Carrying the stick given by Rama Sevaka Swami, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) hitchhiked and reached the outskirts of Kathmandu. A pack of snarling dogs charged towards Richard growling ferociously. Richard remembered the walking stick and wildly began to swing it back and forth. The wild dogs could smell Richard’s flesh and blood and escalated their attacks. He dove inside a house and slammed the door shut behind him. The owner of the house was alarmed at the sight of an intruder, but seeing Richard’s supplication, softened and gave him shelter for the night. Richard spent the rest of the night as his guest listening to the pack of hungry dogs barking outside the door until dawn.
Radhanath Swami recollects an analogy from the American Indians. Within every heart dwell two dogs, a bad dog and a good dog, both at battle with one another. The bad dog represents our debased tendencies of envy, anger, lust, greed, arrogance, and illusion. The good dog, our divine nature, is represented by forgiveness, compassion, self-control, generosity, humility, and wisdom. Whichever dog we feed the most through the choices we make and the utilization of our time will empower that dog to bark the loudest and conquer the other. Virtue is to starve the bad dog and feed the good dog. Richard (now Radhanath Swami) reflected on the pack of dogs that attacked him that night, foaming at the mouth with a lust to devour him. Radhanath Swami feels the incident was a graphic visualization of what he was up against in his internal journey.
Radhanath Swami explains that this internal struggle is an unavoidable reality in the life of a spiritual seeker. As we attempt to reconnect to God through spiritual practises, the mind throws up our past conditionings and sucks our enthusiasm through a barrage of negative thoughts. Therefore, Radhanath Swami says a seeker of God should learn to tap the power of the mind and not let it go astray.
While pondering over Radhanath Swami’s words of wisdom, I am reminded of a remark made by Willam Blake, “The mind is such a thing that it can make heaven out of hell and hell out of heaven.” Since we live with our minds lifelong, the state of our mind determines the state of our life.
To prevent feeding the bad dog within us, we need to use our intelligence. Radhanath Swami reveals in his talks that all sacred scriptures and cultures caution us to not succumb to the mind’s short-sighted urges for instant pleasure or relief. This demand for immediate pleasure is sought by giving in to negative forces within us, and is akin to feeding the bad dog. Quoting the Bhagavad Gita, the essence of Indian wisdom, Radhanath Swami explains that the best way to deal with the mind is to treat it as a person different from ourselves. We need to critically examine its ideas, which are often detrimental to our long-term self-interest, just as we would examine the ideas given by someone else. But the mind proposes its thoughts, desires and emotions so subtly and irresistibly that we un-thinkingly consider them to be our own and indiscriminately act on them. Therefore we have to constantly guard against feeding the bad dog- our lower natures.
I wonder how to feed the good dog within me always? And Radhanath Swami has the answer, “Selfishness is our enemy. Yet we are so inclined to fall into that state of mind. The cure for this is to serve.” By cultivating a service attitude, Radhanath Swami assures we will be feeding the good dog.
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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........
Radhanath Swami Maharaj has explained our natures through a simple analogy!
View Commentthis story is one of the many breathtaking incidents that Radhanath swami has sooo beautifully narrated in his book The ourney Home! what a lesson!
View CommentRadhanath Swami actually practices what he preaches and the result is for all of us to see.
View CommentRadhanath Swamy Maharaj gave a practical solution to “How to feed the Good Dog” – Simply by cultivating a service attitude.
View CommentChoices we make and the nature of time utilization feeds our habits and tendencies. This gives empowerment in changing our habits. Radhanath Swami Maharaj never loses a single experience in his life to learn something of value and teach all others.
View CommentThankyou Radhanth swami for making us understand the existence of a bad dog and a good dog within us and how to subdue that bad dog by cultivating ‘Service attitude’.
View Commentthanks maharaj for giving us this knowledge of feeding the roght one .
View CommentBoth the dogs are representations of our own mind.Radhanath Swami is giving us an important lesson to control our mind,that too with a very practical solution.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has said very well how to serve the good dog.
View CommentRadhanath Swami once mentioned that the way to improve our determination – is to exercise it whenever we have the opportunity. Like an weight lifter who starts with 40-50 kg and then increases to 200 +.
View CommentWhenever Radhanath Sami speaks about his near death experiences – there is never a hint of pride, condescending attitude etc. The only feeling is one of surrender to God and gratitude.
View Commentvery nice meditation on the incidence happened in the life of Radhanath Swami Maharaj. I particularly liked the point :
“best way to deal with the mind is to treat it as a person different from ourselves”
View CommentDemand for immediate pleasure is sought by giving in to negative forces within us, and is akin to feeding the bad dog. “Selfishness is our enemy. Yet we are so inclined to fall into that state of mind. The cure for this is TO SERVE”.
View Comment“The mind is such a thing that it can make heaven out of hell and hell out of heaven”.
Thank You Maharaj for amazing statements
how we should strive to serve the Good dog..Radhanath swami’s statement is really wonderful
View CommentSimply by engaging in selfless service we can free ourselves from this bad dog and thus all the miseries of life – What a profound revelation by Radhanath Swami! Thank you very much!
View CommentSelfishness is our enemy and therefore Radhanth Swami is always engaged in service to other.By a painful experience related to dog , he wants to serve other through his realisation.
View Commentyes service attitude is very important.
View CommentThis is a beautiful explanation on how to advance in spiritual life. Thank you
View CommentMaharaj is teaching us how to take lessons from every situation that comes across us
View CommentI am now inspired to feed the good DOG .Thanks Radhanath Swami .
View CommentWhat deep realization and what a easily explained cure for such a dangerious desease , only Radhanath Swami Maharaj can say this. How easily idiot person like me understood to how to feed good dog. Thanks Maharaj!
View CommentWhat an analogy of good dog and bad dog. such explanation will help me curbing my bad dog. Thank you swami ji.
View CommentThe practical tip given by the writer towards the end is the best part…. feeding the good dog means to become selfless…
View CommentFeed you have to… so why not the good dog?
View CommentGreat post!!!
Thank you Maharaj very much.
View CommentI will definitely need more guidance from the likes of Radhanath Swami on how to feed the good dog and bad dog (probabaly I only have the bad dog)
View Commenta very nice analogy explained by HHRM and it inspires one to always feed the goodness and keep the bad starving in oneself, thank you Maharaj for your wonderful explanation, regards, bhakti
View CommentRadhanath Swami is very expert in explaining abstruse ideas of spirituality in a very simple and lucid manner. Through this simple analogy of good dog and bad dog,he is teaching us about the battle of divine and demoniac in our hearts and how to win this battle. Wonderful!
View Commentjust wonderful to read this article, very inspiring and thank you Maharaj for your kind explanation, rajesh karia
View Commentthank youverymuch
View CommentWhat a wonderfulllll analogy.
View CommentIn the constant fight between the good dog & the bad dog that goes on within our minds, we can starve out the bad dog if we seek regular shelter, association & spiritual guidance of God’s pure devotees like Radhanath Swami.
View Commentvery nice,thanks
View CommentVery nice article. Radhananath swami is telling about how to feed good dog by cultivating service attitude.
View CommentVirtue is to starve the bad dog and feed the good dog.
View CommentRadhanath Swami thank you for wonderful explaination
View CommentWonderful article. Maharaj has so many beautiful AND true realisation. Thanks for this wonderful post.
View CommentThat means by giving Selfness service feeding good dog. Unmotivated & uninterrrupted Service towards god is very important and big factor..thanks Maharaj
View Commentsuperb story
View CommentSIMPLE ANOLORY BUT VERY RELEVANT.
View CommentTHANKS MAHARAJ
Very nice realaization drawn by Radhanath Swami Maharaj from the incidence and nicely put to words in the Article
View CommentA heart touching article by Radhanath Swami. There are so many good things to learn from this. Hope one day, I would be able to implement at least few qualities Radhanath Swami has described in relation to good dog.
View CommentGood GOD ! How unknowingly we land ourselves in a nonredeemable situation. Radhanath Swami has so mercifully explained how to act.
View CommentIt’s a very nice story.
View CommentBy cultivating a service attitude, Radhanath Swami assures we will be feeding the good dog.This is an essance of this story.
View CommentEveryone, everyday, fights this battle with mind. But with Maharaj’s instructions on our side we will definitely gain victory in this battle.
View CommentRadhanath Swami gives a best solution. Service keeps us always engaged in positives and like the doors of the house shut and there is no chance for the bad dogs to enter except shouting, there is no chance of negative qualities manifesting. Though it is difficult to maintain this attitude constant association and hearing from great saintly people like Radhanath Swami will give lot of inspiration.
View CommentEvery day we procrastinate between so many choices to make.HH Radhanath Swami has given a wonderful lesson on how to make the correct choices by feed it with the the correct utilization of our time.
View Commentthank you very much maharaj
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharajs words are so inspiring!
View Comment