Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was carrying quite a few spiritual books with him and was attached to them. He had Bhagavad Gita, Bible, Upanishads, Autobiography of a Yogi, books on Buddhism, one by Shankaracarya, and the Krishna book personally given by Srila Prabhupada. He felt it was a small library in his bag, although the weight of these books impelled him to consider giving away some of these books. However he couldn’t decide which one to give away. One day exhausted by carrying the bag, he put the bag down. Seconds later, as he reached down to lift his bag of books, he was shocked to see it was gone. After a frantic search everywhere, Richard reconciled that the bag was stolen. Although he was sad, he suddenly felt it was much easier to walk now. Radhanath Swami writes his realization
“The nature of the mind is to interpret nonessentials essential. The mind creates artificial needs, believing it cannot live without them. In this way we carry a great burden of attachments throughout our life. Attachment is itself a great burden on our minds. We may never understand the extent of the burden till, like my books or the earwax, we’re free of it. But if we find joy within, we can live a simple life, free of endless complications.”
Radhanath Swami frequently speaks on the absolute necessity for a spiritualist to spiritualize his consciousness. This happens by controlling the mind and practicing to remember God. Over a period of time a sincere sadhaka , practitioner, develops detachment. We are presently carrying the burden of many unnecessary attachments which prevent us from developing love for God. We are rather focused on our petty material needs. These material desires are vicious because they do not go away over a period of time; rather they multiply and become a huge burden in our heart. It seems impossible to et them out of our consciousness. Radhanath Swami prescribes constant engagement in bhakti yoga practices of hearing and chanting of God’s names with firm faith. This will help us get relief from the harassment of these burdens.
Radhanath Swami offers another interesting perspective on relieving ourselves of material burdens. He suggests we take up spiritual burdens by filling our lives with responsibilities for a spiritual cause. When we take the anxiety of uplifting others in their spiritual lives, we are automatically relieved of our own petty burdens.
Radhanath Swami also constantly appeals to all sincere spiritual aspirants to increase their attachment to God. As we increase our positive attachment, we are easily able to give up our wrong and unhealthy attachments to the things of this world.
Radhanath Swami also notes that the more we possess, the more we worry about losing what we have. The more things that grab our attention, the more worry confronts us. If we can give up many unnecessary things we can experience relief from the pangs of material troubles. He also once pointed out how people are always fearful of being alone or being with God. Therefore they fill their lives with unwanted things and spend hours in front of the television and internet. To experience real happiness we need to focus on the inner wealth of our communion with God, rather than focus on the flickering externals of this world.
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........
great article. thank u.
View CommentHaribool . very nice article.
View CommentThank u Maharaj Ji 🙂
View Commentexcellent article by radhanath swami maharaj
View CommentNice meditation by HH Radhanath Swami on how to overcome the demands and burden of mind and become closer to God through inner wealth.
View CommentMaharaj says in one of his lecture ‘Detachment means attach everything with Krishna!’ Very nice explanation. Thank you very much maharaj!
View CommentRadhanath Swami Ki Jai
View CommentNice article by Radhanath Swami. Thanks for sharing it.
View CommentThe secret of inner fulfillment is connection to God.. thanks to Radhanath Swami for pointing out that
View CommentVery true! We are always walking around with so much of excess baggage that we are bogged down with that. Once we give up material attachments and instead get attached to spiritual life, then the burden disappears and we feel so light and happy. Thank you for showing us the way.
View Comment““The nature of the mind is to interpret nonessentials essential. The mind creates artificial needs, believing it cannot live without them.”-Nice one.
View CommentThank you for sharing the nectar
View CommentThis is really nice article. Maharaj is blessed soul and appeared to deliver us.
View CommentClassic statement -“We may never understand the extent of the burden till, like my books or the earwax, we’re free of it.”
View CommentThanks Radhanath Swami for inspiring us
View CommentRadhanath Swami is telling us how to become spiritually, i.e. actually, rich by giving up our unnecessary material possessions.
View CommentNice meditation by HH Radhanath Swami on how we should focus more on internal cleaning than getting attracted to the temporary external worldly allurements.
View CommentMaterial attachments are a great obstacle to spiritual progress. In order to overcome these attachments, we need to sincerely follow the instructions of a bonafide spiritual master
View Commentthe more we vacate our heart from material attractions… the more we can allow Krsna to enter our heart and sit on throne of our heart … and for this am completely dependent on you Maharaj …
View CommentThe more we take spiritual responsibility and constant engagement in this process the more we are relived from the slay of burden and hankerings, amazing points shared.
Thank you
View Comment“To experience real happiness we need to focus on the inner wealth of our communion with God, rather than focus on the flickering externals of this world.”-Nice one.
View CommentThank you for sharing :).
View CommentMaterial detachment means spiritual attachment.
View Commentvery true! Attachment in wrong direction causes bondage.
View Comment“The nature of the mind is to interpret nonessentials essential”
View Comment“The nature of the mind is to interpret nonessentials essential. The mind creates artificial needs, believing it cannot live without them. In this way we carry a great burden of attachments throughout our life.” –
wow!!!! wonderful realizations!
My deepest gratitude to HH Radhanath Swami maharaj for writing such a wonderful book sharing his realizations with the whole world.
View CommentAttachment based on spiritual realization is the best and perfect.Also detachment from material things require proper spiritual attachment.This is possible only when we try to learn the art of spiritual practice,chanting God’s name to always remember Him and associate with those who Love God an serve Him.Very nice article by Radhanath Swami.
View CommentThank you for reminding the basis of human life. These values we tend to forget very frequently and need to be ren=minded again and again…THANK YOU RADHANATH SWAMI.
View CommentThis is simply wonderful experience
View CommentNice Realization on how burden of so many material attachments can stop you from progressing in Krishna Consciousness.
View CommentA very deep realzation about the nature of mind is narrated in this article.
View CommentThe nature of the mind is to interpret nonessentials essential. The mind creates artificial needs, believing it cannot live without them. In this way we carry a great burden of attachments throughout our life. Attachment is itself a great burden on our minds.
Just by reading this and meditating on these words gives so much inner fulfillment …cannot be expressed in words.. Thanks a lot Maharaj for sharing these pearls of wisdom.
The test of spiritual advancement is how much one is free from material attachment.
View CommentVery good article!
View CommentThanks Swamiji for sharing your deep profound realisaitons…..
View CommentKrishna has a unique way to reciprocate with his devotees. Specially when a devotee is of the order and stature of Radhanath Swami Krishna personally takes care of such devotees.
View CommentWe can relieve our material burden in the from of attachment by taking spiritual burden. Thanks to Radhanath maharaj for this point.
View Commentthanks to Radhanath Swami for bringing forth the important point of Attachment before all of us.
View CommentThanks very beautiful insight–how we can relive from material attachment
View CommentThe miseries of this world arise from material attachment.
View CommentRadhanath Maharaj has highlighted important aspect of mind – interpreting nonessential as essential. If I can implement this then I am sure my life is going to change.
View CommentThanks for posting this wonderful article.
View Commentwow… simply amazing understanding of how to get relive from material attachment.
View CommentThe secret of real fullfilment is to know our connection to lord
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for sharing your wonderful realizations on how it is important to focus on internalising our relationship with God.
View Comment“We take up spiritual burdens by filling our lives with responsibilities for a spiritual cause. When we take the anxiety of uplifting others in their spiritual lives, we are automatically relieved of our own petty burdens.” What a great cause? It is so true. This experience is very enlivening.
View CommentGood article .. It very nicely tells about how to get rid of material burdens by taking up spiritual responsibilities of uplifting others. When we preach or help other our petty problems becomes insignificant.
View Commentso profound article. thank u.
View CommentWe are all yearning for this.
View CommentVery nice article
View CommentReally, when we see the problems of others and take spiritual responsibilty of uplifting them….first of all we feel so Grateful for what all we have got; and our problems become insignificant. We become satisfied.
View Comment