I often wonder how a seven year old American child could have mannerisms of sadhus, the wandering mendicants seeking God, commonly seen in India. As a young Richie, Radhanath Swami refused to sit on chairs while eating and preferred to sit on the floor. He wore clothes and shoes only if they were old and worn out. These are the typical idiosyncrasies of holy men living in sacred places of India. Richard could relate more to the poor and downtrodden, and was often embarrassed if he had better things than others. Considering Radhanath Swami’s later discovery of his guru in India and his appreciation for mother India, I can’t help asking if he has past life roots in India. This raises the question of reincarnation. Is it really possible for a person to take birth again; is there life after death?
There have been many researchers, psychiatrists and hypnotherapists who began with little or no sympathy for reincarnationist perspectives, but their research unavoidably pointed in this direction, and so, they proceeded with their findings. The work of Dr. Ian Stevenson, Carlson Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, is particularly representative of this approach. Apart from Dr Ian Stevenson, many other researchers like Satwant Parischa, Gabriel Delanne (1924), Shirley (1932), B L Atreya (1957), Parrinder (1976), McTaggart (1915), Ducasse (1961) and Broad (1962,1971) have taken the subject of reincarnation very seriously and have researched and defended it. Over a 100 books and several research dissertations have been written on the subject of reincarnation since the late nineteenth century. Dr Ian Stevenson’s research of childhood reincarnation cases spans some 30 years. As of 1987, Stevenson had accumulated over 3000 cases of this type in his files and over half of these were of the “solved” type (that is the person’s past life experience had been determined beyond reasonable doubt). Thanks to Stevenson’s work, thousands of cases “suggestive of reincarnation” have now seen their way into print, and his related work is published in such prestigious academic journals as ‘The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease’, ‘The Journal of the American Medical Association’, and ‘The International Journal of Comparative Sociology.’
Through the centuries, a surprising number of intelligent, non-fanatical thinkers have believed in reincarnation. “I am confident,” said Socrates, “that there truly is such a thing as living again, that the living spring from the dead, and that the souls of the dead are in existence.” Ralph Waldo Emerson agreed. “The soul,” he wrote, “comes from without into the human body, as into a temporary abode, and it goes out of it anew…it passes into other habitations, for the soul is immortal.” A select group of 18th-, 19th-, and 20th- century Americans –
Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Tom Paine, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman, among others – who
believed that the soul, the energy that animates the body, goes on to a new body when the present body dies.
Numerous scientists and psychologists have believed in reincarnation as well. One of the greatest modern Psychologists, Carl Jung, used the concept of an eternal self that undergoes many births as a tool in his attempts to understand the deepest mysteries of the self and consciousness. “I could well imagine that I might have lived
in former centuries and there encountered questions I was not yet able to answer; that I had to be born again because I had not fulfilled the task that was given to me,” said Carl Jung. Nobel Laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer often spoke of past lives, rebirth, and the immortality of the soul. He said, “There is no death. How can there be death if everything is part of the Godhead? The soul never dies and the body is never really alive.” Harvard biophysicist D. P. Dupey wrote, “We may lead ourselves down a blind alley by adhering dogmatically to the assumption that life can be explained entirely by what we know of the laws of nature. By remaining open to the ideas embodied in the Vedic tradition of India, modern scientists can see their own disciplines from a new perspective and further the aim of all scientific endeavours: the search for truth”.
Now when I read Radhanath Swami’s autobiography I get a feeling he was just continuing his search from where he had left off in his past life. I am reminded of one of the most celebrated scientists, Benjamin Franklin, who wrote, “Finding myself to exist in the world, I believe I shall, in some shape or other, always exist.”
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........
Radhanth Swami’s spontaneous attraction for “Blue Boy” (Krishna) in the picture that he has bought on the streets, is evidence enough he has come here on a special mission.
View CommentThere is enough scientific research and real-life incidents that make one believe in the continuity of life after death. Life of persons like Radhanath Swami only increases this conviction.
View CommentWE SHOULD NOT DOUBT IN SPIRITUAL MASTER / GREAT SAGES / AND REVEALED SCRIPTURES , WE SHOULD ONLY TAKE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THEM AND FOLLOW THEM INTO OUR LIFE THERE IS NO NEED TO RESEARCH , EVERYTHING IS ALREADY PRE-SEARCHED
View CommentI do not know if Radhanath Swami is carrying past life impressions however am sure that he is a specially empowered and compassionate personality who came on a mission of helping the misdirected civilization.
View CommentThe Vedic scriptures have always stressed on the existence of life after death. The experience of persons like Radhanath Swami further strengthens this phenomenon.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is indeed a great soul continuing his devotional service from his past life.
View CommentRadhanath Swami and many other disciples of Srila Prabhupada have especially appeared to assist Srila Prabhupada in his mission. Its like when Krishna appears all his associates also come along with him
View CommentAll the Vedic Scripture instructs us that there is no death for the soul, but because we are the under illusory energy of the Lord, we have not realized it.
View CommentNice observation of the life of Radhanath Swami. Great souls like him come to this material world just to protect us and take us back to our original home in the spiritual world.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is not ordinary
View CommentThanks for sharing this beautiful article. I absolutely agree that Radhanath swami must be continuing from where he left in his last life.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharajs life is a modern legend!
View CommentBeautifully put by others in the above comments..
View CommentMore than carrying past life impressions it feels like maharaj like other Prabhupada disciples have specially come to remind us about our origin and help us progress.
Reincarnation is a well known fact today and based on above scientifie evidenses one must readily accept the truth.
View CommentI have just read Radhanath Swami’s autobiography ‘ The Journey Home’ it is amazing. He is really great and surely blessed by God.
View CommentIt is true that if the scientists are open to the knowledge revealed in the Vedas their research will be more directed and less energy, time and money will be wasted.
View CommentRadhanath Swamis book “The Journey” home is like a treasure mine as you go deeper in, you lay your hands on more and more treasure and definitely we can understand his presences is a divine intervention as a hope for fallen souls.
View CommentThe writer analyses the amazing qualities of Radhanath Swami and puts forth very convincing arguements from the Swami’ life in favour of reincarnation. Everyone would be forced to think like that after going through the book.
View CommentJourney Home book truely shows this fact in reality
View CommentH.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai.
View CommentThe Lord mercifully sends such great souls as Radhanath Swami time and again to improve the fallen lot of people like us, so definitely, it mustn’t be his first trip here!
View CommentRadhanath Swami is a soul fully surrendered to service of God and looking at his early childhood we can understand that he must have been continuing his devotion from his previous life.
View CommentHH NRadhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai !!
View CommentWhat?? I do not understand or agree with this??
View CommentThis makes us think about our present activities, as these will determine what lies for us in future also. Thus we can see people born at the same time in different material settings
View Comment‘ The journey Home’ is really good one for those who are searching for something different. nice book.
View CommentOur material existence dates back to the first instance when we wanted to enjoy independent of the Supreme Lord, Krishna. We have been living our lives in re-incarnated forms of different species since time immemorial. Great self-realized souls like Radhanath Swami appear on Earth just to remind us of our constitutional position & our eternal place in God’s spiritual kingdom. We simply need to adhere to their instructions to put an end to this endless miserable cycle of births & deaths and go back home to Godhead permanently.
View CommentRe-incarnation is a debatable topic, but with the eyes of Vedic literatures, one can understand the existence of soul & its eternal nature…..
View CommentGreat souls like Radhanath swami only come to give us their association
View CommentIt is interesting to note the incidents coming one after other in the life of Radhanath Swami which proves the ETERNAL relationship of Living entity with supreme lord, but more inspiring and wonderful is to note the devotion and loving attitude which Radhanath Swami carries in his heart right from the very young age which shows he can never forget that relationship whether this life or past ones.
View CommentFacts do not cease to exist just because someone does not believe in them… The existence of soul is proved time and again.
View CommentMany incidents that seem unexplained, like the miraculous incidents in Radhanath Swami’s life, can be easily understood if one takes into account the past life influences and karma.
View Commenthe is a special soul sent by the lord on a special mission
View Commentcertainly he was a great saint in his past life..!!
View CommentThats very likely Radhanath Swami is a great soul
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj is a devotee of God in every birth!
View CommentThat was a very interesting read , comments included!
View CommentRadhanath Swami is very special
View CommentRadhanath Swami started from where he left in his last life and now helping thousands to never take birth again.
View CommentVery informative article…….thanks
View CommentYes it seems so obvious that Radhanath Swami must have had past life else how could a 7 yr old boy follow habits of a sadhu in india?
View CommentRadhanath Swami is deffinately epowered by Lord.
View CommentI am very grateful to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja for writing this book.
View CommentHe may have come from spiritual world to liberate the conditioned souls.
View CommentThe book Journey home on life of Radhanth swami gives many incidents to understand that soul continues his journey even after death.Existence of the soul is the central and essenstial point in any religion
View CommentIn the light of GOD consciousness, all this becomes so plausible.
View CommentThat’s a brilliant one….
View CommentThank you very much for sharing
View CommentMost people in India, due to their better understanding and acceptance of Vedic philosophy, have no difficulty in believing in re-incarnation.
View CommentVery nice blog
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