Richard (now Radhanath Swami) learnt an important lesson while staying at Bon Maharaj’s ashram. One devotee Jagannath requested Richard to take a group photograph of him and his friends. Since there was only one roll left and Richard’s friend David wanted to take some special photo later, they decided to pretend to take the photo. The next day Jagannath came to know of this deception and cried tears at this duplicitous behaviour of Richard.
Radhanath Swami writes in ‘Journey Home’ that Jagannath cried tears that a devotee of Krishna should never treat another human being with such indignity. We should respect all others and duplicity is a terrible disease. Radhanath Swami writes his realization:
Such an insignificant transgression would be hardly noticed. But in a devotional culture, soft-heartedness and integrity are held sacred. What really is the culture of devotion? It is so very subtle, but it fertilizes the field of the heart so that the seed of true love may grow.
Jagannath felt sorry for Richard and said that he had trusted him and now Richard had betrayed that trust and disappointed his expectations. Radhanath Swami learnt the lesson that a real devotee should never treat anyone cheaply.
Radhanath Swami has time and again emphasized that for any family or community to sustain relationships during difficult times, and be united in the long run, trust is absolutely essential. Trust in simple words means ‘confidence’ and the opposite of trust-distrust- is ‘suspicion’. Trust, or lack of it, is the root of success or failure in our relationships. In a climate of trust, spiritual aspirants can stay together and serve cooperatively to please God. Advanced spiritualists may love everyone due to their magnanimous nature but they trust a few who are responsible and have strong character. Radhanath Swami also reveals that if there are poor trust levels in an ashram or society, different maladies can strike: Politics, burn-outs (getting fried out), bureaucracy, slowness, and inefficiency. “With poor trust levels, we have highly selfish individuals, each trying to compete and outdo the other. The individuals become personally ambitious and the organization suffers.”
I read in Stephen Covey’s book about a 2005 survey that shows that in U.S.A only 22% people trust media, 8% trust political parties, and only 14% Americans believe that others can be trusted. In Great Britain, in 1975 60% of the population believed other people could be trusted; today it’s down to 29%. In the recent elections in India, most places polling was 35-50%. Numerous scandals in the financial markets and even amongst spiritual circles have made people loose trust in others.
How to become trustworthy? Radhanath Swami says trustworthiness is based on the principle of character (what we are as persons), and the principle of competence (what we are able to do as persons). For example, if you have faith in my character as a person, but not in my competence for a particular service, you may trust me as a friend, but you may not trust me to provide you with needed services. Alternatively, you might trust my intellectual and technical competence as a manager or teacher but may lack confidence in my character.
Character is a constant; it’s necessary for trust in any circumstance. Competence is situational; it depends on what the circumstance requires. Radhanath Swami points out that many people have devoted a great deal of time, energy and money in acquiring and maintaining a high degree of competence to practice different professions and even services in spiritual organizations. But what about our ethical character? Each one of us has to build and maintain this aspect of our trustworthiness if we want to be effective in inter personal relations.
As Radhanath Swami learnt from Jagannath we have to be truthful and simple. I was reflecting what is a common result when we learn that someone has lied to us? Whatever he or she says after that may be suspected of being false, however true it may be. Likewise, lies defended as white cannot always be easily dismissed. What we perceive as harmless or even beneficial may not be so in the eyes of the deceived. Eventually we lose grace of the divine due to our taking other souls cheaply.
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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........
Thanks to Radhanath Swami for enlightening us on the important aspect of trustworthiness in character built up.
View CommentBe it office or home or temple or any institution if we want to be effective in our inter personal relations, trustworthiness is the key very nicely explained by Radhanath Swami
View CommentWorld over every manager and every coropration is also seeking trustworthy people – all that much more required in a psiritual organisation. Radhanath Swami has correctly pointed this out.
View CommentThanks for sharing this article
View CommentWhere else can one come across a truer friend than in the circle of devotees? And, Radhanath Swami shows us how to uphold that level of integrity.
View CommentThe importance of character and competence elucidated by Radhanath Swami to build trust is simply amazing. Radhanath Swami could elicit such an esteemed meditation from just a small incident. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
View CommentTrue! When people loose trust in us then all our future actions will also be “judged” accordingly…” suspected of being false, however true it may be”. Therefore,we have to be extremely careful in our actions. Thank you Radhanath Swami for sharing this.
View Comment‘What lies within the core of our heart’ is what we have actually conditioned ourselves too, on the outside people may have very high regards for us and we may successfully put up a great act. Radhanath Swamis introspection of character helps us to work upon refining ourselves.
View CommentThank you very much for this wonderful meditation on Trust and character building.
View CommentVery nice article. Character is the foundation of our life. These days everywhere emphasis is on personality development, by which can we can manipulate other people, to get what we want. To live a true life of honesty, we have to have strong character. Than you Maharajah for reminding this.
View CommentI am reminded of Radhanath Swami pointing out that trust is a prerequisite for real love. And because trust is deteriorating in the world today, so is love.
View Commentthank you for wonderful article
View CommentRadhanath Swami thank you for sharing your experience. This is such an important quality.
View CommentTrue! It is very important to win the trust. Character is constant, competence may be situational. Thank you Radhanath Swami for this important instruction
View CommentTrust is the basis of good relationships.
View CommentTruly one cannot maintain any relationship without trust.We cannot even continue working in a cheating atmosphere.
View CommentAll GLories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
A very deep and profound lesson is what we get through this experience of Maharaj. We should always remain alert so that not to commit any offence against any devotee.
Hare Krishna
View CommentNice meditation. Thanks for sharing.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for reminding us of the basic values that we must practice daily.
View CommentRadhanath swami has made us understand that to be trustworthy, especially when he is devotee of the Lord. If people lose faith in you, a devotee, then there is nothing on the planet that can get you back you faith
View CommentThis is a very important lesson that Radhanath Swami has shared with us. Srila Prabhupad never compromised with the rules and regulations of Krishna Consciousness and his disciples never raised any issues for that because he was never duplicitous and was always trustworthy. By our consistent gentle demeanor (in the mood of a devotee0, we can convert many people to accept Krishna Consciousness.
View CommentIt is not easy to win the trust of someone but more difficult is to maintain it all through.
View CommentTo gain the trust of someone in today’s world of cheaters is so difficult. Moreover, the world is growing selfish day by day. Radhanath Swami always teaches how responsible we have to be in everything we say & do. I understand how much important that is to gain trust.
View Commentvery nice article.
View CommentSuch an important principle of life—–earning someone’s trust—-has become asier by simply observing and following Radhanath Swami.
View CommentTruth and simplicity is very difficult to find in our society today. From the leaders in our society, down to the lowest of human beings, if there is ni simplicity there is no truth. They go together. Thank you Maharaj for this most precious message!
View CommentVery nice article on truthfulness and its importance.
View Commentradhanath swami has always given importance to character rather than personality. its impossible to impress him with external expertise but one can touch his heart with sincerity of purpose and impeccable character. thank you radhanath swami.
View CommentThank you very much for such a nice article on becoming trustworthy.
View Comment“Character is a constant; it’s necessary for trust in any circumstance. Competence is situational; it depends on what the circumstance requires.” such a amazing statement. I have to focus on constant.
View CommentIt is more difficult to win trust than love.
View CommentWe should be trust worthy in even the smallest of interactions. Radhanath Swami reveals a very penetrating incident in his life.
View CommentOnly if we can become trustworthy can we effectively preach God-consciousness to others. We need to follow in the footsteps of Radhanath Swami in this regards.
View CommentA trustworthy character is much more important than trustworthiness in skills. Nice point by Radhanath Swami.
View Commentthank you for sharing
View CommentThis is such an important principle that Radhanath swami is bringing to light. This actually is the secret for good relations among family & friends.
View CommentIts so important to build ones character
View CommentThank you very much for sharing. Radhanath Swami reminds us with these words that trustworthiness is based on the principle of character,if its not eventually we lose grace of the divine due to our taking other souls cheaply.
View CommentThis article based on an incident from Radhanath swami drives so many lessons for me to practice in my life. Thank you so much Maharaj.
View CommentRadhanth Swmai Maharaj always tells – Simplicity means no Duplicity
View CommentVery comprehensive article on Trust…..thanks
View Commentbecause of propaganda of enjoying the temporary life to its fullest people have become selfish and are lack in character, therefore people do not trust each other. And as maharaj mentioned this small incidents of untrustworthy we hardly notice in ordinary dealings.
View CommentThanks for this post. It clearly shows how we should treat everyone with respect and not take them cheaply. Radhanath Swami Maharaj is so amazing that he takes into account even apparently insignificant details and learns from it.
View Commentvery correctly explained by HHRM that one must be of a good character and competent to be trustworthy, haribol, rajesh karia
View Commenttruly blissful, thank you Maharaj for relishing us with this wonderful realisation, hari hari, bhakti
View CommentYes, Trust is one of the foundation for Bhakti.
View CommentTrust is the main factor which brings people together. Radhanath Swami nicely explained trust in various level. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
View Commenttrust is the basis of good relationship. hope I could develop some.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami. Today’s society is lacking ethics.
View CommentNicely explained . Thanks a lot for sharing.
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