At a Cathedral in Florence, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) underwent a spiritual experience. As he prayed to God for direction, he felt his body trembling, cheeks quivering and felt an overall closeness to God. However this experience was not for free; Richard was to be later tested by an attractive proposal from a Swiss girl, Irene. Richard found her charming and wondered if he should choose to share love with her while going on a spiritual journey together. After deep contemplation and prayer he chose a life of exclusive dedication to God. Remembering the catholic saints, Tibetan Lamas and yogis of India who had relinquished worldly pleasures in their passion for enlightenment, Richard yearned to follow their footsteps. He knew this path would be difficult but prayed for strength as he tried to pursue his search for God.
The incident reveals to me that spiritual path is not easy; there will be constant tests and temptations. Although spiritual life can be practised with a companion, for one seeking exclusive dedication, a partner could be a distraction. Radhanath Swami at this stage chose to say ‘no’ to a tempting offer. Moreover this test came immediately after a spiritual experience while praying at the church. The incident is a reminder of how spiritual life is a life of tough choices; one has to pay the price of sacrifice, investing faith in the power of divine to guide us through these challenges.
Temptations that threaten to pull us away from our spiritual quest are not bad. Radhanath Swami says they are opportunities to help us come closer to God. However if we choose to say ‘no’ to God, these temptations can be overwhelming and corrupt our consciousness. Learning to say ‘yes’ to God and ‘no’ to distractions requires us to develop a meaningful relationship with God; a relationship of two-way communication, where we offer our hearts to God by our petitions and then hear Him as He directs us from within and without.
Radhanath Swami also reveals God’s plan in testing His dear devotees. God wants us to be purified of all contamination and be desirous of exclusive dedication to a spiritual cause. He wants to also strengthen our faith in him. Quoting his guru, Radhanath Swami offers another interesting reason why God tests his devotees. “God wants to glorify His devotees to the whole world”, says Radhanath Swami, “He wants us to see the calibre of His dear devotees who face hardships, and yet never give up their loyalty to God.” Radhanath Swami gives the analogy of an Indian home where the daughter-in law is new to the customs of her husband’s family. The mother-in-law sees minor mistakes in the cooking of the newly arrived bride. She knows if she corrects her, she would be nervous. Hence she chastises her own daughter about a mistake, within the earshot of the daughter-in-law. The daughter-in-law then gets the message and learns her lessons. Similarly, Radhanath Swami says God puts his own dear devotees in difficulties so that a neophyte can take inspiration and learn his own lessons in his spiritual quest.
We can also understand from this incident that God chose to test Radhanath Swami so that we can get inspiration to strengthen our own commitments in spiritual life.
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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 indeed a very difficult choice to reject a proposal right in the church immediately after a prayer because the weak side of the mind can easily rationalize that this is what God wants. But then it all becomes clear when we learn why such tests are there – to show to the world about the greatness of devotees and to inspire everyone to re-commit to spiritual advancement
View CommentIts really if we keep on saying No to our temptations and always of think of Krishna Pleasure, we can advance in our Devotional life
View CommentAmazing realizations here. The two-way relationship with God that is mentioned here is also just amazing!
View CommentWe learn various lessons from the lives of others. God has his own easy ways to teach us.
View Commentwonderful article and very nicely explained by HHRNSM about the importance of saying ‘NO’ to the worldly temptations and to come closer to the Lord, Hari Hari, rajesh karia
View Commentthis moment of HHRNSM’s life is the most touching when HHRNSM eventually decides not to be with Irene and to go ahead and follow his spiritual path and fulfill his spiritual quest, haribol, bhakti
View CommentThank you for sharing your realizations. All glories to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja.
View CommentThank you for sharing!
View CommentThe spiritual path back home to Godhead is littered with mines, in the form of tests as mentioned by Radhanath Maharaj. We need to tread around these mines, as else they explode on our spiritual life. We need to hold on tight to our Spiritual Master’s hand and let him do the needful. Our Spiritual Master leads us the safe way back home.
View CommentThank you
View Comment“…God chose to test Radhanath Swami so that we can get inspiration to strengthen our own commitments in spiritual life.”
This is very inspiring to see how an elevated soul goes through hardships for pleasure of the Lord and inspiring others. We have much favorable circumstances now to execute devotional service, by grace of Radhanath Swami.
View CommentVery inspiring article.
View CommentHeartwarming narration. Radhanath Swami has endeared the hearts of his followers, both new and old.
View CommentMany heart-felt thanks to Radhanath swami for sharing his story and inspiring us all.
View Comment“God wants to glorify His devotees to the whole world”. Wonderful analogy given for the same. Otherwise we cannot even imagine our position at our very very insignificant level of advancement if we were put into the same difficulties.
View CommentThank you Maharaj for strenghtening our faith.
View CommentNice points made in this article.
View CommentThis is the real test of a devotee
View CommentTrue,when one wants to follow a pure life, many temptations are thrown in front of him.Saying ‘no’ to these temptations is the real test of one’s sincerity and seriousness of following spirituality.Beautiful realisations of Radhanath Swami, good guide for neophyte seekers.
View CommentInspiring!!!
View CommentThanks a lot Radhanath Swami for sharing such a nice realization.
View CommentThanks for such a nice article full of so many divine realisations……Swamiji gives divine reasons to look at the temptations in a devotee’s life…….
View CommentAll Glories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Ohhh. A difficult test indeed. But the Inspiration is more glaring, in your face and truly compelling.
How to conduct ourselves in such difficult situation is a test, but determination should help us through all such tests of life.
Hare Krishna
View CommentEvery moment/incident in the life of Radhanath Swami is so instructive and inspiring for a seeker of God and for any human being.
View CommentThe analogy of Mother & daughter in law was great….it shows that God Chose you, His dear devotee to test so that neophytes like me can learn. Thank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View CommentVery inpsring article. Thank you very much for sharing the same.
View CommentSo nicely HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj has explained the temptations are not bad if you say No to them & Yes to GOD to get the higher principle & develop love for the GOD.
View CommentVery good inspiration. All glories to Radhanath Swami
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami has chosen not to get enticed to the temptations and dedicated his life to the most sublime cause of spreadign the message of God through out the world. This kind of dedication and sacrifice is the symptom of a great soul and when we follow his teachings and contribute in spreading the same message, that is our service to HH Radhanath Swami and also pleasing to him.
View CommentTo do or Not to do – decides where we eventually land up, no point blaming circumstances ,people, situations. Radhanath Swamis example serves as an inspiration to say no and thus refrain form ‘Temptations”
View CommentThanks for sharing this realization
View CommentSwami is so much honest to reveal secrets of his life , not to make a show but to alarm others traveling on the same path.
View CommentWonderful points by Radhanath Swami. In every cross-point of our ilfe we are tested with options and how we react to those situations will take us closer or take away from our Main Goal i.e. to reach GOD.Thus we have to excercise our “Choice muscles” very well using all our discrimnnation
View CommentIt was a Though situation but Radhanath Swami made the right choice. We all need to continue to follow the same – making the right choices in our day to day life. On this line, please listen Maharaj’s lecture titled “Do Not Eat the Forbidden Apple of Envy (SB-5_14_12, Mumbai) 24-09-05.MP3”.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for leading us by example.
View CommentIt was a Though situation but Radhanath Swami made the right choice. We all need to continue to follow the same – making the right choices in our day to day life. On this line, please listen Maharaj’s lecture titled “Do Not Eat the Forbidden Apple of Envy (SB-5_14_12, Mumbai) 24-09-05.MP3”.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for leading by example.
View Commentthank you for the post
View CommentRadhanath’s committment to devotion is so inspiring.
View Commentthank u for sharing
View CommentNice article on Radhanath Swami. Radhanath Swami has always chosen the path in his life, which is the most difficult. By experinces like these, we can clearly see how The Supreme Lord orchestrated his life at every situation.
View CommentThis is the real test
View CommentVery nice article full of transcendental realisations…..thanks
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj is a living legend!
View CommentVery nice article. Thank you very much for sharing the same.
View CommentVery Nice…
View CommentThank you for such a precise analysis of this most misunderstood topic of difficulties in the life of a devotee.
View CommentAmazing!
View CommentVery beautiful realisation from Radhanath Swami.
View CommentVery inspiring article. Maharaj has given the right way of looking at difficulties and temptations in life. Thank you Swamiji.
View CommentMany saints in the past have undergone severe trials and tribulations so that we learn from their lives.Even Arjun, Draupadi, Abhimanyu went through a lot.Thanks to Maharaj for sharing such profound realizations.
View CommentSimply wonderful!
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