The more Richard (now Radhanath Swami) tried to fit in with the social norms of his peers, the more he was miserable. He smoked Hashish and Marijuana and flirted more seriously than ever before, yet felt lonely and found his condition deplorable. He realized it was the Lord of his heart that he was fighting in his attempt to seek happiness through sense gratification. Although he was winning the fight in terms of increased sense pleasures, he felt lost and dejected. Sitting on the bank of Thames and looking at the Big Ben, he wondered if he was wasting his time. In a Church, Richard’s heart was filled with a special realization; he was now inspired to lead a life on his own terms rather than of his friends’. He also hoped to one day lead his life on God’s terms.
Radhanath Swami says our repeated attempt to seek happiness through bodily pleasures is like chewing that which has already been chewed. Imagine a bubble gum chewed and spat out. Only a foolish person would pick it up and chew it again, hoping to get some juice out of it. Similarly the great sages of the past have declared that material pleasures do not satisfy the deep needs of the soul; they give fleeting pleasures and even that fades away after some time. Yet we seek pleasures from those very activities.
One of the common themes of Radhanath Swami’s discourses has been that our original nature is spiritual–different from the material body that we presently inhabit. We can never become happy by attempting to satisfy the body. The soul must be satisfied because that’s our real identity. Radhanath Swami gives an interesting example of “Bird in the Cage” to illustrate this point. If the owner of the bird only pays attention to the cage, polishing it carefully, but neglects the inhabitant of the cage (the bird), then the bird will soon die. Likewise, if we simply pay attention to the body, neglecting its inhabitant (the soul), spiritually we will be dead. Of course, Radhanath Swami clarifies that the soul never dies; but he will certainly be very miserable.
Radhanath Swami’s wisdom is realizable in our daily lives. Our practical experience is that even when we obtain some object that we think will satisfy our senses, we soon become frustrated because the happiness is not forthcoming. This world is arranged in such a way that despite all attempts at enjoyment, the conditioned soul is continuously frustrated. Fulfilling the desires of the senses does not bring peace, because even if the senses are temporarily satisfied, they demand newer and newer experiences. They are insatiable. Rather than becoming satisfied, the senses become inflamed by the process of seeking enjoyment. Thus, the living entity alternates between boredom and craving, and is overall frustrated by his existence.
Radhanath Swami assures that spiritual life is however different. If we can lead a life centred on service and chanting of God’s names, the mirror of our heart would be cleansed and we would experience spiritual happiness. Radhanath Swami draws an interesting parallel with a mirror; the mirror of our mind or consciousness is clouded by the contaminated association that we have had in this world; The chanting cleanses the mirror of the mind, puts out the fire of material lust, makes our lives auspicious, situates us on the transcendental platform, awakens us to transcendental knowledge, and gives us the pleasure for which we have been hankering.
“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 Maharajs explainations are unbelievably simple & profound!
Radhanath Swami must have surely conquered greed, lust, envy & other such things, rising above mundane and giving such simple philosophy
Such depth and details of these wonderful realizations and illustrative examples! One has to be a complete fool or an inflamed egotist to counter these points.
There is no doubt that the bodily pleasures are not long lasting and can not give sustainable happiness as nicely and lucidly expalined along with examples by HH Radhanath Swami.
Wonderful realizations which all of us can use to lead a god centric life.
SO very true…..the more we want to enjoy the more the boredom and craving increases and there is no satiation to that. It is the great souls like HH Radahanath Maharaj who enlighten us towards the real joy of the life or else our life is useless and full of frustrations.
Thank you Maharaj
Thank you so much for sharing with us. Jai
What Radhanath Swami says is surely experienced by everyone. Profound wisdom!!
Thank you very much for sharing this. H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj is a perfect example who has conquered all anarthas like lust, anger, greed, illusion, etc. All glories to Maharaj.
Thanks Maharaj. Very true and everyone must have experienced it some time or other in their lives. Examples of Maharaj with deep realizations give meaning to our experiences.
maharaj always gives such wonderful teachings to combat our false ego and grow closer to krishna
Why not satisfy the soul if its more joyful to do and easier than to satisfy the body? Radhanath Swami urges everyone to consider the spiritual alternative.
Maharajah always guide us that we should strive for eternal spiritual happiness, which is our true nature. We will never be satisfied by bodily pleasure.
Radhanath swami always teaches his students to crave for the Real thing and not artificial temporary pleasures of the material world.”If we can lead a life centred on service and chanting of God’s names, the mirror of our heart would be cleansed and we would experience spiritual happiness”
Thanks for sharing the profound realisations of Radhanath Swami…
Very nice blog
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s realizations are soul stirrers.
Absolutely, there is no doubt that the bodily pleasures do not last long and they can not give happiness on a sustained basis. H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj lucidly explains this on several occassions. His experiences in the book “The journey Home” is a testimony for this.
Radhanath Swami says our repeated attempt to seek happiness through bodily pleasures is like chewing that which has already been chewed. Imagine a bubble gum chewed and spat out.
nice example
Real compassion is opening the doors of eternal happiness for everybody. Radhanath Swami is pointing out that open door.
Very true just like a car cant run on water, its fuel being petrol, similarly the soul cant be satisfied with bodily pleasures as they dont have the ability to touch the soul. They remain skin deep and superficial. Interestingly the attraction of bodily pleasures is also skin deep.
Maharaj has nicely explained how senses will never be satisfied and thus we should think of how instead to satisfy our soul.
Anyone who comes in contact with Radhanath Maharaj is extemely fortunate. His words are enriched with realization and compassion.
thank you for the post
Maharaj always explained the very real truth in front of us.
HH Radhanath swami maharaj inspires all of us by his lectures as well as his actions.
thank you maharaj
the only lasting source of happiness and pleasure is the one which radhanath swami and his spiritual masters and previous acharyas had adopted, the path of complete devotion and surrenderness to the supreme lord,
Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai!
nice blog
Wonderful Realizations!! Thanks for sharing this…
Simple yet powerful truth!
Hare Krishna
This article provides a lucid insight into the means to achieve true happiness. Very nice.
Radhanath Swami’ realisations are extremely profound, and it is our great fortune that he has mercifully agreed to share them through the medium of his book.
I liked this statement “Rather than becoming satisfied, the senses become inflamed by the process of seeking enjoyment. Thus, the living entity alternates between boredom and craving, and is overall frustrated by his existence”. We can practically experience this hankering and lamentation in our daily lives.
Chanting and service seems the complete solution to an eternally lasting happiness for us, the souls! Great realizations by Radhanath swami.
Thank you so much Maharaj for explaining it in very clear and profound way.
The most wonderful answer.
Radhanath Maharaj has such a vision to see the the things.And through his profound realisations Maharaj is enlightening the lives of millions of people.Thank you so much Maharaj.
Wonderful realization!Unless the mirror of the heart is cleaned by regularly chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord one cannot experience the spiritual happiness for which the soul is hankering life after life after life.Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Radhanath Swami