Richard travelled to the Himalayan town of Dharmasala in Himachal Pradesh. High on a mountain ridge above Dharmasala reigned McLeod Ganja, Tibetan refugee camp and the home to the Dalai Lama of Tibet. After the Chinese military invasion in 1950, Tibet was torn to bitter agitation and violence. On the insistence of his people who feared for his life, Dalai Lama escaped in the guise of a soldier. Dalai Lama’s story of exile and intense hardship to serve his people inspired Richard to seek an audience with him. Richard was also struck by the incredibly friendly nature of the people of McLeod Ganja, and their love and honor for the Dalai Lama.
Dalai Lama explained to Richard that the universal quality of religion is compassion to other living beings. To sacrifice for the good of others is true Dharma. Richard could see the immense sacrifice he extended for his people and the virtue of selfless service was becoming more prominent in Richard’s mind. Richard also learnt from him that in order to endure incomprehensible challenges and obstacles in life as the Dalai Lama faced, one needs to practice regular meditation, study and worship. These spiritual practices give us the inner strength to face hardships.
Radhanath Swami also emphasizes on these two principles of sacrifice and prayers that help develop purity. The strength to sacrifice for the welfare of others comes by cultivating purity of thought through disciplined spiritual practices. “Before we can save the drowning person, we must become proficient swimmers ourselves. If we sincerely practice the tenets of genuine spirituality, our words and example will carry purity. This will then have a powerful impact on those whom we seek to serve” says Radhanath Swami. Sacrifice is an essential element in the life of a spiritualist. Radhanath Swami compares a spiritual seeker to a candle. Just as a candle burns itself to spread light, a compassionate messenger of God’s love sacrifices his body, mind and words to serve others.
I witnessed an example of this during a pilgrimage to South India in 2005. Under Radhanath Swami’s spiritual leadership a group of three thousand men and women visited different holy places. Radhanath Swami extended himself to give talks, sing kirtans, and meet different members. On the last day, Radhanath Swami was exhausted and had a high fever even as he sang the final kirtan for over two hours. Later the younger students of Radhanath Swami were extending their stay in South India for two more days. Radhanath Swami had earlier promised them that he would be there for these two days special retreat. However considering his ill health, the members suggested he take rest and go back to Bombay. He insisted on coming, but after much pressure relented and returned to Bombay. His exhaustion took a heavy toll on his health as he collapsed at the airport, and slept on the reclining seat while driving back to temple from the airport. However on returning to the centre, he once again got up cheerfully, met all the guests and visitors who wanted an audience with him. His meetings went beyond eleven at night. The next morning Radhanath Swami was up for the morning services by five. His tremendous ability to push himself beyond human ability for serving and pleasing others has touched the hearts of many, and inspired a seed of desire to serve, sprout in my own heart.
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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........
His tremendous ability to push himself beyond human ability for serving and pleasing others is because Rradhanth Swami Swami is beyond Bodily Concept
View CommentSeeding the seed of wonderful quality of serving others without consideration of one’s own comfort not just by words but through action….Thats Dalai Lama in Richard’s story and that’s Radhanath Swami for those who know him.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s life is to serve others
In above mentioned South Indian yatra 2005 – there are 100s of personal sacrifices done by Radhanath Swami for serving the 3000+ devotees – who were mostly his students.
To recite one of them – He would only eat his first meal very late afternoon or early evening so that he could be able to give his full concentration for the morning discource (would start approx aronund 10 am and go on till sometimes 3pm). While most of the 3000+ devotees would have had their breakfast 9am and then feel still very hungry by 2pm!
Inspite of being their Guru & the norm being that his convenience should have been priority-1, he chose to change his schedule, take personal inconvenience for benefit of others
View CommentRadhanath Maharaj is the epitome of sacrifice and service. We really have so much to learn from Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has indeed sacrificed his entire life to bring people closer to God.
View CommentSacrificing is synonysm with Radhanath Swami
View CommentTrue Mahajana
View CommentRadhanath Swami is open to learning good things from everyone he met. There is so much to learn from Radhanath Swami, person like me looks for faults and always feels i am great..
View CommentRadhanath Swami through his own example is showing the real path to attain bhakti – sacrifice and prayers
View CommentFollowing the footsteps of his gurudev, Radhanath Swami has sacrifice his whole life for the benefit of the humanity. Thank you very much for sharing this article.
View CommentRadhanath Swami through his persoanl example demonstrates positive effects of prayers and sacrifices.
View CommentRadhanath Maharaja always tries his best not to inconvenience others even in the slightest way and yest he takes all inconveniences himself for others’ benefit. We marvel at this great personality as it is revealed more and more.
View CommentThanks a lot for sharing.
View CommentRadhanath Swami teaches in such beautiful ways…….Prayers are so important.
View CommentIts a great mystery of life: we know whom we are praying for but we never whose praying for us.
All Glories To H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj
How sacrifice can be a medium to purify an remain riveted in bhakti can be rightly explained by this experience.
Hare Krishna
View CommentMaharaj’s only concern is the pleasure of devotees
View CommentRadhanath Swami doesn;t care about his health, he simply wants to extend himself. You have made realize by sharing this nice exchange that we shouldn;t trouble him with our petty issues so he could save some time for himself.
View CommentThanks a lot for sharing the past time
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s selflessness is unparallelled. It simply sweeps everyone off their feet, and makes them want to serve and please him even more.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj really extends himself for everyone.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s desire for selfless service is tremendous…….he can give everything for satisfaction for others………
View CommentRadhanath Swami has always endured tremendous personal inconveniences & bodily discomforts just so that he can inspire us in our spiritual life & keep us engaged in devotional service.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj’s sacrificing and selfless nature is like a lighthouse which is inspiring to all.
View CommentThanks for sharing how Radhanath Swami Maharaj extends himself for everyone.
View CommentIt is truly amazing and heart rendering to see such pure soul still existing who are ready to extend themselves for the benefit of others. Thank you Radhanath Swami for leading us by example.
View CommentThanks for sharing
View CommentAll Glories to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View CommentHe goes to any extent of extending himself to serve others who seek help. This is very special quality of Maharaj. I pray that I can get a drop of that quality, so that I can serve others
A life lived in service for God and his part and parcels, that’s the life story of Radhanath Swami; there are so many experiences persons have to share about his life and his relentless efforts to genuinely serve in a mood of Gods humble servitor.
View CommentThe sacrifices, Radhanath Swami made for all the society are incredible. Radhanath Swami made all the South India 2005 trip people say this “The greatness of a person can be estimated by one’s ability to tolerate the provocating situation”. This incident of taking pains beyond His capacity proves the greatness of Radhanath Swami. All great souls practice first before preaching. Radhanath Swami is no exception and stands out first among all. Thank you for nice meditation on the teachings of Radhanath Swami.
View CommentRadhanath Swami emphasizes on the two principles of sacrifice and prayers that help develop purity in oneself.
View CommentMAHARAJ HAS POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON ALL PEOPLE
View CommentThank you Maharaj for wonderful teaching.
View Comment“The strength to sacrifice for the welfare of others comes by cultivating purity of thought through disciplined spiritual
practices”
Radhanath Swami maharaj is a burning candle to spread the luminous around him. By his words, actions and behaviour he is educating people around him to solve the real problems of the life and attain love of God, for that he is ready to extand himself to any extant. All glories to Radhanth Swami maharaj.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s ability to extend himself is inconceivable and very touching.
View Comment“Just as a candle burns itself to spread light, a compassionate messenger of God’s love sacrifices his body, mind and words to serve others”
View CommentAll glories to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj
It’s really greater nectar to give and not to receive…
View CommentRadhanath Swami sowed this seed of selfless service 23 years ago in Mumbai and today we can see the same taking the form of huge tree as Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir which provides spiritual shade to thousands of seekers.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s selfless service attitude is amazing.
View CommentRadhanath Swami extends himself for the service of the Lord and His devotees.That is his compassion for others.
View CommentI am trying to learn both sacrifice and service
View CommentThis is so inspiring! An ordinary person may think why is Radhanath Swami going to such crazy extents to serve others. But as was mentioned above by Dalai Lama ..”the universal quality of religion is compassion to other living beings. To sacrifice for the good of others is true Dharma”. Radhanath Swami is doinng just that sacrificng his life and soul for benefit of others
View CommentThis is True! Radhanath Swami’s unique quality which has attracted so many people’s hearts is his nature to extend unlimitedly to serve others
View CommentRadhanath Swami is an apt example for a burning candle.
View CommentIn many occasions it is proven that Radhanath Swami pushes himself to give love of God to others. Radhanath Mahraj Ki Jai!!!!!.
His life is an example of sacrifice. There is always greater happiness in sacrificing for the sake of others.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s life is to serve others
View Commentfound your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later
View CommentVery clear instructions from Maharajah, before preaching we should practice “Before we can save the drowning person, we must become proficient swimmers ourselves. If we sincerely practice the tenets of genuine spirituality, our words and example will carry purity. This will then have a powerful impact on those whom we seek to serve”. Jai Gurudev
View CommentHe is a true Mahajan
View CommentMaharaj inspires so many devotees with his selfless behavior. It because of his selflessness that his disciples love him so much.
View CommentRadhanath Swami elsewhere mentions nicely (paraphrased): Personal inconvenience for the service of Krishna is pleasure.
View Comment