Affected by the atmosphere of Vrindavan, a longing to learn about Krishna awakened in Richard (now Radhanath Swami)’s heart. He was directed towards the temple of Madan Mohan and Swami Bon Maharaj’s ashram. On nearing the temple, a feeling of intimacy touched Richard’s soul. Alan Shapiro from New York who had now become Asim Krishna Das, a disciple of Bon Maharaj, befriended Richard and offered hospitality.
Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was to leave early the next morning for Hardwar, where Gary was waiting for him. When night fell, Richard offered his farewell to the land of Vrindavan. But his mind was divided. Lying down to sleep on the earthen riverbank, he thought, Vrindavan is attracting my heart like no other place. What is happening to me? Please reveal Your divine will. With this prayer, he drifted off to sleep. The next morning however Richard woke to find himself with a blazing fever. He could barely move and as he felt his life force sinking, and hungry vultures hovered over him. A kind hearted local farmer took him to an impoverished charitable hospital where Richard discovered he had typhoid. The doctor even told Richard matter-of-factly that he would likely die. Lying in deep pain and anguish, surrounded by other patients who howled and screamed in agony, Richard remembered his parents and Gary. Finally he placed his life in the hands of God and prayed, “I am yours. Please do with me what you will.” All night long, Richard softly chanted Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and found solace.
I felt God was reciprocating with Radhanath Swami’s desire to stay in Vrindavan. He wasn’t sure if he should stay in Vrindavan and not meet up with Gary, but an undeniable attraction was pulling him to stay in Vrindavan. He was indecisive and begged the Lord to reveal His will. As his heart was being pulled towards God like an iron filling towards a magnet, and as an answer to his prayer, God gave him typhoid; there was no way he could now leave Vrindavan. This wasn’t the first time Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was indecisive. As a young Richie (childhood name of Radhanath Swami), he didn’t want to be part of the school wrestling team. As expectations from him increased amongst his school mates, he prayed for a way out, and God arranged his shoulder to be dislocated. Similarly he wanted to be in Vrindavan but wasn’t sure. Radhanath Swami’s example is the evidence of God’s existence and reciprocation with a sincere seeker.
I am often haunted by doubts and uncertainties. Radhanath Swami seems to offer a practical solution to approach God and petition to Him our confusions. Radhanath Swami reveals that the only power we have as an individual spiritual aspirant is the ability to have the right kind of desires. “Circumstances and various events in this bizarre world are beyond our control. However if we can offer our will, our intention to love God, then God facilitates situations to help us reach Him.” As he wrote in his letter to his parents, Radhanath Swami places great emphasis on faith, “where there is faith in God, fear cannot exist.”
Also his prayers at the most critical condition in the hospital is an inspiring meditation. On the verge of death he prays, “I am yours, please do with me what you will.” This standard of prayer of Radhanath Swami is awe-inspiring. We have been taught since childhood to pray to God for material benefits like a good score in the exams, or some gifts or even victory in a match for our favourite team. I never imagined one could pray to God to let us do what He wants us to do. I am reminded of Radhanath Swami’s tutor in Jewish prayers. He had explained to little Richard that 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.
Radhanath Swami says we shouldn’t have a business relationship with God, and come before Him asking only for the gifts we want. “God will certainly provide what we lack and carry what we have”, says Radhanath Swami, “He provides food, and shelter for giant elephants in the forests and even for the ants and spiders in your house. Therefore that shouldn’t be our prayer. Let us pray to God to please Him, love Him and offer our hearts as an expression of gratitude and pray to be an instrument to carry out His will in this world.”
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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........
Radhanath Swami’s own deep faith in the Lord is revealed by such incidents. He just wanted the Lord’s Will to prevail in his life – not his own.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s selfless prayer in such a critical situation reveals the spotlessly pure heart of a great saint. Such a holy person has no desire other than to do the will of god with love.
View CommentExcellent quote by Radhanath Swami “Circumstances and various events in this bizarre world are beyond our control. However if we can offer our will, our intention to love God, then God facilitates situations to help us reach Him.”
View CommentPraying to God to make us an instrument in his hands. This is such a revolutionalary thought. Thank you
View CommentSubmitting ourselves to Gods will is true surrender
View CommentI personally felt that often times I approach the Lord with some prayer is when i want something. On the contrary maharaj says our relationship God should not be that of a businessman. I hope these words keep ringing in my mind and heart and may I by His grace pray to Him for His pleasure.
View CommentVery nice realization by HH Radhanath Swami that one must endeavour to do the will of the Lord in order to please Him.Only in the mode of surrender we can appreciate our circumstances in life just like Maharaj who simply considered typhoid to be the will of the Lord in guiding him for what he sought (the love of God).
View CommentAll GLories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
AN thought that reverses our years of conditioning that pray to god before you do anything seeking sucess in your activites.
Though simple but s truly radical, and should be practiced by heart.
Hare Krishna
View Commentevery one should be practicing this by heart
View CommentThanks for sharing such an inspiring post
View CommentHARI HARI
View CommentWhat an arrangement the Lord made for his pure devotee. He left his devotee with no option but to stay with him in his birthplace “The Holy Vrindavan Dham”. The lords arrangement might look severe just like the medicine might taste bitter in the beginning but the end result is always sweet.So was the transcendental plan made by the Lord for Radhanath Swami.
View CommentH.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj always wants God’s will to prevail and he inspires all on this. All glories to H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View CommentThanks for inspiring.
View CommentPrayer is important ..nice realization & explanation by Radhanath Swami..thanks
View CommentThank you very much for sharing.
View CommentThankyou Radhanath Swami for for a wonderful article .
View CommentI pray that I remember this always and more at the time when I need to remember this.
Thank you Maharaj
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for enlightening us by making us understand that we can get a bigger ‘high’ by practicing spirituality rather than using cheap material substitutes
View CommentHari Hari
View CommentRadhanath Swami is the best example for everyone to lead a life where Lord Krishna is the centre. This atomatically makes one lead a disciplined life.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for enlightening us
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for sharing this
View Commentamazing post about Radhanath Swami.
View Commentvery inspiring realisation!!!
View Comment“Let us pray to God to please Him, love Him and offer our hearts as an expression of gratitude and pray to be an instrument to carry out His will in this world.” such a nice prayer Radhanath Swami is teaching all of us.
View CommentThis is a very inspiring story and educative too – it smashes the popular notion of having only business transactions with God.
View CommentGreat Article – very instructive – “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” – Thanks a lot Maharaj.
View Commentvery beautiful article. Thanks for sharing this beautiful story about Radhanath swami – loved this one – “I am yours, please do with me what you will.”
View CommentRadhanath swami maharaj was just following in the mood of his spiritual master HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupad who also prayed “Nachao Nacho prabhu Nacho…….”
All glories to HH Radhanath swami maharaj
View Commentvery nice realisation of Radhanth Swami.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for instructing us on the ideal way to pray to God.
View CommentRadhanath swami always wants to give the highest level of knowledge
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami is an enlightenend soul in the true sense- what he has realized in one lifetime cannot be realized by us in thousands of lifetimes too. I pray at his lotus feet.
View CommentThank you for sharing this beautiful realizations. ” Radhanath Swami’s example is the evidence of God’s existence and reciprocation with a sincere seeker.”
View CommentRadhanath swami show us way of perfection.
View CommentHH Radhanath Maharaj teaches us by his example how prayers are so important & how Lord reciprocates through them.
View Comment