At Rama Sevaka Swami’s ashram, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) heard Ramayana, the story of Lord Rama and saw all the assembled sadhus exhibit various emotions. Sometimes during the narration they laughed, at other times they cried in sorrow or even sat motionless in suspense. Since the language was foreign to Richard, he wondered if he could hear the translation. Daily after the session, Narayana Prasad volunteered to translate. Narayana Prasad spoke briefly the story of Krishna stealing butter. Richard wondered he had never heard during the narration, any mention of Krishna and why is Narayana Prasad translating wrongly. Besides how could he speak everything in five minutes while the Ramayana narration by the sadhus lasted a few hours? After much persuasion by Richard, Narayana Prasad revealed that Lord Rama had appeared in the dream of Rama Sevaka Swami and told him that Richard would soon become a Krishna devotee and hence he should be told Krishna’s stories. Richard didn’t understand the significance of this dream and later continued his travels to Himalayas.
While reading this account I was amazed to know how simple sadhu life is. Devotees of the Lord come together happily to narrate and hear the Lord’s activities. They derive great pleasure and nourishment from these talks. I wonder how in contrast, in the material world we see new movies daily, hear and watch news telecasts, and get newer issues of movie and sports magazines. Yet our hearts are not satisfied and the mind remains agitated and restless. Hearing Supreme Lord’s stories however nourish the soul and fill the heart with immense satisfaction that springs from the spiritual realm. And ironically the Lord’s pastimes as revealed to the world are same. It’s not that the next year, devotees are going to invent some new stories of the supreme Lord. It’s the same stories each year and they fill the heart with increasing happiness with the passage of time.
Hearing Radhanath Swami speak these stories is an experience of its kind. On the appearance day of Lord Rama or Lord Krishna, he speaks for hours the same stories that devotees have already heard for years. Some devotees in the audience have been practicing spiritualists for the last three decades and know these pastimes very well. Moreover Radhanath Swami too has been speaking these stories for over four decades. Yet it is an inspiring sight to see Radhanath Swami narrate these descriptions each time as if he is speaking them for the first time. He speaks with great enthusiasm and joy and the audience too relish these narrations which last sometimes over four to five hours. This is the proof that spiritual subject matters are transcendental; for they cause more joy with successive reading and hearing, and increase spiritual bliss in the hearts of sincere practitioners. When Radhanath Swami sits to give class, he sits in the same position for over five hours without moving his body. This also shows his absorption in the stories of the Lord.
Besides giving long classes, he also spontaneously spices the narrations with his super excellent mimicking of monkeys, birds, oceans, wars and thousands of other things. He adds his realizations and experiences and enlivens the audience with a personal touch to the narrations. No wonder Radhanath Swami has more than four thousand recorded lectures which his fans hear with great relish.
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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........
Lord reciprocates with each and every devotee in a different rasa and devotees never contend to change their rasas with the Lord. This is the difference between material and spiritual achievements. In spiritual life, everyone wants others to make progress and serves others in that mood, however in material life, everyone is doing leg-pulling to win the cut-throat competition.
Thank you very much for sharing this story of Radhanath Swami.
View CommentIt is indeed a great relishing experience to hear pastimes of Lord from HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj!
View Comment“Devotees of the Lord come together happily to narrate and hear the Lord’s activities. They derive great pleasure and nourishment from these talks. I wonder how in contrast, in the material world we see new movies daily, hear and watch news telecasts, and get newer issues of movie and sports magazines. Yet our hearts are not satisfied and the mind remains agitated and restless. Hearing Supreme Lord’s stories however nourish the soul and fill the heart with immense satisfaction that springs from the spiritual realm.”-these words makes one think!
View CommentThats really true, having been very actively involved to get taste and satify my all desires with all sort of material activities–watching movies, going with friend etc..but nothing last forever and at end heart was still empty…Now after practicing spiritual life, have realized that real most pleasure and how to increase the same…thanks to Maharaj and all vaisnavas devotees for helping us to move from Zone 1 – material life pleasure -never ending satisfaction to Zone 2 – full of pleasure and enjoyment – spiritual life
View CommentTrue. Any lecture of HH Radhanath Swami is most pleasing to the heart and relishable, because they contain glories of Lord with his intense absorption on Lord’s pastimes.
View CommentIt is a fact that when Swamiji narrates Lord’s beautiful pastimes, he transports us to the spiritual world …..indeed Lord’s narrations are all blissful, even though heard millions of times.
View CommentRadhanath Maharaj Ki Jai….!!!
View CommentNice article
View CommentYes when Radhanath Swami narrates Katha from Srimad Bhagavatam and Chaitanya Charitamrita,the listener sees the transcendental activity happening in back of his mind.This is how the listener relishes the Katha when Radhanath Swami narrates them.This is also an example that Supreme Lord reciprocates accordingly how one want to serve Him.
View Comment“Every pravachan by H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj is so relishing that one feels like hearing him again and again. He is absorbed in the past times of the Lord in whatever past time he explains.
View CommentVery true! We never get tired or bored of hearing the Lord’s pastimes which proves that they are transcendental and eternal! And Radhanath Swami keeps the audience enthralled with his narrations!
View CommentWonderful article….
View CommentThank you for sharing :).
View Commentwonderful,nicely explained – hearing the pastimes of the LORD in the association of devotees.
View CommentThe stories of the Lord are so sweet, we feel like hearing the same story again and again. So is the devotional service. Many a time, the activities are same.
View CommentOne can only hope and pray for such relish in these pastimes of the Lord.
View Comment“Hearing the stories of Supreme Lord nourish the soul and fill the heart with great satisfaction.” These words make one pause from routine material life and give an opportunity to introspect.”
View CommentHow true it is!!!!!
View CommentA wonderfully narrated article on one’s attraction to hear specific pastimes of the Lord.
View CommentVery very true. To hear lectures of HH Radhanath Swami is the most relishable thing in the world.
View CommentAbsorption in Krishna consciousness is a rare gift.
View CommentVery true! Experience it practically….hearing Lord’s pastimes is the most enjoyable activity.
View CommentThis is a fact. We do not get tired or fatigued while hearing the Lord’s pastimes as they are transcendental and eternal. H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj makes the listeners enthralled with his narrations, jokes and at times by mimicry.
View CommentThanks for sharing a simple way to be happy
View CommentWe are all striving for this perfection.
View CommentHearing from Swamiji’s lotus lips transports one to the spiritual world……
View CommentWish I can also develop taste for hearing
View CommentHearing the pastimes of the Lord from the mouth of a pure devotee will awaken dormant Love of Godhead.
View Commentit is really true when we hear Maharaj’s lecture as if we are watching live that pastime of the Lord his lecture are so ecstatic you just feel like hearing again and again because Maharaj directly speak from heart and at the same time his deep profound knowledge unparalleled
View Comment“Hearing Supreme Lord’s stories however nourish the soul and fill the heart with immense satisfaction that springs from the spiritual realm” – HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai!
View CommentIn practice Bhakti yoga the joy just keeps ever increasing…
The taste of hearing the narration of Lord’s pastime relishing this is really amazing that Radhanath Swami sits to give class, he sits in the same position for over five hours without moving his body. This also shows his absorption in the stories of the Lord.
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