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........
Radhanath Swami is so true. Its an interesting article which one must read to avoid hatred on the basis of religion one follows. Usually the tendency in some Hindus is to hate the Muslims because of our issues with Pakistan thats unfortunate if one tall man causes us distress we won;t hate all the tall men who we come across in our lives. Religion, Caste System etc is unfortunately used as a weapon by politicians to divide and increase their vote bank.
View CommentThe practioner of any religion holds a big responsibilty to act properly. Its the practitioner who is wrong not the religion.
View Commenthey, nice blog…really like it and added to bookmarks. keep up with good work
View CommentVery informative & educative article…..wish if people all over the world would follow Radhanath Swami’s teachings of pure love……
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami, for so simply clarifying the diffference between true spirituality and so-called religion, which is nothing but material greed in the name of religion.
View CommentAs Radhanath Swami has said, all religions actually teach us love for God & love for each other as a part & parcel of God. Its only a few self-motivated religious leaders driven by their own self interests, false ego & pride who drive a wedge between the common people & create hatred in the name of religion.
View CommentPerfect explanations.This is the true explanation of religion.Violence in the name of religion is not appreciated by any one.Everyone wants peace.this can be achieved by surrendering to God and by stopping the fights in the name of religion.the essence is to love God.
View CommentHH Radhanath Maharaj is sharing one of the most important lesson to be understood by all of us in this blog. He is touching religion, spirituality and true nature of soul, love and be loved. We see from past the few people have used religious faith of society and twisted it for their own benefits. We have to be strong enough and learn from saintly persons like Maharaj. Jai !!!
View CommentThanks for wonderfully explaining the real religion to us.
View CommentEvery true spiritual leader should teach his disciples to love that one god as it is exemplified by Radhanath swami
View CommentThank you very much for such a nice article.
View CommentWe may keep on calling ourselves Religious but Radhanath Swami makes an important point that “religion aspect involves the following of certain rules and regulations, which bring about the actual realization” Thankyou
View CommentVery good article
View CommentNice article.
View Commentwhat a beautiful and deep lesson! Thank you for this article and to Radhanath swami too.
View CommentHIghly profound philosophy. Maharaj can view spirituality free of religious dogma.
View CommentThanks Radhanath Maharaj for explaining real meaning of religion.
View CommentThank you for sharing Radhanath Swami’s understanding to distinguish between reality and fake. Who else could share such realizations and understanding.
View CommentVery nice blog.
View CommentIndeed religion is meant to unite people, thanks to Radhanth Swami for his wonderful insights
View Commentjay!!
View CommentAll religions talk about living in peace & harmony with each other. But until the common people heed to the instructions imparted by bonafide saints such as Radhanath Swami, the fanatics & radicals will keep misleading them by stoking flames of fear, envy & anger towards people belonging to the “other” faith.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj gives us a powerful lesson so that we may protect our minds from hating anyone!
View CommentRadhanath Swami has so nicely explained herein that religion and philosophy, received from a bonafide source, together can make one understand his true position in relation to matter and God.
View CommentWonderful blog explaining the meaning for true religion.
View CommentSo beautifully explained here – the need of religion, how we can we see harmony in various religions and what is the ultimate goal & need of everyone.
We need many more people like Radhanath Swami to help this world…
View CommentIndeed true. In India it is a popular saying that one who has nothing to do becomes God or saint. It is a good business. But true spiritualists stand out from the crowd of imposters. Only a true seeker can find a true spiritualist. That’s why His Holiness Radhanath Swami could find Srila Prabhupada.
View CommentVery lucid explanation by Radhanath Swami to this common question or doubt of so many that religion is the cause of wars. It is also very heartning to know the early attachment of Radhanath Swami to Lord Ramachandra, the Supremely attractive Lord.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s attitude of looking for good is so uch deeply engraved in him. An ordinary may get depressed by seeing the fighting but he is always attached to the essence. In this situation also he can see the essence of all religion is to love God unconditionally and people are simply just attched t superficial things and hence they fight
View CommentVery clear understanding. Radhanath Swami helping each one of us to get back to our eternal relationship to God. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
View CommentRadhanath Swami, during his epic quest for spirituality, has read & studied the holy scriptures of all the major religious groups – Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists & Hindus. He has found out that though the details may vary from religion to religion, however the basic essence of all holy scriptures remain the same – to be compassionate to all living beings created by God and to live in peace & harmony with each other.
View CommentSo one can safely draw a conclusion that all religions preach love, compassion & tolerance. Its only the religious bigots who falsely advocate hatred, intolerance & violence in the name of God. People need to be smart enough to listen to the word of God as propagated by bonafide saints like Radhanath Swami & they should ignore the mad voices of radical elements.
As Radhanath Swami says, all religions preach love & tolerance. So people who forment violence in the name of religion are nothing but scoundrels.
View CommentReligion should never be the basis for violence and hatred. It is unfortunate that on the basis of religion, caste, nationality, laguage, etc. people are fighting. Maharaj has nicely explained. Thank you Maharaj.
View Commentvery nice article, thanks for posting, bhakti
View Commentvery correctly explained by HHRM in this article that ones genuine spirituality is very important to awaken the original spirituality within, Maharaj ki Jai! rajesh
View CommentNice Article!! H.H.Radhanath Swami leads like a father showing us the path to go back Back to God Head with these words”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.”
View Commentvery nice,thank you
View CommentReal religion transforms our outlook toward life. If we lead lives based on true religious principles, then our lives transform into beautiful expressions of love. Thanks Radhanath Swami and his wonderful book The Journey Home.
View CommentPeople fighting in the name of religion are not religious people. Like Maharaj says Religion is the scapegoat.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj expertly draws the lessons from every encounter he had. True, religion is not the cause of conflicts, it’s the vested interests of other individuals who cause conflicts in the name of religion.
View CommentThere is so much hatred and war amongst people in the name of other things as well, apart from religion, like money, sports, customs, land, etc. That does not mean we abandon these things, including religion. Radhanath Swami has so nicely pointed out what the true essence of real religion is. If there is genuine love amongst everyone, based on spiritual values, all these problems can be avoided.
View CommentThis is a truly illuminating article by Radhanath Swami giving not only the reasons for the decline of true religious practice but also what it means to practice true religion. Thank you for sharing this article. I wish many more people would read it. It would greatly change their perception of what good religious practice really is.
View CommentThis is a truly illuminating article by Radhanath Swami giving not only the reasons for the decline of true religious practice but also what it means to practice true religion. Thank you for sharing this article. I wish many more people would read it. It would greatly change their perception of what wrong religious practice really is.
View CommentThroughout history all the world religion has been misused by the greedy leaders to exploit people to fulfill their purpose.
View CommentMaharajah has so nicely explained the true religion, which suppose to unite people. We all have one need to love and to be loved.
Thank you Maharajah for explaining it so nicely.
Its a well known historic fact that often religion is used by certain interested parties to achieve their personal selfish goals leading to huge violence and hatred among common people.Thanks to Radhanath Swami we can clearly understand the true meaning of religion.
View CommentRadhanath swami Maharaj had done one of the greatest deed by putting down his autobiography in writing, which is at present and will encourage people for all ages to come in future.
View CommentThough inspiring article!
View CommentHope the so called leaders of today’s world can understand this simple funda
View CommentIn the Bhagavad Gita Krishna says that we should forsake all religion and surrender to Him. If we could only use religion for a greater understanding of God instead of a tool to control people, the world would be such a loving place. Thank you Maharaj for giving us this understanding.
View CommentWhether religion is for violence or peace is a raging question in the world today – Radhanath Swami clearly explains and lay out what real religion stands for.
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