Meditations on The Journey Home – Lesson from Chapter 2
Inspirations from ‘The Journey Home ‐ Autobiography of an American Swami’
In the inner depths of the Himalayan forests, Richard met a powerful, well built, six foot tall yogi, dressed only in a loin cloth covering his groin. Mahavirdas Tat Walla Baba had left home as a child in search of God and since the age of sixteen lived in these caves. Years of rigorous, solitary meditation had given him supernatural powers. With the ability to read Richard’s mind, Tat Walla Baba spoke in a deep, compelling voice, addressing his deep concerns. The Baba spoke about maya, or illusion as forgetting our identity in relation to God. He explained we needn’t search for God everywhere. If we are sincere and call out to Him sincerely, He shall reveal to us in our own hearts. We may wander through the jungles our whole lives yet not find Him, because He resides in our heart, and if we can find Him there, we can see Him everywhere.
Radhanath Swami often narrates a story to drive home this point. Once a rich man left a huge treasure for his son, but he died before he could give it to his son. The son, on knowing that his father had left him a fortune, began a massive search. He searched the whole world but couldn’t find the treasure. Eventually he too became old, and died. His family members buried his dead body at the back yard of his house, and lo and behold what did they discover on digging the ground? The treasure!! He searched for it whole life, but it was lying at his own backyard. Similarly there is a huge treasure of love of God right in our hearts. However we search for it through more money, fame and material success. These ephemeral pursuits can never give us happiness. Tat Walla Baba cut through Richard’s selfish conditionings by his sword like words, “People are chasing after the temporary. Do you not see they are on the road to death?”
Almost all the Babas Richard met lived a simple life, satisfied with whatever Mother Nature provided. “He who is content is rich”, said the wise Lao Tzu. When we lead a God centered life, with a culture of prayer and service as the basic foundation, a sense of serenity fills our lives. The pushing of the restless mind to ‘get what I want, when I want’ is replaced by a desire to improve the quality of our offering to God. The mind’s primary function is to ‘like’ and ‘dislike’. Constant acceptance and rejection by the mind ensures we are never peaceful and happy. The connection to God however helps us ignore the various material allurements, and transcend the petty wrangling of the mind. How does this science of God connection work?
Radhanath Swami answers this beautifully, “A devotee practicing a God centered lifestyle fills his or her heart with loving remembrance of God. This absorption in chanting God’s holy names and hearing about God gives us an experience of spiritual happiness that helps one transcend the constant battering by the mind. To the extent we are connected to God, our happiness only increases with the passage of time, and simultaneously the craving for material possessions wanes away.”
Tat Walla Baba invited Richard to join him and spend the rest of his life in the caves. Richard thought deeply:
“His words reverberated in my mind while I pondered the seriousness of the decision I had to make. One morning, I came out of my meditation and thought: It would be a blessing to live under the guidance of such a holy man in this sanctified forest. Still, if I dedicate myself to following a guru, I should never disgrace him by changing my mind later in life. I wish to find a master and a path that I can dedicate my life to”.
Richard humbly declined, not because the Baba wasn’t qualified, but Richard wanted to be sure he wouldn’t disgrace his guru. Radhanath Swami shares his internal meditation, “The behavior of a disciple can be an ornament for, or a scar on the reputation of the spiritual master.”
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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........
It is so great to see maharaj so focused on his goals.
View CommentAccepting a guru is one of the most important decision in the life of a spiritual seeker. Like Richard, one should not commit to a guru unless one is 100% sure to follow his guru’s instructions for the rest of his life.
View Commentmaharaj is only only true to others but himself also..He made sure he get what he is looking for.
View CommentRadhanath swmai during his journey home whomever he met always acceptd their teachings.Implemented those teachings very much in his life and also given this treasures to world.
View CommentThanks for sharing
View Commentvery inspiring
View CommentRadhanath Swami dedicated himself to Bhaktivedanta Swami. Bhaktivedanta Swami has many dedicated followers, each one a jewel, and Radhanath Swami is also amongst those shining jewel collection of Bhaktivedanta Swami
View CommentOnly a pure devotee (Like Radhanath Swami Maharaj) can have this dire need for searching the God within! Lets pray that we get a dint of this quality of Maharaj….
View Commentwonderful examples radhanath swami had set for his followers,
View CommentI many times feel why I am not crying every time I see Maharaj. Why I am so fortunate out of millions to get chance to see him, to hear him live. He is Guru to thousands but Shiksha Guru of Millions. What better fortune one can have than to get association of Maharaj.
View CommentThankyou for sharing !
View CommentRadhanath swami Maharaj took every thing and every moment of life very positively and by his own example he is teaching us so many things like tolerance, celibacy, austerity etc
View CommentThank you Radhanath swami Maharaj for this wonderful message !!!
View CommentIt was nice to read to search for god with in.
View CommentRadhanath Maharaj had great perception to understand what he is looking for and did not give up till he got. Maharaj Ki Jai
View CommentHow can we know God? deep longing within is a testimonial. Great soul like Maharaj have that longing and hence closer to God.
View Comment“He who is contect is rich”….Radhanath Swami Maharaj is a multi-multi-multi trillionaire…i dont know further counts
View Commentvery good message ——-“The behavior of a disciple can be an ornament for, or a scar on the reputation of the spiritual master.”
In fact The actions of a person reflects the heart contents of that person. The heart contents should be what a person learns from his spiritual master. It is not enough to have a bona fide Guru But the disciple should also be a bona fide.
View CommentVery much instructive message! Thanks a lot to Radhanath Swami
What a wonderful point on mind control…..”Absorption in chanting God’s holy names and hearing about God gives us an experience of spiritual happiness that helps one transcend the constant battering by the mind….
Thank you for sharing such jewel like thoughts that would help us to come out of the mental anxieities that we go through day in & out
View CommentA wonderful thought provoking article !!
View CommentAs one of the comments above rightly said that Radhanath Swami took the essence of the fundamental teachings of various spiritual paths, when he was on his journey. He implemented those teachings in his life and got great realizations. Many people’s lives have changed after reading his realizations in his book, The Journey Home. http://www.radhanathswamiweekly.com/ This site gives various of Radhanath Swami’s realizations and meditations for us.
View CommentWonderful message on how a disciple’s behavior should be. Thank you so much Maharaj.
View CommentRadhanath Swami a devotee par excellence.
View CommentBeing satisfied with what one possesses and being greedy is truly the greatest challenge! Radhanath Swami please bless me to really aspire for it
View CommentThe story of rich man and his son is the story of almost all of us. Trying to find happiness in the temporary things of the world outside and neglecting the inner self. It is similar to the death of the parrot because the food was fed to the cage rather than the parrot.
View Commentevery word that maharaj says, even in jest, is so full of introspection, guidance, love and care.
View CommentWonderful! Thank you very much.
View CommentA very wonderful message. Thanks for sharing the same.
View Commentsearching God within is imp
View Commentreally true.
View CommentExtremely powerful and important message for all of mankind. Thank you Radhanath Swami.
View CommentThank you Maharaj for instructing and teaching us through your words and deeds.
View Commentwe are often distracted by the various allurements offered by maya from within and without…the words of a pure devotee like maharaj shakes us up from our illusion and inspires to persevere in our spiritual pursuits.
View CommentIf there is to be any peace of mind or harmony in this world, forgiveness is absolutely crucial. If we cannot forgive, then there is no possibility of any relationships surviving at any level.
View CommentRadhanath Swami
wonderful,thnx
View CommentPeople like Radhanath Swami are genuinely looking for Absolute Truth
View Commentvery nice article… once you commit to a spirual master, you have to do everytime you perform any actioneeee
View CommentWhat a realization, Thank you Maharaj.” A huge treasure of love of God is right in our hearts. However we search for it through more money, fame and material success.”
View Commentvery nice article, radhanath swami is so focused on his goals and sets an excellent example for his followers, thanks for sharing, regards, rajesh karia
View CommentAny body can understand how to search for God.Thank you Radhanath swami maharaj -Nicely explained
View CommentRadhanath Swami is truly from another world…….
View Commentthank youu maharaj.
View CommentThank you Maharaj for sharing this wonderful experience and teaching us the mood to accept a spiritual master.
View CommentWords of Naga baba seems so simple yet so profound due to the level of realizations and purity
View Comment“The behavior of a disciple can be an ornament for, or a scar on the reputation of the spiritual master.”
View CommentPlease empower me that I may always be an ornament on your reputation, Guru Maharaj. My most humble obeisances to you.
Radhanath Swami is very kind to share his realizations in order just to increase our faith. Thank you.
View CommentI have never heard of any person as serious as Radhanath Swami about dedicating once life to once GURU.
View CommentDeep integrity and seriousness in the matter of dedicating one’s life to Guru.
View Comment“I wish to find a master and a path that I can dedicate my life to.” Radhanath Swami displays such a genuine approach to every situation he faced in his journey home.
View CommentWe, the disciples of Radhanath Maharaj are very fortunate that he did’nt make any hasty decision in selecting a guru or else we could never have had him as our guru.
View Comment