On their very first night at Luxembourg, Frank was robbed of all his money. Richard (now Radhanath Swami) and Gary were determined to stay on although they had little money. Richard had just twenty dollars of his own; he however had faith in the love and friendship of Gary and was happy to travel with no money. As they pondered on the mysteries that awaited them, Richard realized he had almost nothing but strangely he felt free and happy sitting on the bank of a canal or a river.
Radhanath Swami says it’s a strange world; “people lie, cry and die to make it big and earn money in this world and yet they are perpetually dissatisfied. On the other hand, a devotee of the Supreme Lord, even if he is poverty stricken, is happy and contented, for he carries the priceless wealth of devotion to Lord.”
Srimad Bhagavatam, the spiritual epic of India elaborates on the freedom that comes with a voluntary life of poverty. The Srimad Bhagavatam states, “When there are ample earthly flats to lie on, what is the necessity of cots and beds? When one can use his own arms, what is the necessity of a pillow? When one can use the palms of his hands, what is the necessity of varieties of utensils? When there is ample covering, or the skins of trees, what is the necessity of clothing?, Are there no torn clothes lying on the common road? Do the trees, which exist for maintaining others, no longer give alms in charity? Do the rivers, being dried up, no longer supply water to the thirsty? Are the caves of the mountains now closed, or, above all, does the Almighty Lord not protect the fully surrendered souls? Why then do the learned sages go to flatter those who are intoxicated by hard-earned wealth?” (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.4)
Is Srimad Bhagavatam throttling the human drive towards economic progress and instead encouraging a life of denial? “No”, says Radhanath Swami, “the scriptures do not recommend that we live on the street like the animals. However as compared to the animals humans are endowed with a reserve energy which should be used for self-realization.” Besides, Radhanath Swami also says that one who doesn’t seek to accumulate money but instead lives on whatever charity comes his way should lead a responsible life. He should not be a parasite to the society; rather he should provide spiritual training to the masses.
Radhanath Swami also says when a person lives in poverty searching after God, he should also be of the firm faith that God will take care of him. Quoting his own guru, Radhanath Swami highlights the role of faith in a spiritualist’s life, “When a human being relinquishes money and lives like a mendicant, he must be of firm faith and conviction that the Supreme Lord is the maintainer of all living beings everywhere in the universe. Why, then, would He neglect the maintenance of a surrendered soul who is cent percent engaged in the service of the Lord? A common master looks to the necessities of his servant, so how much more would the all-powerful, all-opulent Supreme Lord look after the necessities of life for a fully surrendered soul.”
As a young seeker, Radhanath Swami too depended on the grace of Lord who took care of him as he wandered through various cities and countries of this world. He had no money but the burning desire to know God kept him going. It’s a pity that for most people a spiritual goal is utopian whereas their monetary driven passions are reality. Radhanath Swami brilliantly exposes the futile endeavors of such misguided people, “The world is busy making plans to make life comfortable and secure although we can clearly see that life in this world is neither comfortable nor secure. Nor will we at any point of time be able to make life free from miseries. Instead intelligent people seek to make their spiritual foundation strong.”
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........
We hope to be able to go deeper in our spiritual pusuits to understand and realize these realities
View CommentBeautiful article!!!
View CommentRare opportunity of getting human form must be used for self realization. Radhanath Swami is giving the awareness of this point. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
View CommentRadhanath swami took such a life of voluntary poverty just to show us by example
View CommentH.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj is an ideal example who has shown the seekers of the Absolute by his own life and preachings and transformed the lives of thousands of people around the globe.
View CommentTrue dependancy..like a child on the mother
View CommentFaith is the key here. It is so clearly seen in Radhanath swami’s autobiography. In so many ways, God has Himself shown Richard the way ….
View CommentWonderful message – “a devotee of the Supreme Lord, even if he is poverty stricken, is happy and contented, for he carries the priceless wealth of devotion to Lord”
View Commentthank you for post
View CommentIt is well said that a king is one who has conquered his desire for more – in that sense a devotee of the Supreme Lord like Radhanath Swami, even if he is poverty stricken, is happy and contented & he is a living example of this
View CommentThanks for the clear, lucid explanation of real tapasya and renunciation as enunciated in the vedas.
View CommentThat ,”However as compared to the animals humans are endowed with a reserve energy which should be used for self-realization”, is a very powerful sentence which stresses the importance of the human form of life over other species..This is truly a very instructive & important post…Thank you
View CommentThe Journey Home of HH Radhanath swami is a amazing book……
View CommentRadhanath Swami must be having immense faith in the Lord that the Lord will take care of him. Such faith is rare to see.
View CommentEnlightening and thought provoking article.
View Commentwith poverty comes dependence…. so better to have that dependence on god….
View CommentVery Insightful article – Thanks a lot for sharing these wonderful realizations of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View Commentthank u very much for this……………
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for sharing your amazing experiences and realisatiions through this book
View CommentReally inspird me.. do not go after worldly pleasures.. we need to search out for God and need to have immense faith in God. Thank you Radhanath Swami Mh
View CommentOnly a person of the calibre of Radhanth Swami can do it
View Commentvery nice,
Thank u very much.
View CommentWonderful and very inspiring article thank you very much
View CommentWonderful but its really difficult to to practice unless we are determined !!! Thank you Radhanath Maharaja.
View CommentThank you for sharing.Hare Krsna !
View CommentThank you very much for powerful and inspirational article.
View CommentHaribooool.Jay Sri Radhanath Swami Maharaj !
View CommentRadhanath Swami says it’s a strange world; “people lie, cry and die to make it big and earn money in this world and yet they are perpetually dissatisfied. On the other hand, a devotee of the Supreme Lord, even if he is poverty stricken, is happy and contented, for he carries the priceless wealth of devotion to Lord.”
View CommentRadhanath Swami pokes deep into this controversy : Whether one should aspire for the big things in life or not ?
Isn’t that the number one question every one in the world is asking? How do I make it big ? How do I make money ? How do I find happiness through the materials of this world.
Swamiji clarifies that in spite of earning lots of money, people are perpetually dissatisfied, while the devotee of the Lord may be poor but is happy and contented.
His Holiness Radhanath Swami ki jai !
View CommentRadhanath Swami highlights the role of faith in a spiritualist’s life, “When a human being relinquishes money and lives like a mendicant, he must be of firm faith and conviction that the Supreme Lord is the maintainer of all living beings everywhere in the universe. Why, then, would He neglect the maintenance of a surrendered soul who is cent percent engaged in the service of the Lord?
View Comment