Richard met a fascinating person, Balashiva Yogi who was frivolous and talkative, but became intense during his yoga practice. After a few days, as Richard bid him goodbye, Balashiva Yogi insisted that Richard attend his lecture that evening. In the talk he performed miracles by creating a deity of Lord Shiva in his hand and inducing ashes to materialize from his bare palm. As all gazed at him as if he was God, Balashiva Yogi declared that this is prapti siddhi, a yogic art, through which one can manipulate gross elements of nature by controlling the subtle elements within the mind. He warned that neither he is God nor anyone else performing such supernatural feats, for these skills are attained through meditation and austerities. He declared, “I can create ashes, God can create universes.”
Richard was impressed by his honesty and reflected how true spirituality is to realize God and be godly, not to show off one’s powers. He realized how the world over, athletes, entertainers, scientists, politicians, scholars, and business men and women are all worshipped, but this is due to the ignorance of the people who do not appreciate God’s power, but are fascinated by human feats. God has put a gigantic banyan tree in a seed, gallons of water in a floating cloud, and million other miracles. Richard wondered could all this simply be a random chance. He concluded creation is nothing but one amazing miracle after another, and God had empowered every species with amazing talents.
When we think calmly and carefully about this wonderful universe, we can see order and design at every level – in the atoms, the molecules, the solar system and the universe. Scientists continue to find new and astonishing aspects of this order. The very word ‘cosmos’ means ‘an orderly, harmonious systematic universe’. Nobel-prize-winning physicist Robert A. Millikan, said at a meeting of the American Physical Society: “There’s a Divinity that shapes our ends…A purely materialistic philosophy is to me the height of unintelligence. Wise men in all the ages have always seen enough to at least make them reverent.”
Scientific study has consistently shown in the past, and still continues to show that the behaviour of even insensible matter is not at all haphazard, but on the contrary obeys definite natural laws. The arrangement of chemical elements by the great Russian chemist, Mendeleef, is called ‘The Periodic Law’ and not ‘The Periodic Chance’. Also, the entire universe, from atoms to galaxies, is governed by definite physical laws. There are laws for governing heat, light, sound and gravity, for example. As physicist Stephen W. Hawking said: “The more we examine the universe, we find it is not arbitrary at all but obeys certain well-defined laws that operate in different areas. It seems very reasonable to suppose that there may be some unifying principle.”
When we think of laws, we acknowledge that they come from a lawmaker. A traffic sign that says “Stop” certainly has behind it some person or group of persons who originated the law. What, then, about the comprehensive laws that govern the material universe? God is not an assumption, but a tangible reality. Dr Albert Einstein said, “I believe in God – who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of the Universe. I believe that intelligence is manifested throughout all Nature. The basics of scientific work is the conviction that the world is an ordered and comprehensible entity and not a thing of Chance. When I sit here and watch the mighty ocean, I can imagine the treasures hidden below the bed of the sea, when I see the clear blue sky above, I feel sky is the limit. When I cast my eyes around I see the wonders and beauties of Nature. Science must learn to live in Harmony with all these magnificent gifts of God to Humanity.”
Richard had earlier witnessed a striking exhibition of power of yoga. A yogi suddenly appeared from the jungles and challenged the doctors to check his pulse. He then fell silent, withdrawing his life force. The doctors present declared him to be clinically dead. Half an hour later, to the astonishment of all assembled, he rose from the dead. He didn’t ask for any money. He simply wanted to prove to the sceptics the power of yoga, and having done so, disappeared back to the wilds. Richard now realized this too is a power, not in any way an evidence of our becoming God.
Table of Contents
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........
Really inspiring!!!
View Commenthow people are carried away with someones act of being God , they don’t understand such a simple thing that everything inimates from Krishna he is the cause of all causes . God has given different qualities to everyone , he has created this cosmos which acts on law . we are qualitatively like god not quantatively like God . Yogic power is material , real achivement is to serve Krishna & Radharani . Hare Krishna.
View CommentAmazing article!
View CommentHare Krishna. What a wonderful book is “The journey Home”? I have distributed about 50 books to my acquaintances.
View CommentRadhanath Swami seems to have known the teachings of the vedic scriptures like Bhagvad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam way before he actually read them!!! All glories!
View CommentMaharaj’s book is a valuable gem. there is so much to learn from it!!
View CommentRadhanath Swami learnt so much during his hermit life. Its as if God was arranging all these lessons for him to prepare him for the highest realization about God.
View CommentIts nice to see a yogi giving all credit to GOD.
View CommentIn 11th canto of SB Lord Krsna tells Uddhava about various siddhis from yoga and later He declares that these powers can be obstacles on path of devotion. Real siddhi is to engage selflessly in loving devotional service. Though HH Radhanath Swami came across so many such attractions (distractions), he knew well the highest goal and so he could make successful journey as described by Lord Himself.
View CommentYes Maharaja saw only good in others
View CommentAmazing article!! Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s this quote is wondeful ” how true spirituality is to realize God and be godly, not to show off one’s powers”.
View CommentI like the honesty of the balashiva yogi here in this article.So many so-called sadhus & yogis have been caught redhanded & their scandals exposed.Every other day such news do their rounds on the TV or newspaper. Balashiva yogi didnt cheat his followers.
View CommentNice to red this whole story from life of HH Radhanath Swami. I found some more interesting ones on … http://www.radhanath.com/
View CommentThank you for sharing this!As rightly said …”It seems very reasonable to suppose that there may be some unifying principle”. We are ever thankful to saintly personalities like Radhanath Swami who have thought us the through timeless message from the knowledge of the vedas coming in disciplic sucession that the Unifying Principle is the Power and Mercy of GOD who is a person. Thank you Radhnath Swami!
View Commentamazing stories. imagine not being completely in awe of such yogis after seeing such feats. Radhanath swami could see the real thing beyond all such “magical feats”
View CommentWhen I read this I realised that generally people are so much in ignorance – taking performers of such miraculous feats as God Himself. But Radhanath Swami has given such a nice realisation on this.
View CommentAt this present age, all so called incarnations of God spoiling the essance of Bhakthi and sanathana dharma by their cheap tricks and insignificant yogic powers. But people like Radhanath Swami still keeping the value of real bhakthi. that is the reason why still earth is sustaining without distruction. It is very essential to have such pure souls like Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View CommentAwesome realization of Radhanath Maharaj. Only he can see things in its true prospective.
View CommentNice insight into what God is and what is not.
View CommentIt is because of his scientific presentation of spirituality as presented in the book, more and more educated youth are being inspired by the teachings of Radhanath Swami
View CommentIn maharaj book we get to know so many things which we never heard of….& I don’t see a chance that we will ever experience it in our busy rat race life.
View CommentThe creation of this world is so wonderful and hence no one can perceive the hidden hand of Krishna if he wants to enjoy this creation. But person like Radhanath Swami knows that this creation is not for taking pleasure but try to see the greatness of creator and surrender to Him. There are so many wonders in this world. But God is the most wonder of all the wonders.
View CommentRadhanath Maharaj thank you v much for this wonderful thought provoking article
View CommentGripping article…
View CommentIt is now clear that universe was not created by BIG-BANG.We can perceive the hands of God in all His creations.Even the intelligence with which we work comes from the Lord.We are nothing but part and parcel of the Supreme Lord.He is ‘Vibhu'(infinite)we are ‘Anu'(infinitessimal).It behooves us not to think of ourselves as God but try to do the Will of God.
View CommentNice Article, Thank you for sharing.
View Commentvery inspiring article
View CommentThank you!!! wonderful article!!!
View CommentCatchy article. If only the “BABAs” of today can take some learning from this, peoples faith in religion would become more strong.
View CommentHH Radhanath swami has such deep insight of knowledge and realisation. Millions of thanks to HH Radhanath swami for sharing these precious realisations.
View CommentNowadays it is not uncommon for so called spiritual heads to add title of Bhagwan so and so… to their name indicating they are God. What trickery is adopted to mislead the people. Radhanth Swamis experiences and realizations exposes this sort of mentality of persons who adopt such means.
View CommentTo hear and act on god’s will with determination is something that Radhanath Swami is teaching everyone when he followed the voice of god “Go to India”
View Comment“Creation is nothing but one amazing miracle after another” -if we look at the Lord’s creation with a humble attitude and hear attentively in a submissive mood we will realize the profound truth of this statement made by Radhanath Maharaj.
View Commentwonderful
View Commentwonderful
View Commentvery nice
View CommentMaharaj is very clear of his goal and was never lured by the attarctions.
View CommentVery nice article!
View Commentvery nice write up. Its very dificult to find a yogi who will give all the credit to God and explains the power of yoga with illustration. Maharaj is great that he did not get carried away with such yog vidya. Maharaj ki jai!
View CommentGreat !!
View CommentHH Radhanath swami maharaj’s book tells us how lord helps a sincere soul towards him. HH Radhanath swami’s book also gives example of how a sadhaka should be determined to know the absolute truth…
View CommentHH Radhanth Swami Maharaj ki Jai
Radhanath Swami has so much of wisdom, knowledge and wisdom to share with others
View CommentIf someone claims to be god then he is cheating himself.Real spirituality is to realise God and develope godly qualities.
View CommentMaharaj has a honeybee attitude,,will find the best in other person and reject/ oversee the negative. This is his real greatness. This is practical teaching of ‘Art of Positive ATTITUDE’.
View CommentBeautiful! True! very relevant especially, in this age when most want to become tiny GODs in their own world.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has amazing ability to learn lessons form things around him. It’s really wonderful to see that how Radhanath Swami is teaching us important lessons in relation with GOD by simple observations. Thank you so much…
View Commentthanks a lot
View CommentAt a very young age Radhanath Swami had the wisdom to cut through the futility of miraculous powers and continue the onward search for the source of all mysticism. And thanks to that, so many have been given a proper guidance.
View CommentI LOVE THIS !!
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj for leading us towards the spiritual path!!
View Comment