Meditation on Radhanath Swami’s Book – The Journey Home Book
At the Bombay festival, a gigantic pandal, tent was erected and over 25,000 people attended the programme, eager to hear from the guru. Richard was seated at the rear end of the pandal. Richard saw the guru call over one of his disciples and spoke in his ear. The disciple then gazed into the massive crowd, signaled someone to come up onto the stage, but when nobody came, he finally came down and walked right up to Richard. He smilingly told Richard, “Srila Prabhupada wants you to sit with him on the stage.” Richard was stunned that of the thousands, Srila Prabhupada had picked on him to sit next to him.
As Srila Prabhupada spoke, Richard heard a voice within his heart proclaim, “This is your guru.” But the mind couldn’t accept, and a battle ensued between the mind and the heart. His mind won and he dismissed the idea that he was ready to choose a guru. After the lecture Richard extended his hand to touch Srila Prabhupada’s feet. A disciple tried to stop but Srila Prabhupada gently spoke that he could touch his feet. Meanwhile the other Western disciples of Srila Prabhupada became good friends with Richard but he was still fearful of a commitment. During one class, Richard felt Srila Prabhupada’s eyes penetrating into the depths of his soul, and silently urging him not to waste his precious time, for Krishna was waiting for him. Richard trembled:
“It is said that a saintly person is so pure that he or she acts like a spotless mirror. When we come in the presence of such a mirror-like soul, we can see both the beauty and ugliness of our inner life. Our faith and doubts, virtues and sins, strengths and weaknesses are revealed. It is both a joyful and painful experience, one that I had in the presence of Srila Prabhupada.”
Although the association of a saint fills our heart with spiritual joy, it also positively disturbs. A true saint doesn’t flatter his followers with platitudes. While he exudes warmth and affection, he also speaks the harsh truth of life, some of which may be unpalatable for the ego. The ego fears that commitment to a spiritual path may restrict our freedom. Radhanath Swami narrates the example of an uncleaned room. A room that isn’t cleaned for years may be dirty, and an attempt to clean the room only raises more dirt. However, if the cleaner persists, the room will become attractive for a person to stay. Similarly, a genuine well wishing guru attempts to clean the heart of a disciple. The process appears painful, but if the seeker persists and allows the transcendental instructions of the guru to enter his consciousness, the room of the heart once again illuminates and attracts God to reside in the heart. A God centered life then fills our lives with freedom and happiness.
The pain occurs in the initial days of our spiritual life because we hear the special position of God and our position in the cosmos as inconsequential. A genuine guru teaches that God is indeed special and we are insignificant only to the extent we are disconnected from God. A soul that endeavors to reestablish the relationship with God becomes special, and he or she then experiences a level of happiness that transcends ordinary bodily pleasures.
Radhanath Swami cites the example of a finger which is insignificant when separated from the body. However when connected to the hand, it has a special place. A screw when separated from the machine is useless but when reconnected enjoys a unique function. Likewise, separated from the Lord, no endeavors in this world can actually make our lives significant. In a loving relationship with God alone, we can be blissful. Besides, prayerful contemplation on our insignificance compared to the all great Lord and His numerous servants, makes us humble. This humility softens our heart and captures God’s heart. Radhanath Swami enlightens us, “A spiritual approach to life that is based on humility and service transforms even unknown servants to glorious recipients of Lord’s love and mercy.” Richard was one such special recipient.
“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........
‘The Journey Home - Autobiography of an American Swami’ Book is an engaging, humorous and heart-warming account of a young nineteen year old’s quest for spiritual enlightenment. The reader follows Richard Slavin (Now Radhanath Swami) from the suburbs of Chicago to the caves of Himalayas as he goes through a variety of exciting adventures; some near-death encounters and many spiritual experiences. Regular reading of this all-time classic has helped me draw spiritual lessons and seek constant inspiration in my own spiritual journey.
Radhanath Swami says “A true saint doesn’t flatter his followers with platitudes. While he exudes warmth and affection, he also speaks the harsh truth of life, some of which may be unpalatable for the ego” This is really an important symptom of a true saint.
I love this story, specially when Maharaja narrates it live
Wonderful
Radhanath Swami was very lucky to have got his Guru’s blessings even before he accepted him as Guru…….very nice……
radhanath swami’s book has wonderful pastimes to relish and inspire from ….
Amazing!
interesting page
His Holiness Radhanath Swami has expounded a very valuable point. If we tolerate and persist in our spiritual lives, then the God centeredness fills our lives with freedom and happiness.
As mentioned, genuine sainly people will expose our shortcomings and encourage us on the path of proper understanding simultaneously. What rare gems such sainly people are!
thanks radhanath swami for this -A spiritual approach to life that is based on humility and service transforms even unknown servants to glorious recipients of Lord’s love and mercy
this is just perfect!
How nicely Radhanath Swami is explaining the need of commitement on the path of spiritual life. It’ll be difficult at start but if we persist, glories future is awating us. The example of cleaning of room is so appriopriate.
Thank you Maharaj for sharing your realizations and experiences..
Excellent !!!!!!!
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Maharaj is pointing here the benefit association of a pure soul, even a momentary association the doors of deliverance gets open. As explained here that by such a contact we able to understand our +ve and -ve aspects which inspires us to work on them to better serve guru and Krsna.
Very nice artilce elucidating Maharaj’s stress on taking the association of Mahatmas even though it may initially cause some pain to our ego and hard for the mind to accept
We are fortunate that we have access to such saintly persons as Radhanath Swami to guide and encourage us on our spiritual path. Thank you
Nice. Srila Prabhupada could see Radhanath Maharaj way back then. Jai Srila Prabhupada.
A soul that endeavors to reestablish the relationship with God becomes special, and he or she then experiences a level of happiness that transcends ordinary bodily pleasures- HHRSM
Every statement every word gives hope !
Even Radhanath Swami is one such great saint in whose presence nothing remains hidden; our good and bad is at once revealed for us to see and act upon – for the better.
The last statement is hard to follow. But it works……
Radhanath Swami has a great incluence of God as we can see in his life.
Very inspiring for me to read Radhanath Maharaja experiences
Wonderful incident.. Srila Prabhupada could easily recognize Maharaj. This shows that the relation of Spiritual Master and disciple is eternal
Radhanath Swami emphasises the necessity of humility in spiritual life again and again and again… hoping that one day all of us would be transformed.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for teaching us to work with God in the center.
It is amazing to see the battle between heart and mind, how Radhanath Swami took the correct decision before completely convinced himself of accepting a spiritual master.
Thank you Radhanath Swami
Maharaj, you have connected us to the great powerhouse of mercy & compaasion & made something valuable out ofus.
Simply Wonderful to hear from Radhanath Swami!
Radhanath Swami Maharaj so very nicely describes the analogy of cleaning a room & comparing it with cleaning our heart !
This also shows how Srila Prabhupada recognized Radhanath Swami out of thousands of people !
Hare Krishna !
Thank you very much for sharing, really very meaningful.