for the better. The author has poured out his heart for us to benefit.
View CommentTo please others is not easy but if we could do that within our limits without breaking regulative principles then why not? No Pain no Gain.
View Commentvery well said!
View CommentRadhanath Swami maharaj puts into practice what he preaches
View CommentRadhanath Swami has changed life of so many persons and proved by own example.
View CommentRadhanath Swami does not leave a single opportunity to please others.
View CommentThese meditations on Radhanath Swami’s book “The Journey Home” are eye-openers and heart transformers. To please someone, sometimes calls for sacrifice on our part, which becomes quite difficult. But learning from Radhanath Swami’s personal life, it is a small price we pay for giving others happiness.
View CommentIt is indeed very difficult in today’s world, where everyone is envious of each other, to act for the satisfaction of others…..Radhanath Swami’s life is exemplary for everyone to follow…..
View CommentEssence of all religion is to please the Lord and His devotees.Radhanath Swami is teaching us how to do this by his own example.What a wonderful way to experience the joy of suffering to please the devotees of the Lord.
View CommentI like this part from life of HH Radhanath Swami
View CommentIf we follow even a little of what has been prescribed by Radhanath swami with utmost sincerity, it will genuinely help us to grow on the path of spirituality.
View CommentRadhanath Swami maharaj is teaching us a example to follow. thank tou fro sharing this article.
View CommentRadhanath Swami personally takes so much inconvenience for others & exemplifies this principle – Thank you.
View CommentSpeaker has pointed out amazing lesson for me too.. to get out of comfort zone and try to please others.. Maharaj is inspiring us all through his book and personal interactions everyday.. I thank LORD for sending such a divine soul.. JAI !!!
View CommentLove means willingness to sacrifice. Radhanath Swami is teaching us how we can develop deep and loving relationships with each other, by this principle of being ready to take personal inconvenience for sake of each others. Profound!
View CommentRadhanath Swami emphasises to all his students to be grateful and here is a live example of how he shows his gratitude even at the cost of personal suffering.
View CommentHH radhanath swami is a really a person who inherently ignores the faults, though we may be full of them and tries to encourage us to become God conscious and actually become happpy & satisifed in God’s service
View CommentMaharaj is setting ideal standards for us what is means to be a devotee who always try to please others/especially sadhus.
View CommentVery nice article.
View CommentSwami ji, you are teaching so many valuable things to us. How will we repay you? May be try and following your foot steps.
View CommentOnly a life lived for others is worth living!
View Comment