Richard (now Radhanath Swami) discovered that the religion of residents of Vrindavan was not reserved for Sundays or holidays; they had spontaneous, loving attraction to God. And this love was intrinsic to every aspect of their lives. It was autumn season and Radhanath Swami remembers watching in fascination the preparation for the festival of Rasa dance. Radhanath Swami learnt that Rasa dance is one of the deepest revelations of spiritual love. Bon Maharaj explained to him the meaning of Rasa dance as a representation of most perfect intimacy between the soul and God.
On the night of Rasa dance, the whole of Vrindavan was abuzz with excitement. It was on this night that Krishna danced with the cowherd maidens of Vrindavan, known as gopis. Bon Maharaj taught Richard (now Radhanath Swami) that this dance was not like any worldly dance wherein people try to satisfy their material senses. While the gopis live as cowherd maids, they embody the highest expression of the soul’s love for God, for pleasing the Lord is their exclusive aspiration. This dance represents the most perfect intimacy between the soul and God, free of any tinge of selfish desire but charged with the fullest bliss. On this night, when Krishna called them from their homes with the sweet song of His flute, the gopis forsook everything they had and risked dangers and social rejection all to satisfy the Lord. When they reached Krishna, the Supreme Lord, He admitted that in the span of creation He had no power to sufficiently repay the gopis for their pure devotion. But in reciprocation He expanded Himself to dance simultaneously with each gopi in their eternal spiritual bodies, for a night of endless joy.
It was during this period that Radhanath Swami experienced Vrindavan affecting his heart deeply. In the sweetness of those moments, he thought how unconditional spiritual love for God was a higher experience than attaining mystic powers wherein one could perform supernatural feats or even liberation wherein one was freed of all sufferings and anxieties. Radhanath Swami reveals, “In spiritual love, like that of the gopis, a devotee fully gives his or herself for the pleasure of the Lord and can fully relish the intimacy of God’s love.”
To drive the point of selfless love of gopis that a devotee seeks to cultivate, Radhanath Swami often narrates a story from the scriptures. Once, Narada Muni, a great travelling devotee of Lord Krishna, informed different devotees that Krishna is having a headache. Some dismissed it as untrue. Others who loved Krishna wanted to help and asked what could be the cure for this headache. Narada said the dust from the feet of His devotees would cure Krishna’s headache. On hearing this, all devotees were shocked and refrained from giving dust; it’s an offense to give dust from the feet on Lord’s head as it’s akin to putting one’s own feet on God’s head. While all refused, gopis immediately gave the dust. Narada asked them if they weren’t afraid of this offense and severe reactions that awaits them for this act. They spontaneously replied they didn’t mind any suffering or adverse reaction for giving their dust to Krishna if in exchange Krishna can experience even a moment’s relief. Their desire to please Krishna is so great that they didn’t mind suffering in exchange. Radhanath Swami narrates this story to illustrate not only the gopis’ love for Krishna but also the aspiration that all of us should have while executing spiritual practises. We must have a desire to serve God rather than accept gifts from him.
Radhanath Swami implores the seekers of enlightenment not to get fooled by materialistic ambitions when approaching God. He says a devotee never has a business relationship with God. “It’s a relationship of giving, and not taking”, says Radhanath Swami. His words are sobering to me as I have grown up only asking God for benedictions. Even my services are motivated with a desire to get something in return. Radhanath Swami educates me that yes we need to ask God for gifts- but the gifts of opportunities for loving service.
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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........
Thanks Swamiji for nice explanation of Rasa dance…..Rasa dance is particularly misunderstood by people in general due to lack of knowledge……….
View CommentThank u for this sublime and beautiful explanation of this complex and highly misunderstood topic…
View CommentThe beginning is very striking – about spontaneous love not being confined to Sundays or other holidays
View Commentthis is so very important to develop proper understanding of such exalted pastimes like Rasa Dance.
Thanks Radhanath Swami for throwing light on this !!
View CommentAs Radhanath Swami always says we should aspire to become the servant of those cowherd maids(Gopis) to seek Krishna’s attention
View CommentThis one article contains the essence of God Consciousness. H.H.Radhanath Swami’s love for God is beyond measure. He is a infinite reservoir who can go on speaking about God infinitely, each time as fresh as ever. This is because he is constantly in touch with the ever fresh and infinite God.
View CommentThankyou Radhanath Swami for this profound instruction to ask for only selfless service from the Lord and all the rest will be taken care of.
View CommentMost do not realy understand this pasttime of the Lord. Radhanath Swami experienced the Ras Lila at Vrindavan affecting his heart deeply becouse of his purty in learning.
View Commentyes we need to ask God for gifts- but the gifts of opportunities for loving service.”…..Long way to go in my spiritual life. Thank you maharaj for letting us know, what it means to love God.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has brought out a very important point through this blog that we must have a desire to serve God for His pleasure rather than accept gifts from Him. That is indeed true love for God, which the gopis have for Him.
View CommentIt is very inspiring. We should always be in the mood of serving God and His devotees, but not in the mood of exploiting or taking. Only thing that we can demand from Lord is an opportunity to serve Him.
View CommentRasa lila pastime of the Lord affected the heart of a pure soul like HH Radhanath Swami.Maharaj understood it perfectly as it kindled in him loving service in pure devotion.Maharaj’s sincerity and purity devotional service has transformed many hearts.All glories to Guru Maharaj.
View CommentYes we must develop the attitude of selfless service towards God which will help us regain our lost eternal possition of serving Him.Though difficult it is we shall try to follow Radhanath Swami’s instructions.Thanks for sharing.
View CommentMaharajah has beautifully explained the Rasa dance, which is misunderstood all over India.
View Comment“It’s a relationship of giving, and not taking”.
Jai.
thank you for very inspiring post
View CommentReal religion is to awaken love for God.Rasa dance represents highest form of Spiritual love of Godhead, hence it is highest form of religion.
View CommentThank u for the sublime and beautiful explanation of this complex and highly misunderstood topic…
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s love for God, Krishna is of beyond this worldly qualities.
View Comment“It’s a relationship of giving, and not taking”. This is amazing realization of love of Godhead. Thank you Radhanath Swami for revealing through this message.
View Commentthank you very much
View CommentThanks !
View CommentVery nice article.
View CommentNice meditation. Thanks of sharing.
View CommentIt is true that my prayers have been tainted with want for benedictions. O Maharaj, please help me that I may pray to Krishna for favorable loving service to His lotus feet at all times. Jai Maharaj.
View CommentThrough the sublime example of the Gopis’ love for Krishna, Radhanath Swami is underlining the principle of selfless love, wherein sacrifice for the beloved is the highest expression of our love.
View Commentthis is soooooo wonderful!!!!! thank you for sharing such sweet intimate pastimes and Maharaj’s explanations to help us understand them!
View CommentNice explanation of Rasa dance and the mood of a devotee when approaching the Lord.
View Commentthank you for post
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj has explained the deep secrets of highest stage of devotional service!
View CommentThank you for profound and sublime Explanation.
View CommentThank you very much for such an inspirational article.
View Comment“It’s a relationship of giving, and not taking” — such a beautiful understanding of our relation with God.
View CommentThe concept of giving God rather than to expect something from Him was a revolutionary concept for me too, when I first heard it.
View CommentService without motivation pleases Krishna.Radhanath Swami insists to please Krishna for to get our lives successful. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
View CommentSelfless service is the basic principle of spiritual life.
View CommentA devotee never has a business relationship with God. Thank you very much.
View CommentGiving is more rewarding than taking. So, God is not our order-supplier, he is our object of service and love.
View CommentThank you sharing this wonder full process of God realisation
View CommentOnly very learned & bonafide saints such as Radhanath Swami can understand the essence of Krishna’s Rasa dance. Other self-styled fake gurus with lesser intelligence merely indulge in cheap speculation & mislead people for their own illicit motives.
View CommentI remember, once Radhanath Swami saying, in giving you receive.
View CommentIt is true that 99% people pray to God to fulfill their material desires….I hope that they read this article & have a proper understanding of prayers…….
View Commentvery nice blog
View CommentSpontaneous love not confined to Sundays or other holidays. This statement is so striking. Our love to God has to be eternal. Thank you Maharaj.
View CommentThe deep love of gopis for Krishna is the highest manifestation of love and can be understood only by following footsteps of Radhanath swami.
View CommentHow simply and clearly told the greatest mystery of love!! Nobody can misunderstand the rasa dance after reading this article.
View Commentwonderful article and very well explained by HHRM that one must approach GOD with a selfless attitude and ask for devotional service, haribol, bhakti
View CommentThe magic of Vrindavan had HHRM’s heart also deeply touched, being empowered with to recognize the messenger of the Lord himself, haribol, rajesh karia
View CommentThis is simply a must read book ‘ The Journey Home’ by Radhanath Swami, going through the experiences of the author coupled with the deep and profound realizations, the misconceptions get clarity and one is able to relish a taste of pure love for the Lord and his pastimes commonly known as ‘Leelas’
View CommentThank you for sharing
View CommentRadhanath Swami gives a very powerful statement when he says that we should not allow our material ambitions to fool us.
View Comment