Richard (now Radhanath Swami)’s innocent expectations were disappointed when the ‘peace’ conference organized by Christopher Hills turned violent. Three thousand people thronged for the grand finale but Hills announced that the programme must conclude at sharp 7.00 p.m. Richard wondered how could a programme of so many Swamis end on time; after all that meant not all would get a chance to speak. As the deadline approached and it became clear that not all would speak, some of them began barraging Hills with insults and soon there was uproar; many yogis fought to grab the microphone. As they rambled aggressively like politicians, the yogis’ behaviour shocked the audience. The men supposed to bring peace and harmony to the world, were fighting bitterly on stage, right in public eye.
Richard felt consoled by Swami Satcitananda who in a tender voice said to Richard that all are struggling at their respective level of progress, and we can’t expect all to be perfect. He explained that instead of fighting for peace we have to find peace within ourselves first. Swami Satcitananda had maintained grace and dignity through the chaos.
Radhanath Swami also appeals to his audiences to discover peace within ourselves first. He also talks of the need of the soul to go beyond peace. Most people who meditate do so to find peace. But Radhanath Swami claims that this is not all that the soul really wants. “We do not care for peace”, he says, “We want love. The perfection of life is not simply a neutral condition of peace, but love.” What does Radhanath Swami mean by Love?
Love means the willingness to sacrifice oneself for the beloved. It is like mother in her relationship with her child. Is the mother concerned for peace in the house or is she concerned with taking nice care of the child? When a woman has a little baby, there is practically no peace in the house. The baby is crying all night long. The baby is responding to nature indiscriminately wherever it goes. The baby is looking for any excuses to hurt, breaking anything it gets it hands on. Now mother can easily just give the baby to somebody else, some baby sitter saying, ‘You take care; I do not want anything to do with this.’ But the mother is running here and there everywhere trying to take care of this child. She is staying up some time all night long. She is worried about the child hurting itself. That is love.
Hearing Radhanath Swami’s explanation of Love, I can clearly see that Love is higher than peace, because in that love is eternal peace—not the peace of the mind, but the peace of soul. Even in an ordinary relationship we can see that if a couple says they are peaceful, it simply means they are not fighting. But if there is love, there is dynamic exchange of emotions; Love is not static. Peace is negation of misery; love is a positive expression of the heart. Radhanath Swami reveals, “Love means sacrifice—sacrificing even our own peace for the pleasure of the beloved.” I am stunned at the depth of Radhanath Swami’s spiritual consciousness.
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........
I liked this statement from Radhanath swami maharaj very much..
View CommentLove means sacrifice—sacrificing even our own peace for the pleasure of the beloved
“Peace is negation of misery; love is a positive expression of the heart”-nice comparative definition of both.
View CommentSo Natural and easy to understand when Radhanath Swami explains,as he secrifies his own peace for his Love for the conditioned souls.
View CommentI beg to have a drop in the ocean of service attitude of Radhanath Swami by which so many people are getting inspiration of his love and sacrifice for all living beings.
View CommentVery good article. thank u.
View CommentWow! Everyone practises as per their own level. Radhanath Swami has thought this so perfectly. Thank you.
View CommentReally stunning. Radhanath Swami’s explanation to love v/s peace is simply an expansion of his love towards the Lord.
View CommentMaharaj has wonderfully explained the meaning of Love,which is higher than peace.And the example of mother and child is so beautifully explained.Thank You for sharing this.
View Comment“Love means sacrificing even our own peace for the pleasure of the beloved!” – this is an awesome realisation by Radhanath Swami
View CommentOnly if we have Spiritual leaders like Radhanth Swami in this world can there be real ‘peace’ and ‘love’ in this society.
View Commentwonderful statament by radhanath swami..love is higher than peace
View CommentWonderful article. First time i heard the love is higher than the peace because in that eternal love is peace.
View CommentJai!
What a sentiment by Radhanath Swami on peace v/s love and why love is way higher…
View CommentWonderful article.
View CommentThe best example for Love is Mother and child. If Love is extended peace will automatically prevail withinevery relationship. Thank U Maharaj
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai!
View CommentWow! I never thought like that..great depth!
View CommentTruely love is beyond peace
View CommentPeace is negation of misery; love is a positive expression of the heart……Amazing
View CommentPeace of mind can be short lived depending on the external situations.But peace of the soul brought in by a loving heart is long lasting.Infact,two most essential needs of human beings are TO LOVE and BE LOVED.Everything is taken care when these two things happen.Beautiful article.
View CommentWhatttt an amazing article. It is so subtle externally the difference between peace & love. But Radhanath Swami has explained it so nicely & clearly.
All glories to Radhanath Swami.
View CommentLove is a positive expression of Heart.Peace is negation of misery.Really brilliant article.All glories to Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View CommentNice one!
View CommentBeautiful…!
View CommentSuch a wonderful definition. Thank you so much for sharing!
View CommentWonderful!
View Commentmany thanks for the nice story from swamiji’s book and also to the words of wisdom
View CommentAmazing article. In this article he is explaining the real meaning of Love. Love doesn’t means Lust but “Love means the willingness to sacrifice oneself for the beloved”. thank you maharaj.
View Commenthttp://www.radhanath.com
Here Maharaj has quoted perfect example of peace and love. Nonditurbing environment is not necessarily loving environment. Maharaj always emphasis on true love towards all living beings. And definitely that is the original nature of any sprit soul..to love God…Thank you Maharaj for nice example for nice explationation for love and peace..
View CommentWe can see how the world would be a better place if people of different countries and nationalities loved each other. Then there would automatically be peace.
View CommentLove is higher tham peace. Radhanath Swami explains this very nicely here
View CommentThis article was an eye-opener for me.How love is far greater than peace is beautifully summarized by Radhanath Swami in the sentence “The perfection of life is not simply a neutral condition of peace, but love.”
View Comment“Peace is negation of misery; love is a positive expression of the heart.” Vow… What a statement! Amazingly true!
View CommentIt’s ironic that the world tends to fight for peace when actually wars are due to lack of peace within. Radhanath Swami highlights this.
View CommentI bow down to the heart touching teachings of Radhanath Swami…such a beautiful analogy and teaching of the deepest principles in spirituality…
View CommentA very interesting and eyeopening difference between Peace and Love. Thank you Maharaj.
View CommentHari Bol
View CommentThis is such an amazing article. I always thought there could be no love if there was no peace, but I was so wrong. HH Radhanath swami has so nicely distinguished how love is more important by giving the example of a mother and her baby. Thank you Maharaj.
View CommentReally inspiring & enlivining.
View CommentImportance of Love over peace is very nicely explained. I must confess that earlier I was also assuming that one should struggle for PEACE. But after reading this article it is clear beyond doubt that LOVE is more comprehensive and Peace will be a by-product of the same.
View CommentRadhanath Maharaj ki Jai!!!
Nice article
View CommentLove is higher then peace
View CommentThis is very wonderful article to be shared, thank you very much Radhanath Swami
View CommentVery nice article. Glorifies the greatness of Love… Thanks for sharing.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has wonderfully clarified
View CommentVery nice meditation
View Commenta very deep definition of love.
View CommentThis is a deepvarticle. Very nice.
View CommentThis is the ultimate truth that we need to find peace within. Wonderful explanation by Radhanath Swamiji.
View Commentvery nice,thanks
View Comment