Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was beginning to find spiritual life natural and his previous lifestyle and interests a distraction. He found it strange and uncomfortable talking to a friend he had known in London whom he now met at Delhi. Sean’s mannerisms, language and interests were repulsive to Richard; he soon realized that it wasn’t Sean who had changed but he himself had changed due to his spiritual associations and experiences. Richard however cautioned himself from criticizing Sean for his ‘material’ outlook to life. Richard realized that being judgmental of others is detrimental to one’s spiritual progress. Richard also realized that the association and environment we chose molds our character down to the fundamental views of life. Richard saw his own heart undergoing a change and felt the potency of his spiritual learning.
Radhanath Swami reasons that this is the power of a genuine spiritual path. “Spiritual life is not a path of negation”, assures Radhanath Swami, “rather it is a system of transformation.” Spiritual life transforms our hearts and replaces the negative forces of lust, envy and greed in our heart with the positive forces of love and service. He gives an example to explain the point. A caterpillar may not be beautiful but when it transforms into a butterfly, it becomes one of the most attractive insects. Similarly our heart has much negativity but these forces can be transformed to a beautiful butterfly. Radhanath Swami says although the positive transformation of the heart is required, it only comes when we abandon our egoistic conceptions of wanting to be the enjoyer and instead fix ourselves as the servants of God and all living entities. Radhanath Swami observes that real heart transformation comes about when we have the proper attitude to strive for that which is real. That is the spiritual platform. Radhanath Swami urges all spiritual aspirants that before we die, we have to ensure that our false ego dies. “Death means to let the false ego go and live on the light of real truth.” When we live such a life our lives are full of meaning not only to ourselves but we also lend meaningful substance to others’ lives. This transformation is for real and desirable.
However Radhanath Swami is quick to clarify that spiritual life doesn’t bring about a change in the personality. We are unique and retain our individualities in spiritual life. The transformation we experience is subtle; it’s a subtle transformation of our desires, motivation and attitudes. This transformation requires hard work and a desire to change.
I heard a nice story in this regard. Once there was a man who looked at his entire life through a distorted mirror. He was actually very ugly, but because of the distorted mirror he looked beautiful in the glass. Finally, a relative decided to help him see reality and gave him a proper mirror. The man became so disturbed when he looked into the real mirror that he threw it down and went back to his old mirror.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what happens sometimes when we come into spiritual life and see for the first time what needs to be changed in our attitudes and behaviour. Often we find it so intolerable that we prefer to abandon the spiritual path. The Native Americans have a very interesting saying: “If you say the truth you need a quick horse.” This saying shows how unwelcome the truth sometimes is for us. When we hear it, our ego rebels and then the one who told the truth needs a quick horse.
Radhanath Swami implores that let us not make this mistake of denying the reality that we have negativities in our heart and we need to change. Rather let us happily accept the changes we have to make. They are for our good. These transformations bring us closer to God and give us real and lasting happiness.
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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........
Very wonderfully Radhanath Swami Maharaj explains how can we accept our imperfections and happily try to remove thenm. Thank you
View Commentwonderful article.
View Comment“Spiritual life is not a path of negation” —& gt; I love this words
View CommentVery nicely explained by HH RNS Maharaj the transformations , how the impurities and imperfections can be negated by taking the spiritual path. Thank u Maharaj.
View CommentWonderful realization prabhuji, the mirror example is a perfect one. Thank you verymuch for sharing.
View CommentNice one. Thanks for sharing it.
View CommentIt is very correct that we are having negativities within our hearts. We need to change. It is possible when we curb our false ego. All glories to HH Radhanatha Swami Maharaja.
View CommentTrue ! Spirituality is a Positive transformation of heart.
View Commentthank you very much for a wonderful anecdote
View CommentYes people has a lot of different perception about spirituality..Beautiful article..Very inspiring. Before death we have to strive to remove our false ego to make our life successful..
View Commentthanx for showing us key to real and lasting happiness
View CommentAfter taking the shelter of Krishna heart gets changed completely and devotee transformed with all good qualities.
View Commentgreat realisations of Radhanath Swami.
View Commentthanx for posting useful words of wisdom.
View CommentThanks for this nice article
View CommentBrilliant article.Haribol.
View CommentWonderful story about the ugly man looking into the disfigured mirror. We should be able to accept our imperfections and try to amend them. Thank you for giving us this wonderful advice.
View CommentRadhanath Swami urges all spiritual aspirants that before we die, we have to ensure that our false ego dies. “Death means to let the false ego go and live on the light of real truth.
View CommentAmazing how maharaj truly explains what is death.
thank you maharaj.
Thank you for sharing this experience with Radhanath Swami.
View CommentMAHARAJ HAS SUCH DEEP REALISATIONS ON THE PATH OF SPIRIRTUAL LIFE THAT BY HEARING HIM REGULARLY WE COME TO KNOW WHO WE ARE EXACTLY AND CLEANSES OUR HEART.
View CommentALL GLORIES TO HH RADHANATH SWAMI MAHARAJ.
Hope giving article.
View CommentHopefully, one day we will be able to transform our hearts and let go of our false ego. Thank you Maharaj for inspiring us and giving us hope.
View Commentthank you for enlightening us
View CommentThank you Radhanath Maharaj for excellent explanation. It is so difficult to see our own dirty mirror of heart …
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swamiji for so beautifully explaining the transformation that happens by practising spiritual life.
View Commentthe potency of spiritual life for transforming the heart is unparalleled!
View CommentBrilliant article.Haribol!
View CommentVery inspiring.
View CommentPowerful one-liner here “before we die, we have to ensure that our false ego dies”
View CommentHare Krishna. Thank you very much Maharaj for giving such wonderful examples of caterpillar and distorted mirror and making us understand the truths of life and how to accept them.
HH Radhanth Swami Maharaj ki jai!!!
View Comment“Death means to let the false ego go and live on the light of real truth”- Nice Quote.
View CommentThe explanation by Radhanath swami is wonderful.Thank you maharaj
View CommentWe should acknowledge our negativities and transform ourselves for the better spiritually. Thank you for showing us the way!
View CommentWonderful thoughts from Radhanath Swami!!!
View Commenthighly appreciable
View CommentReality of wisdom
View CommentVery enlivening article. Radhanath Swami Maharaj has so much spiritual depth.
View CommentHare Krishna Thank You for sharing
View CommentNice article
View Commentvery wonderfully explained.
View CommentVery truely explained by Radhanath Swami Maharaj that how Spiritual life transforms ones heart and replaces the -ve forces with +ve.
View CommentVery Wonderful !
View Commentnice lessons the aaglony of talvan forest and fruits to heart and propensity to love and share is very instructive .also the second lesson as comparison to ass, the beast of burden is very real .
View CommentBy giving up false ego, spiritual life gives us love and devotional service to the Lord.
View CommentIdentification of the problem is very much essential. We need to identify negativity in our heart then try to remove it with the spiritual practices.
View Commentwonderful article…,
View Commentwonderful article…,
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