Meditation from the Journey Home Book – Autobiography of Radhanath Swami
At the convent of Mother Theresa Richard saw her personally scrubbing a large charred cooking pot with her own devoted hands. Although her aging form was shrunken and frail, her eyes twinkled with childlike innocence. She revealed to Richard that the greatest problem in the world was not the hunger of the stomach but the hunger of the heart. She said all over the world both the rich and the poor are suffering, starving for love. She considered poverty as being caused by a lack of respect for one another. She considered real wealth to be in the hearts of those with faith in the love of God. She was asked by a lady why she was washing pots. She replied that serving God and humanity was not a chore. Any type of service is a blessing. Another person asked her where she gets her strength from, to which she said, “All my strength comes from the Lord’s Holy Names.”
The world is increasingly witnessing selfish exploitation and greedy pursuits, and therefore it’s not surprising to see the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer; stinking opulence coexist in this world with squalor and deprivation. In a recent talk Radhanath Swami quoted his guru’s analogy, “If a bag of rice is placed in a public place, birds will come to eat a few grains and go away. A human being, however, will take away the whole bag. He will eat all his stomach can hold and then try to keep the rest in storage. Now the entire world is suffering because of man’s greed and selfishness.” Radhanath Swami also quotes his guru who once on a morning walk in Bombay saw a lean, poor man shivering on the pavement. On the same footpath an obese man jogged. And Radhanath Swami’s guru was quick to point that one man is suffering because he has nothing to eat and the other is running to lose calories caused by over eating.
When the world over people are suffering due to selfishness, I am inspired by the second richest man in the world Warren Buffet who has revealed himself to be simple man at heart. His refusal to pursue ‘I get what I want’ lifestyle- the hallmark of modern society- comes as a breath of fresh air in these troubled times. At a time when crass greed goes in the name of ambition, and frugal habits are frowned upon, Mr. Buffet’s reticence has few parallels. Mr. Buffet’s recently donated $37 billion in charity. The CEO and Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway also hasn’t taken a salary hike for the last quarter of a century, and pays back his company expenses such as phone charges. Mr Buffet also drives his own car to work, and apparently says ‘no’ to all things hedonistic.
If more such fortunate few take responsibility of the underprivileged, and share their love, they will themselves discover God’s love in their own hearts. Radhanath Swami appeals, “When we recognize the proprietorship of the Supreme Lord, and contribute our little worth in ensuring that the needs of all are taken care of, we lead a life of responsibility.” Besides the social responsibility, another reason why we need to keep our lives simple is the personal satisfaction it guarantees. The more we fulfill our desires, the mind continues to remain dissatisfied “There’s enough in this world to meet everyone’s need”, said Gandhi, “but not enough to meet even one person’s greed”. Radhanath Swami shares Mother Theresa’s concern that both the rich and the poor are suffering for want of love. He says this is due to our life centered on selfish acquisitions. A life centered on acquisitions- gross and even subtle aspirations for name and fame- only increases our bodily misidentifications. For such a person, a deep sense of insecurity crops up with changing market conditions, twisting political fortunes, and crashing stock markets.
Therefore the solution for humanity is to share love and compassion. Radhanath Swami humbly confesses, “As soon as we think we are compassionate, we are in illusion. We can only be instruments of God’s compassion.” He also insists that we serve not because we can help anyone, but our service is only for our own purification, and the needy are simply giving us a chance to serve them.
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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........
This is such a nice lesson – when we help someone, we are benefiting, and we should be grateful for the opportunity to serve rather than thinking that I’m so great, so compassionate etc.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj has beautifully displayed how we can all be instruments of God’s compassion.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj has dedicated his life in serving the humanity with the greatest offering of Love. I pray with all my heart that the greed in my heart is cleansed so that I can simply become an instrument in the hands of the Supreme.
View CommentThanks for sharing such a nice article.
View CommentReal problem in this world is the lack of Love. Thanks for sharing.
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami has has beautiful realizations for being compassionate but with Humility and only such person can pass on these teachings to to others, Thank you!
View CommentThanks for sharing such a nice article
View CommentVery nice thought provoking post. There is enough for everybody need but just not enough for few peoples greed. This post sights good example for our political leaders.
There is no job big or small if it is done with service attitiute. So relevant to our day to day life
View CommentA simple hearted person always have love and compassion for the suffering souls. This can be clearly understood from the life of Maharaj. Very inspiring to read this meditation. Thanks for sharing.
View CommentOnly when the heart receives love, will people be satisfied and not snatch away from others for the sake of greed, insecurity and fear. A wonderful thought -provoking article about Radhanath Swami.
View Commentthanks for this nice thoughtful writing.
View CommentA most important lesson that we could see in this is that The real gratitude is that when we serve God or His representative then we should be thankful to Him for allowinfg
View Commentus to do so.Its a blessing.Thank you very much.
One should share love and compassion for ones own purification and be an instrument of love and compassion of God – What a wonderful statement by Radhanath Swami.
View Commentvery nicely put in the last paragraph. truly inspirational and much needed
View CommentRadhnath Swami is completely engaged in distributing love of godhead and the holy names of the Lord.
View CommentOnly god’s love can fullfill our heart and only mean to get love of god is to serve Guru and vaisnava.
View CommentJai……
Radhanath Swami teaches us to be humble under all circumstances
View Commentradhanath swami is the chosen one for the mankind in this age of kali since he was sent in this planet with the powerful and imperishable weapons such as humility and compassion,
View CommentWonderful article. Thank you. Only if we have this consciousness while helping others,are we serving as instruments in the Lords plans. Radhanath Swami very compassionately is training all of us in this way.Thank you so much Radhanath Swami.
View CommentRadhanath Swami himself has filled up the hunger of the heart of many thousands of people from all countries and backgrounds.
View Commentvery nice and interesting article
View CommentWell said . There’s enough in this world to meet everyone’s need”, “but not enough to meet even one person’s greed.
also…. As soon as we think we are compassionate, we are in illusion. We can only be instruments of God’s compassion.
View CommentThankyou for reveiling these hidden secreat
Hari Bol! How true! when we serve others we are actually serving on behalf of our Guru Maharaj. We have to simply follow his instructions.HH Radhanath Swami himself has laid great emphasis on serving others as an instrument of Lord’s will.He himself considers all his efforts to be the mercy of Srila Prabhupada.This consciousness of highest level makes him a most glorious Spiritual Master capable of enlightening ignorant masses.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Maharaj for teaching us the meaning of true responsibility.
View Commentbeautiful!!
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s assertion that our service is only for our own purification, and the needy are simply giving us a chance to serve them, is a real eye-opener for all the philanthropists. It will serve us all well to abandon our false pride that we are the doers & will help us in developing a true sense of humility.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj has dedicated his life for his GuruMaharaj in serving humanity and the Lord. Thank you.
View CommentVery true
View CommentWhat everybody is lacking in today’s world is real love and compassion. We can get this abundantly from H.H Radhanath Swami.
View CommentThank you Maharaj for giving us a lot of love.
View CommentThis is the most important thing which inspries us in Devotional service.
Very nice post.Very true
View CommentNice Article. In this modern age, people are exploiting one another which leads to suffering for all. H.H.Radhnath Swami Maharaj is a compassionate soul who gives us a chance to wake up from these sufferings and see with a real vision how it will be when we are united for the only goal, The mercy of the Love of God Head.
View CommentI fully agree with Maharaj words. So that a good devotee should not feel that he is compassionate. If he feel than that means he is in illusion. Always understand that god is the doer. We are nothing….
View CommentIts amazing to hear exchanges of two stalwarts Radhanath Swami and Mother Teresa
View CommentJay
View CommentSimplicity is the essence and who can potray this better than Maharaj
View CommentWhen we recognize the proprietorship of the Supreme Lord, and contribute our little worth in ensuring that the needs of all are taken care of, we lead a life of responsibility. Thanks to Radhanath Swami Maharaj for such enlightening words. I hope to practice such statements in my life.
View CommentRadhanath Swami also quotes his guru who once on a morning walk in Bombay saw a lean, poor man shivering on the pavement. On the same footpath an obese man jogged. And Radhanath Swami’s guru was quick to point that one man is suffering because he has nothing to eat and the other is running to lose calories caused by over eating. — This incident conveys the situation of the world to the fullest.
View CommentThanks a lot for sharing such nice article.
View CommentAs pointed out by HH Radhanath Swami that greed of humans is the main cause of sufferings is very true. If we follow in the footsteps of great souls like HH Radhanath Swami and follow their instructions I am sure the humanity can get relieved of this greatest disease called greed.
View CommentThank you for sharing this.
It is so important to keep our lives very simple so that there are no unnecessary anxieites that come with changing market conditions.
View CommentGreed though gives an immediate sense of being the proprietor, this sense of proprietorship almost immediatley is succeeded by extreme anxiety of loosig what is accumulated and a need to collect more.
Thank you for sharing this.
It is so important to keep our lives very simple.Greed though gives an immediate sense of being the proprietor, this sense of proprietorship almost immediatley is succeeded by extreme anxiety of loosig what is accumulated and a need to collect more.
View Comment“greed is lust for money”very true
View CommentRadhanath Swami has a selfless attitude and hence he is able to guide so many wandering souls
View CommentWat a wonderful realisation!
View CommentThank u!
People who are rich think that spirituality is only for poor. Mother Teresa here makes a mark that both rich and poor are suffering and the real poverty is missing God in our lives for petty things of this world
View CommentSimple Living and High Thinking……Maharaj practices and preaches as well.
View CommentWonderful teaching by Radhanath Swami “We can only be instruments of God’s compassion”
View CommentH H Radhanath Swami preaches by example. A symptom of real Vaishnava & Guru.
View CommentIn order to form such a world where there is no hunger in all levels, we need Leaders like Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View Comment