Every day Mother Ganges taught many lessons to Richard (now Radhanath Swami). One day Richard observed that although being in the swift current of the river, one is greatly affected but sitting on the bank, we can observe the flow with detachment. Similarly if we detach ourselves from the mind and the world, we too can observe life soberly and thus gain wisdom. One day he meditated on the millions of years of history that had been enacted on the banks of Ganges. From the age of Aryans to the medieval age of Mughals and to the Gandhi and Independence movement, and to the present times, Ganges had seen it all. She was patiently flowing towards the sea, unchanged by the vicissitudes caused by time. Truth too, Richard observed was unchanging, and flowed irrespective of what happens to this world.
Why is detachment needed? Radhanath Swami says a spirit of detachment helps us gain an aerial view towards our lives. As we are being tossed by the waves of different problems, we are unable to seek solutions on the spiritual front, more so when we are blinded by our own myopic view of life. Radhanath Swami therefore says we must cultivate philosophical knowledge in order to have a proper understanding by which we can proceed without being bewildered by the temptations of this world. “We must become detached; we must give up those things that are contrary to our spiritual development. No matter how much we like them; no matter how much pleasure they give us, we must be willing to give up.” Radhanath Swami connects detachment to humility. “In the path of bhakti, we must be willing to be a humble person. Humility is the culmination of all knowledge and detachment.”
Radhanath Swami through his own personal example has taught that detachment helps us seek intelligent and spiritual solutions. If we are attached then the material consciousness contaminates our intelligence; it is therefore imperative that we cultivate detachment. Then the obstacles on the path of spirituality won’t overwhelm us. Radhanath Swami gives the example of a boat on the sea. When a boat is on the sea there is water all around the boat, but the expert boatman doesn’t allow the water to enter the boat, for that would capsize the boat. Similarly this world is compared to an unlimited ocean of suffering and problems. We have to maneuver the boat of our life in this ocean and seek to cross over to the spiritual world. As we are struggling if we cultivate detachment, that will prevent the water of problems from entering the boat of our lives although we are plying our lives in the ocean of material world.
Radhanath Swami clarifies that simply detachment is not sufficient to advance in spiritual life. Detachment alone can make our heats hard; therefore we also need to simultaneously cultivate attachment to God through sincere practice of spirituality. “While there should be detachment from that which is not real, we should increase our attachment to that which is eternal”, says Radhanath Swami, “for real attachment to God is real detachment from material world.”
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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........
Wonderful insights, thanks very much to Maharaj
View CommentWonderful insights, thanks very much
View CommentVery nice lesson! Detachment is needed to advance in spiritual life while living in this material world. But detachment should accompany with attachment to the Lord.
View Commentvery inspiring
View Comment“A spirit of detachment helps us gain an aerial view towards our lives.” I like this statement of Radhanath Swami. Thank you
View CommentWonderfully explained the concept of real detatchment.
View Commentvery lucidly radhanath swami had revealed the importance of practising attachment and detachment in one’s life,
View CommentAmazing lessons
View CommentBeautiful teachings..!
View CommentI am sure these paintings are going to sit in some super-high profile museum soon. Radhanath Swami inspires the very best!
View CommentBeautiful lesson. This teaches detachment and comes thru maturity.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has practically learnt from every source in his life and is very inspiring for all of us.
View CommentRadhanath Swami was so dedicated from day one to know about the Supreme Truth.
View CommentAmazing article.All glories to Mother Ganges.
View CommentHH Radhanath Maharaj ki jai.
Very good to hear this
View CommentTaking an ‘aerial’ view of our life is an excellent point. Also, mere detachment without attachment to God will not help–is also a very deep statement.
View CommentVery beautiful learnings for us. thank you
View CommentRadhanath Swami opened his heart to the teachings which Mother Ganges wished to share with him, and he, in turn, very lovingly, is sharing the same with all of us.
View CommentBeautiful article on detachment! I remembered a meaningful quote of Radhanath Swami -“The perfection of detachment is to cultivate attachment to god”.
View CommentYes we can learn many lessons from mother ganges but I learn many lessons from this article. Thank you Radhanath swami
View CommentBrilliant post! Keep up the good work…
View CommentVery nice.
View CommentVery powerful instruction by Radhanath Swami
View Comment“Humility is the culmination of all knowledge and detachment.”
Amazing
View Commenthow it is to be done – “for real attachment to God is real detachment from material world.”
View Commentwhy it is needed – spirit of detachment helps us gain an aerial view towards our lives, to seek spiritual solutions to our problems.
Thank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
NICE ARTICLE.
View CommentGreat Article.
View CommentGanges is always there to reveal the glories of the Lord… it takes a soft and eager heart like that of Radhanath Swami to perceive them.
View CommentRadhanath Swami brings out very nicely the point as to why we need detachement and still need to observe our lives
View Comment“We must become detached; we must give up those things that are contrary to our spiritual development. No matter how much we like them; no matter how much pleasure they give us, we must be willing to give up.” These words of H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj is the essence of spiritual practice.Thank you Maharaj.
View CommentDetachment from the worldly things and attachment to God is all perfect.Transcendental is transcending both positive and negative. All glories to Radhantha Swami.
View CommentIt’s Very Nice & Wonderful That We Get Pure Devotional Knowledge Without Any Efforts Or Any Struggle, Therefore One Must Learn Through This Great Articles & Make The Life Successful In A True Manner. Hari Bol!!!
View CommentDetachment from the material world can be easily achieved if we have attachment to God and His devotees.
View Commentfor real attachment to God is real detachment from material world.”
View CommentThanks
i liked the last lines of the article which says that if we increase our attachment towards God then we will get detachment from this material world. its true n i m really trying hard to increase my attachment which in turn will help us to connect us back to God.
View CommentVery nice message by Radhanath Swami. Mother Ganges has given this world a great saint.
View CommentBeautiful article….
View CommentThanks Radhanath Maharaj for explaining the real meaning of detachment.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has explained so beautifully that detachment must be coupled with spirituality. Thank you
View CommentThe consideration that detachment should not make us hard hearted is very appealing to me.
View CommentVery instructive.
View CommentAwesome!
View CommentTo experience our spiritual nature we must detach ourselves from our mind and world around us. Thank you Radhanath Swami.
View CommentThank you Maharaj for this wonderful insight. Very nicely told by Maharaj that detachment from material life is not sufficient but one must be attached to the cultivation of spiritual life and strive to become humble.
View CommentRadhanath Swami does a wonderful job in sensitising us toward our cultural heritage which we seem to have lost while in our mad rush to ape the west.
View Comment“real attachment to God is real detachment from material world.” I think this is the essence of human life. Thank you Swamiji.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is very special
View CommentVery inspiring!
View CommentThe last sentence in this article is indeed very enlightening. Thank you Radhanath Swami for your encouragement and guidance in making us come closer to Lord Krishna in a positive way.
View CommentThank You Radhanath Swami for explaining the detachment.
View Comment