Richard (now Radhanath Swami) observed that everyone in Vrindavan loves Radha very much. He humbly asked Krishnadas Babaji about her. Babaji described that God is one and yet the Lord has both a male and female nature. Krishna is the male principle and Radha is the feminine potency. In the spiritual world, the one Lord presides in these two forms. The love between Krishna, who is the beloved, and Radha, the lover, is the divine origin of all love. Radhanath Swami echoes Babaji’s words, “Krishna longs to be conquered by the love of His devotee and by the supreme grace of Radha we can realize that love. She is the compassionate nature of the Absolute and the fountainhead of all spiritual love.” Radhanath Swami learnt in his travels that Bhakti is the hidden mystery of the path of yoga and Radha is the keeper of this mystery. Radhanath Swami realized that his heart was now being charmed by the rich theology known as bhakti.
Later Richard (now Radhanath Swami) walked along the river bank and contemplated on the secret of feminine divinity and felt that in all world religions feminine divinity is accepted as truth.
Reading Radhanath Swami’s autobiography set me thinking about Mother Mary, the most prominent female figure in Christianity and considered by millions to be the most meritorious saint of the church. She is said to have miraculously appeared to believers many times over the centuries. Mary also has a revered position in Islam, where a whole chapter in Koran is devoted to her. As Radhanath Swami writes, “Her adoration has inspired both divine love and embittered factions in the Church.” The factions and controversy deals with Mother Mary’s conception where Roman Catholic Church accepts her as conceived and born free of original sin whereas Easter Orthodox Christians and most Protestants reject this idea. Many devout Christians venerate Mary in the form of prayer for intercession with her Son, Jesus Christ. Additionally in the Christian world it’s common to see many poems and songs composed by devotees in Mary’s honour. Innumerable paintings, and statues of her have been carved representing her; many titles have been conferred on Mary that reflect her position among the saints. She is perhaps the most highly venerated saint in both the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church; several major feast days are devoted to her each year. On the other hand Protestants have generally paid a relatively small amount of reverence to Mary com pared to their Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox counterparts, often arguing that if too much attention is focused on her, there is a danger of detracting from the worship due to God alone. Some even accuse those who venerate Mary of idolatry.
Another mystery amongst Christians is the position of Mary Magdalene. She is considered to be a devoted disciple of Jesus and a saint by Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran Church and Anglican churches with a commemoration of a feast day of July 22. Radhanath Swami writes that her mystery has given rise to secret orders, veiled symbolism and intrigue. In college I learnt that her life is a subject of endless debate. Her supposed identity as a prostitute intrigued many although there is no direct biblical evidence to this. Her devotion to Jesus has led to a tradition that she may have been Jesus’ wife, lover, or intended bride.
Radhanath Swami also notes that many Hebrews saw Shekinah as the female aspect of God or the bride of the Sabbath, as did certain students of the Kabballah. I recently learnt that among the Hebrews one of the traditional names of God is the Shekinah, and, interestingly, it is a feminine gender noun. Many Hebrews saw her as the mother or feminine aspect of God.
I was also fascinated to read Radhanath Swami mention that many followers within the Sufi sect of Islam honour the divine feminine in their reverence to Fatima. I had been impressed by the Sufis, a mystical tradition of Islam dedicated to experiencing Allah/God as the epitome of divine Love. Sufis believe that excessive rationalism blocks human understanding of God’s loving nature. Consequently, they focus on directly experiencing God through ecstatic practice in order to efface the obstructing self. Sufis have endured persecution over the years due to their unconventional and controversial approach to Allah, which has been perceived by some to be blasphemous.
In recent times, the teachings of Sufism have spread to the West and Sufi writings have become best-selling works. The Sufis believe that the highest form of human love is the pure love for the Divine. Humans can achieve this love if they give themselves entirely to the God’s will. I was particularly struck to know that Sufis consider love for family, friends, material goods, or even Paradise all to be distractions from the love of God. Radhanath Swami also practises and teaches that we should focus exclusively on loving God with no other distractions. “Love is an expression of our free will to please God above and beyond everything else”, observes Radhanath Swami.
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........
“Love is an expression of our free will to please God above and beyond everything else” such a beautiful defination of Love given by Radhanath Swami.
View CommentThis is very insightful article touching little known (at least the general populace) aspects of many prominent religions. I cant even begin to imagine how much knowledge Radhanath Swami would have. And with all that knowledge, he has chosen his path of devotion to God as described in the rich Vedic texts.
View CommentThis is like a complete thesis! Thanks for providing a holistic picture.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is giving perfect understanding of Spiritual Life
View Commentcouldn’t digest or fathom or grasp…
View CommentThanks for sharing such a nice article.
View Commentnice article.
View CommentEach experience of Maharaj in Journey Home is eye opener & full of Bhakti
View CommentThis is very rich verdict from Maharaj and specially his understanding to other religion.
View CommentThats a lot of wonderful info…Thank You for such a nice article
View CommentIt was a good knowledge buiding exercise to read this article. Interesting facts.
View CommentI wish more people were familiar with the teachings of His Holiness Radhanath Swami and the theistic tradition he represents. Thank you very much for the deep insights into so many world traditions.
View CommentThere have been many luminaries in the spiritual world who have been legendary in their sphere of spiritual activities. Mary Magdalene & Mother Teresa are two such prominent personalities. Bhakti or spiritual devotion to God doesn’t depend upon one’s gender. That is why Radhanath Swami never discriminates against women taking up frontal preaching roles in ISKCON. After all, to achieve Krishna-prem too, we need the mercy of Srimati Radharani – the feminine energy of the Supreme God.
View Commentthank you
View CommentThanks for a comprehensive article………
View Commentthank you very much for such an amazing article , a comphrehensive study i would say . thank you for guiding us through Radhanath swamis book the journey home , teaching us how to read the book
i am getting inspiration from these articles to read the journey home book over and over again
View CommentIt is nice to know that female divinity has been accepted by almost all the religions.
View CommentTHANKS FOR SHARING
View CommentWILL HAVE TO READ AGAIN AND AGAIN TO UNDERSTAND
Such a wonderful comparative thesis of different religion’s concepts on the feminine aspect of God.
View CommentThis book “The Journey Home” by Radhanath Swami is something to shout about, it is packed with eye opening realizations and holds the Key to many questions that we are seeking answers for, so without much endeavor one can reach out for the book, what the reader gets for the price paid is inestimable.
View CommentVery Nicely Explained…Thank you
View CommentThe subject of mystical traditions and philosophies is fascinating. Amazingly, Radhanath Swami’s followers get the essence immediately.
View CommentNicely explained . Thanks a lot for sharing
View CommentThanks to H.H Radhnath Swami to explain famine Divinity of Lord.
View Commentthere is so much similarity in all religions of the world
View Comment“Love is an expression of our free will to please God and this above and beyond everything else” This is such a beautiful explanation of Love given by Radhanath Swami. Radhanath Swami Mahraj ki jai.
View CommentIt’s wonderful feel, experience the feminine nature of GOD, as elaborated by Maharaj.
View CommentIt’s wonderful to feel, experience the feminine nature of GOD, as elaborated by Maharaj.
View CommentA very nice story to read from the book of Radhanath Swami.Only loving serving attitude is the basic principle of life and without such a reciprocation human form of life is just equal to animal’s life.Thanks for sharing the article.
View CommentService attitude is the essence of all the major religions of the world.
View CommentThank you H H Radhanath swami for explaining this in a better way.
thank you for sharing this rich article
View CommentScriptures say that although Vedas contain all the knowledge one needs yet it is revealed only through the words of a great devotee of the Lord. Hearing from Radhanath Maharaja is always such an experience – whether the subject is about the naked reality of material existence, or the sweet nectar of Krishna’s pastimes!
View CommentInteresting article..
View Commentnice article by radhanath swami, loving god with all the available possible ways is the best way to please all including the demigods and other powers.
View CommentRadhanath Swami reveals the feminine side of God very nicely. Thank you Radhanath Swami for this wonderful meditation.
View CommentThanks for sharing this article
View Comment“Love is an expression of our free will to please God above and beyond everything else” – very well said by Radhanath Swami.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is teaching the topmost path of bhakti.
View CommentThank you for sharing this inspiring incident from the life of Radhanath swami.
View CommentAmazing. The energy of the energetic.
View Commentthank you sharing this wonderful anecdote
View CommentThank you very much for sharing
View CommentThe one universal religion should be Love for God with no distractions, for the pleasure of God. Jai Maharaj!
View CommentNice. Thanks for sharing,
View Commentvery nice article.
View CommentGod is one and yet the Lord has both a male and female nature
View CommentVery enlightening.
View CommentNice details about the feminine divinity by Radhanath Swami. Radhrani is the master of the spiritual world and withouy her sanction, no one can think of entering the spiritual world.
View CommentEach experience of Radahnath swami in Journey Home is eye opener to learn science of God.
View Commenthari bol hari bol hari bol
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