Richard (now Radhanath Swami) and Asim Krishna met a mystical lover of Krishna, Sripad Baba. Sripad Baba was a homeless mendicant and mysteriously wandered in Vrindavan in a God-intoxicated trance. Although Sripad Baba was revered by people in Vrindavan, no one knew his age or his residence. One night Richard saw him standing shoulder high in the frigid waters of the river offering prayers until sunrise. Sripad Baba seemed to know every hill, rock, or grain of dust in all of Vrindavan. In his association, Radhanath Swami began to feel he had no trace of love for Krishna in his own heart. Radhanath Swami once had an overwhelming experience when he longed for the love of God, cried and begged for that love. He suddenly felt everything was irrelevant in the absence of love for God.
Sripad Baba revealed to Radhanath Swami an interesting aspect of Krishna; God is universally worshipped as a great king, but in Vrindavan He is loved as a friend, a child or as a lover. Radhanath Swami often says that God is not simply great but also sweet, and Sripad Baba revealed to him Krishna as the essence of all beauty and sweetness.
Hearing Radhanath Swami’s talks I get a feeling that Krishna as a God is a mesmerizing blend of greatness and sweetness. All religions declare that God is great and Radhanath Swami speaks from the eleventh chapter of Bhagavad Gita and explains how this greatness can be seen even in Krishna. However there is another aspect to Krishna, says Radhanath Swami, and that is the sweetness of his attraction and love. I once heard Radhanath Swami describe Krishna’s stealing of butter from the house of the women in Vrindavan. A thought came across my mind, “Why should God steal and perform mischief?” As if answering my doubt, Radhanath Swami explained, “Krishna as God is self-satisfied as everything belongs to Him. However he likes to reciprocate with the love of His devotees, for Krishna is bound by that love.”
In India Krishna festivals are very popular with millions congregating to hear week long discourses on Krishna’s activities, especially about his childhood play and frolic in Vrindavan. These discourses are given by popular professional speakers, with accompanying kirtan, musical performances. Reading about Krishna fills the hearts of his devotees with incalculable sweetness. Interestingly I have observed Radhanath Swami and many other speakers about Lord Krishna repeat the stories with much excitement and enthusiasm as if they were narrating it for the first time. I understand that repeated speaking and hearing these stories simply increases the joy of the devotees.
Krishna theology is refreshingly different from the stereotyped understanding of God as a great Lord who metes out justice and awards the faithful on the Day of Judgment. Krishna is the same God as understood in all other theistic traditions, but the sweetness aspect of His personality helps devotees relish the path of Bhakti yoga.
The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzche said, “I would believe in a God who could dance.” Krishna is known as an expert dancer, natabara, who dances in rasa lila, the dance of divine love, in the pastures of Vrindavan. Radhanath Swami explains that we can also experience the sweetness of God by sincerely chanting the Holy names of God. The Holy names are also great and sweet, says Radhanath Swami. They are great because they can destroy the negativities from the heart and at the same time the sweetness of the Holy names can also be experienced by spiritualists who chant with great feeling of love.
“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.
To have a saint like Radhanath Swami belonging to such an exalted line of great spiritual masters amongst us is our very great privilege.
Hari bol, hari bol hari bol
Radhanath Swami has written that looking at Sripad Baba’s love for God made him feel how little he loved Krishna. That is the symptom of a pure devotee of the Lord. He always feels that others are great devotees while they themselves do not have a tinge of it.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for sharing how sweet Lord Krishna is.
I sincerely thank H.H. Radhanath swami mahraj for sharing his search for God adventures, they are so aspiring to achieve whatever one wants to achieve in life; especially with little sincerity one can achieve highest perfection of life- love of God. I pray one day by the mercy of Mahraj, I would get a fraction of desire to love Krishna what maharaj wants to give each and every soul.
A nice article on the sweetness quality of Krishna.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for recharging our batteries by speaking about the qualities of Krishna
H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj has nicely explained (sweetly)the sweet qualities of Lord Krishna. It is like nectar.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for the great narration of the sweetness of the Lord.
Everyone likes sweet. Sweet is attractive. Radhanath Swami explains that Krishna’s actions are attractive and sweet. All glories to radhanath Swami
God is greatest,strongest and sweetest, that is why He is all attactive.
Thanks Radhanath Swami for describing qualities of God.Thanks for sharing with us.
All GLories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
A very spiritual understanding of God and not otherwise unlike the stories that perpetuate, that pray when you are in difficulties and speaks nothing about God when we are momentatily in the illusion of happiness.
A beautiful lesson for all of us.
Hare Krishna
It is so much true… Great souls can reveal the true identity of the Lord…
I liked very much Maharajah reminding us
“Krishna as God is self-satisfied as everything belongs to Him. However he likes to reciprocate with the love of His devotees, for Krishna is bound by that love.”
This is very nice as GOD is not just great but sweet where you can have relationship and lord is more eager to reciprocate with our love.
Radhanath Swami thank you for helping us absorb in thoughts of Supreme Lord
God greatest or sweetest? This is very beautifully explained i in this article.
Its only in the bhakti tradition that we can understand both these aspects of God. Radhanath Swami is an expert bhakti yogi, so we can just imagine how much he already knows about the greatness and sweetness of the Lord.
The sweetnes of God is easily available to all through chanting his Holy names and reading and reciting His pasttimes. However, I am so fallen I am still looking for that sweetness. Thank you Maharaj.
thank u radhanath swami maharaj
If we understand Swamiji’s statement, we will see God’s hand in everything, and thus achieve God Consciousness.
Thank u Radhanath Swami for teaching us to see each & every situation of our life as a mercy of Lord & accept every moment with positive attitude.
thank you Radhanath Swami for so wonderfully explaining about every aspect of life as part of purification of our heart.
Thank you very much for teaching this essential principle
Thank you for sharing such a sweet story from Radhanath swami’s Journey Home
The highest exchange between God and His devotee is Love, so it follows naturally that God is “a mesmerising blend of sweetness and greatness.”
After this article by Radhanath Swami only, I could understand in full the sweetness part of God. Thank you Radhanath Swami for this.
Very sweet article..
Thanks for sharing
One can relish the sweetness of God when his material disease is cured.
Such a Sweet Realization..
Radhanath swami maharaj is inspiring every one by his example and the results which he has given to the society.
A Life-Saving Project…Something that actually makes people ‘LIVE’ the teaching of Simple Living High Thinking. Radhanath Swami ki Jay
very touching. thanks for sharing.
Krishna – Greatest of the greatest and Sweetest of the sweetest. When we hear the pass times of the lord from the a pure devotee the sweetness increases even more.
Very nice. Thanks for sharing. Haribol!
yes very true madhuram madhurebhyopi
Thank you very much for sharing. We can experience the sweetness of God by sincerely chanting the Holy names of God