Richard visited Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, the beautiful Lord who appeared in the role of a man to teach by His own example. He was ideal in all respects-as a son, husband, student, friend, brother and a king. All of these attributes of Lord Rama were meant to teach us the responsibilities we have in our relationships and to endear our hearts to love the Lord.
Seeing many temples, palaces and thousands of pilgrims at Ayodhya, Richard felt he had entered a royal kingdom. Richard was however shocked to discover the actual site of Lord Rama’s birth to be an abandoned mosque, enclosed by coils of barbed wire fencing and patrolled by soldiers armed with rifles. Richard learnt that a Moghul conqueror had built a mosque in the place where Lord Rama’s magnificient palace stood, and since then Hindus and Muslims had battled over ownership of the land. Finally government had seized control and military guarded the site.
Richard recalled similar tensions brewing in Jerusalem at the disputed Dome of the Rock, which is held as sacred by Muslims, Jews as well as the Christians. In his travels looking for God, Richard had discovered unique beauty in all of the world’s religions. But he realized that hateful aggression in the name God is also a sad reality of this world. It is the way of those attached to external forms without understanding the essence. The essence is one, unconditional love of God. The symptoms of any true follower are faith, self-control, love and compassion. Richard watched in wonder a soldier in full military attire offering worship to the painting of Lord Rama at the disputed site.
Many people feel that the world would be better off without religion. Their sentiments can be understood considering that the modern times have seen large-scale violence in the name of religion. But is religion the only cause of violence? The last century witnessed people fighting over practically every issue, including nationalism, regionalism, language, even sports. Most of the wars in recent times, and throughout history at large, have been fought due to greed for wealth and power. Religion is just used as a convenient scapegoat by the powers that be to conceal their grossly materialistic motivations. If religion had been the singular cause of violence, then the countries where atheism was the national ideal should have been free from violence? Facts hardly agree with this conclusion, as can be seen from the history of the East bloc countries.
Another common question that arises is does the human being really need religion? The universally accepted goal of life is the quest for happiness. When man neglects or rejects religion, then, consciously or unconsciously, his conception of his own self becomes “a lump of chemicals which has by chance come alive”. The quest for happiness then degenerates into a savage struggle for carnal enjoyment. Such a conception of life is individually frustrating & globally disastrous.
The fundamental need of the individual is love; everyone wants to love and be loved. Radhanath Swami explains that real religion and spirituality imparts an individual with the vision to see the cosmos in the proper perspective and to live in harmony with it. Quoting the non-sectarian Vedic texts, he says that actual self is anti-material; our material body is animated by a spiritual particle called the atma or the soul. The supreme spiritual being who animates the entire cosmos is called the Paramatma or the Supersoul. And the relationship between the two – the soul and the Supersoul – is explained to be that of loving service, somewhat like that between a son and a father. This loving relationship exists eternally in the highest realm called the spiritual world. When the soul refuses to be in harmony with the will of the Supreme, this relationship is temporarily obscured. The soul is then placed in the realm of matter, which is the place where all of us currently reside. Radhanath Swami further explains that genuine spirituality is meant to awaken the soul to his original spiritual identity. This is affected through a harmonious combination of philosophy and religion, which constitute the two rails on which spirituality runs. The philosophy aspect of spirituality involves the study and understanding of matter, spirit and the controller of both – the Supreme. And the religion aspect involves the following of certain rules and regulations, which bring about the actual realization and experience of the spiritual realm.
Richard also read English translation of the Ramayana, containing the life and teachings of Lord Rama. He began to slowly find his heart irresistibly drawn towards personal qualities of the Lord. Reading about the loving exchanges between Rama and His devotees drew Richard’s mind closer to the path of devotion.
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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........
in fact there is no mention of hindu religion in scriptures which is the basis of spiritual understamding, yet we fight on being a hindu. The mohammedans use to call the people of wholived along Indus river as hindus. religion is a matter of faith. having faith in the love of god and serving him unconditionally which is the nature of soul by default.
View Commentgreat blog thank you
View Comment@Sandeep
very true, we have to always remember that all the souls and part and parcel of Krishna. but when we meet a muslim we should be careful as well so that we save our soul. because nowadays many islamists are cultivating the wahabi mentality in their community.
View Commentvery inspiring
View CommentIf religion had been the singular cause of violence, then the countries where atheism was the national ideal should have been free from violence? Facts hardly agree with this conclusion, as can be seen from the history of the East bloc countries.Nice argument from Radhanath swami.
View CommentAll Glories To H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj
If only the modern day philosophers and self acclaimed pundits were to understand this reality they would not attribute lot of devastation and misery of the third world countries to religion.
But unfortunately also, a lot of so called practitioners of religion have some time or the other used religion to incite sentiments and achieve ends.
Hare Krishna
View CommentThis is an amazing article! Radhanath Swami so clearly and carefully explains the need for spirituality and its inherent constituents – religion and philosophy. Beautiful!
View CommentVested interest in any and everything is practiced today on every scale and order, religion is no exception, in-fact it just becomes a driving force – lets prove our religion is better than yours seems to be a common agenda some exhibit it with violence others with their sentiments.
Radhanath Swami is seen encouraging persons from all faiths to practice taking Gods name and rendering devotional service to him.
View CommentHope all the religious leaders sit down together & understand the real truth from Radhanath Swami soon
View CommentVery beautifully explained by Radhanath Swami – What is true religion , why is it needed & how it is to be practiced ?
View CommentJust like we feel thirsty, we feel the need to be loved. Water fulfills the need of thirst; religion is to fulfill the need for love.
View CommentIf only people of various religions understood that the essence is one – unconditional love of God.
View Commentthis is a sad reality of today’s world that in the name of the religion some people fight the wars although the actual intention is some monetary gain or control. This observation to Radhanath Swami Maharaj about the Ayodhya is very much the confirming reality.
but despite that Radhanath Swami Maharaj has always taken out positive lessons out of everything and progressed, that’s very amazing to see.
View CommentH.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj is a perfect peace messenger.
View CommentMaharaj is explaining the real essence of religion and spiritualitiy.
View CommentSuch an amazing articles. Really an eye opening for todays leader. Thanks Maharaj. very clear distinction between religon and spirituality
View CommentIts true “The fundamental need of the individual is love; everyone wants to love and be loved. “. if one understand this simple fact it can bring real peace to the world.
View CommentMaharaj gave apt insight that it is not religion which causes violenace but indeed is the blackness of the heart of people due to greed and hatred, who use religion as a mere tool
View CommentThank you for such a nice article.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s learning mood which he showed during his voyage is remarkable and inspiring.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for putting light on such a burning issue
View CommentH.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj has so nicely explained about the unfortunate incidents happening in the name of religion. All religious leaders should understand this. Unfortunately, religion is being used as a tool in the hands of leaders for accomplishing their own selfish goals.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has so nicely explained what is true religion and what we should imbibe in us and what we should not.
View CommentSo amazing !
View Commentyes , religion is meant for peace but people are mis interprating it.
View CommentOn his spiritual journey , Radhanath Swami saw both sides of the story, i.e. faith and devotion of religious people and strife and hateful aggression because of immature followers of religion. But, it’s remarkable that he always chose the bright side. It’s a lesson for all of us.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has very accurately explained to us what is real religion.
View CommentAscribing all violence to religion, or to consider religion to the most prominent cause for violence are both false… thank you Radhanath Swami for clarifying this concept so vividly.
View CommentEveryone of us is looking for everlasting love, our mind jumping from one object to another, and this love can be felt at soul level only. when we loose our connection with religion or spirituality, we think ourselves this body only, this leads to everlasting frustration.
View CommentReligion is the only aspect of our life that distinguish us from animal, if we loose it, we are no better than animal.
Radhanath Swami so nicely describes what is true religion and what is the cause of rift between various religions and why do people in general do not want to follow any religion. This article so relevant today when there are still disputes happening over the same place.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swamiji for nice understanding.
View CommentSuch enlightened realization of Radhanath Swami should help this world today
View CommentNice article – very thought provoking. The essence of true religion is one, unconditional love of God. The symptoms of any true follower are faith, self-control, love and compassion.
View CommentThe preacher of words of krishna is always alert in his action like here Radhanath swami maharaj.
View CommentHari Hari
View CommentHari Bol
View CommentRadhanth Swami has very deep understainding of spirituality.
View CommentIt is the fundamental need of everyone to love and loved by others. Which can be satisfied in true religion. True religion is to love and serve lord and his children, Radhanath Swami Maharaj exemplifies this through his actions, words and thoughts by always meditating how each and every living entity of the world can become god conscious so that one can get his lost love and peace can be established in this world……
View CommentReligion is meant to bring peace, but unscrupulous persons use religion for their personal and political agendas thereby creating hatred and enmity. Because of this, many people turn atheists.
View Comment