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Pleasing God by pleasing devotees
May 21, 2013  |  radhanath-swami

Richard (now Radhanath Swami) now arrived at Patna and got the association of Narayan Prasad and his guru Rama Sevaka Swami. Simplicity and devotion poured from the heart of Rama Sevaka Swami in whatever he did. For hours daily he chanted the Holy Names of Lord Rama and he personally fed Richard with his own hands. While staying with him, one day a sadhu, visiting monk, cooked kichari for all. It was unbearably spicy and caused lot of suffering to Richard while the others were enjoying it. The cook insisted on serving seconds and thirds to Richard and Richard tried blocking his plate but the cook insisted on serving and was very pleased with Richard’s honoring the food.  Although Richard was miserable, he didn’t have the heart to tell the cook that he was in pain eating the food. The spice caused tears in Richard’s eyes but the cook thought Richard is crying in gratitude. Richard realized that to please others is not easy but enduring that burning pain was worth it for the sadhu was pleased.

Radhanath Swami always emphasizes that we have to try and please other devotees of God. God is never alone in a vacuum; God is always surrounded by His loving devotees. When we serve devotees who are dear to God, we also become dear to God.

Radhanath Swami speaks with great relish the story of one great saint from south India, Shri Ramanujacharya. Once Ramanujacharya travelled to a town where two of his disciples stayed. Ramanujacharya sent his assistant to inform both of them that he would come to their house for lunch that day. He then told his assistant to report about the responses of his both students. When the assistant went to the first house, the host was overjoyed that in a few hours his guru would be coming for lunch. He busily made arrangements and in the process ignored to serve the assistant of his guru. When the assistant then went to the second house, the host was overjoyed but first he greeted the assistant with great honor and respect.  Later Ramanujacharya decided to visit the second disciple’s house for lunch because he knew how to honor and please not just God or guru but also the servant s of the guru. Radhanath Swami often quotes this story to illustrate the point that we have to endeavor to please God and his servants. This is the key to the heart of God.

Radhanath Swami explains the logic that goes in serving and pleasing other devotees of God. A spiritual aspirant thinks of himself as insignificant and also considers himself as possessing no love for God. He feels since he has no love for God, he has no hope for progress in spiritual life. He then turns to the other devotees of God and considers them as dear to the Lord. He thus feels that if he can somehow please them, God would be also pleased because he is approaching God through his dear most devotees.  Radhanath Swami quotes Srimad Bhagavatam, the ancient Indian scripture where God speaks to a devotee Narada Muni and tells him, “My dear Narada please know that I do not stay in the spiritual world nor in the hearts of great mystics but I certainly reside where my devotees come together and glorify me and serve each other.” It is due to faith in this command of the Lord that devotees seek to serve other devotees of the Lord to gain blessings and favor of the Lord.

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36 Comments


  1. When we serve devotees who are dear to God, we also become dear to God. very obvious secret!!

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  2. Kalpana Kulkarni

    We may not have the qualification to please God, but we can endeavour to please the devotees of the Lord who may be pleased and in turn please the Lord. Very hope giving that we may someday obtain the mercy of the Lord through his devotees.

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  3. The most easy way of attracting the Lords mercy is to serve His devotees. Thank you HH Radhanath Maharaj for emphasizing this point again and again

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  4. Very practical lessons to make progress spiritually. Thank you swamiji for your wonderful blog 🙂

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  5. Milind M Churi

    The service to the devotees who are dear to The Lord Sri Krsna is the best and most easy way to please The Lord.The devotees who are merciful and eager to transfer The God’s grace to the all without any precondition.Radhanath Swami always put emphasis on this point.Actually this arrangement will help all living entity to accept and make progress on spiritual path.

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  6. onkar deshpande

    the dèép and very profound realization by maharaj ! Its really such a simple principle and Radhanath maharaj is giving it in such a sublim
    e way. Really wonderful.

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  7. God is never alone in a vacuum; God is always surrounded by His loving devotees. When we serve devotees who are dear to God, we also become dear to God.

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  8. Radhanath Swami explains the logic that goes in serving and pleasing other devotees of God.

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  9. Thank you HH Radhanath Maharaj

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  10. it is amazing how maharaj tolerate in order to please the devotee

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  11. Vaishnava seva is a wonderful way to please the Lord. Thank you Radhanath Swami for inspiring everyone for this by your own example.

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  12. The key to please God is given here by HH Radhanath Swami through various examples. If we really love God and are getting pleasure in serving Him, we will be eager to serve His devotees equally or with more enthusiasm.

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  13. That is the path to perfection, to think that you are a fool and just be a Servant. – HHRNS

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  14. Simply wonderful, its catchy!!!

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  15. Radhanath Swami presents the secret way to the heart of the Lord: Pleasing His devotees!!!

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  16. Wonderful article…..This article is so instructive…….Thanks

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  17. Radhanath Swami explains the logic that goes in serving and pleasing other devotees of God.

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  18. Wonderful article

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  19. Kalpana Kulkarni

    Our only hope to get the Lord’s mercy is through the devotees. So it is our duty to please them by serving them.

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  20. Thank you Radhanath Maharaj

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  21. Tallam Sita Ramaiah

    “My dear Narada please know that I do not stay in the spiritual world nor in the hearts of great mystics but I certainly reside where my devotees come together and glorify me and serve each other.” Devotional process is so powerful.

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  22. Very nice meditation by HH Radhanath Swami. God is extremely pleased when we serve and please devotees.

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  23. Devotional service is the only ultimate hope in our lives to advance. Thanks Maharaj for sharing this. Hari Bol!

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  24. The story of Ramanujacarya and his two disciples is very fantastic. A lot of lessons to be learnt from them. Thank you Maharaj for relating to us the importance of being the servant of the servant of the servant.

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  25. Wonderful Article.Thank You Radhanath Maharaj For Sharing This.

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  26. Tallam Sita Ramaiah

    Very nice explanation for developing mood of service and humility.

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  27. Very nice explanation

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  28. Wonderful article thank you so much for sharing…..

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  29. We have to want to please those whom God loves to be able to actually please God.

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  30. Devotees are very dear to the Lord.

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  31. Simple yet profound practice.

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  32. Very true. “When we serve devotees who are dear to God, we also become dear to God”

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  33. Very nice explanation of how to please god, by not only serving the Lord and guru but by serving there dear servants.

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  34. Balaram Acharya Das

    V instructive article.. Jai Gurudev!!!

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  35. everinspiring ! lot to learn. thank you

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  36. thank you for great lessons

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