On the way to Varanasi, Richard arrived back at Delhi and met Sean, a friend whom he had known at London. Richard began to feel uncomfortable in his company, and found Sean’s mannerisms, language and interests crude and strange. Less than a year ago, Richard had enjoyed his company but why was it so different now? Richard realized it wasn’t Sean but he himself who had changed, and that’s why the world that had been so familiar to him, now seemed foreign. He realized how the association and environment we chose molds our character down to the fundamental views of life.
Radhanath Swami quotes the Bhagavad Gita to highlight this point, “What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.” (Bhagavad Gita 2.69).
Although Richard could no longer agree with Sean’s ideas or ways, he was careful not to fall into the trap of criticizing him for that. Richard himself had been a victim of judgmental hatred due to his unconventional choices in life, and felt he couldn’t do the same with others. Realizing criticism is a vicious trap Richard preferred to carry on with his spiritual life, while respecting Sean as a soul that originated from the same Divine source.
“Criticism stems from a deep rooted false pride in what we are and what we can do”, says Radhanath Swami. “Proclivity to criticize is an expression of self glorification.” Radhanath Swami considers finding faults with others as one of the biggest traps for a spiritualist. He is quite graphic with his analogies, “Criticizing others is like passing foul substances from the mouth, for it fouls when we speak negatively of others.” He is quick to convert a likely negative situation of fault finding to a positive expression of encouragement. One of the leaders of the monastery related this incident. Once in a meeting the leaders mentioned about a member of the ashram (monastery) who had been frivolous, and Radhanath Swami was quick to point out that the concerned member was friendly, and not frivolous. A devotee interrupted, “No, Radhanath Swami, he is frivolous and childish.”
Radhanath Swami instantly replied, “I think you mean he’s friendly and child-like.”
Radhanath Swami teaches his students to develop a spiritual vision while interacting with others. Spiritual vision, he says, is when we stop seeing things from our sense perception, rather we prayerfully seek to understand how God would see this situation and the person we are interacting with. This helps us develop respect for all, because God loves all beings, His own children more than we ever will. Radhanath Swami asks, “Imagine what it would be like if God judges us the same way we judge others. What hope do we have?” When we are judged wrongly by someone, we appeal to be understood for our intentions, and not by our behavior. However when we judge others, we don’t consider if their motives are pure and harmless; we quickly catch them on the behavior that doesn’t confirm to our preconceived notions.
Following the footsteps of his Guru, Radhanath Swami urges a spiritualist to be like a bumble bee and not a fly. The former seeks fragrant rose even in a dirty place, whereas the latter looks for a piece of garbage even in a fragrant flower garden. Likewise a fly like person is blind to all good qualities of others and hunts for their fault, whereas a bee like spiritualist sees good in others even when there is an overabundance of faults.
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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........
An eye opener!i should read this article every single day.
View CommentThank you for sharing this very important lesson. I need to learn to develop this habit of seeing the brighter side of everything.
View Comment“Criticism stems from a deep rooted false pride in what we are and what we can do”, says Radhanath Swami. “Proclivity to criticize is an expression of self glorification.”
If I look into all the past incidents wherein I have been critical of others, I can only see how true this statement is. I will pray with a sincere heart that I may not judge others or criticize others.
View CommentA perfect lesson for those who want to practice spiritual life.Finding fault with others is very easy but it is diifucult to find good qualities in them due to the presence of ego in our heart.Let us try to follow Radhanath Swami’s instructions and improve ourseleves,good for this life and next.Thank you.
View CommentThank you very much.
View CommentIt is difficult for me to give up deep rooted habit of criticizing and back biting . But after reading this I have got now desire and skill to overcome this tendency.
Critising others,especially devotees is a great offence which destroys our spiritual credits.
View CommentThank you
View CommentH.H. Radhanath Swami’s deep and profound messages have always had the deepest impact in my life.
View CommentIts so true. Imagine a world where people are helping each other progress in spiritual path and criticism the most dominant part of this mankind is washed off. THen there will be real peace and love. Thank you Radhanath Swami
View CommentWe must always remember to never criticize anyone.
View CommentRadhanath Swami urges a spiritualist to be like a bumble bee and not a fly.
View Commentfound your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later
View CommentRadhanath Swami relentlessly teaches/trains his students on these subtle aspects of spirituality, which unless corrected will continue to bind us to this world.
Fault finding is one of most dangerous form of exhibiting our false pride. We really have to strive to not just see and judge from physical seeing and our conditioned mind but try to see from view of exalted personality like Radhanath Swami or God as explained in Bhgavad Gita.
View CommentHow negative, criticism is explained by Radhanath Swami in the above sharing.
View CommentWonderful article by Radhanath swami. How wonderful, if everyone including myself practices these gem like instructions of Radhanath swami.
View CommentA simple but sublime instruction from Radhanath Swami
View CommentThank you for posting this article it is very inspiring.
View CommentThe statement “Proclivity to criticize is an expression of self glorification.” is really eye opening. Radhanath Swami is so careful to warn his students about the dangers of criticism. He is teaching by his own example how our attitude should be when we want to grow on spiritual path – not criticizing anyone.
View CommentIts very easy to fall prey of this and someone like Radhanath Swami is needed to keep our consciousness correct.
View CommentWhat a beautiful article! Thank you so much Radhanath Swami for everything.
View CommentAlthough we go through this situation almost everyday, we do not realize it until we hear from Maharaj on this. Then it becomes so clear how judgemental we are. Maharaj, please give us the strength that we may follow your teaching and develop a non-judgemental outlook. Hari Bol!
View CommentIt’s otherwise so difficult to control the natural tendency to criticize. Radhanath Maharaj’s words and teachings are really helpful in controlling it.
View CommentBeautiful eye opening article!
View CommentThis analogy of bee and fly told by Radhanath Swami is wonderfull. It teaches one a lot of things in life…
View CommentIt’s so easy to succumb to fault finding. We don’t understand that what a person does is due to strong past conditioning and we ourselves are struggling with our past conditionings. Fault finding will destroy our spiritual life.
View CommentRadhanath Swami asks, “Imagine what it would be like if God judges us the same way we judge others. What hope do we have?”
These words should humble us and make us understand our position. I pray that these words of Maharaj ring in my heart whenever I try to criticize or Judge others.
View CommentHare Krishna
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami 🙂
View CommentI am simply inspired and sincerly want to follow what is presented by Radhanath Swami.
View CommentGreat lesson. The biggest disease in the world
View CommentThe greatest persons can find good where there is nothing but bad.
View CommentProclivity to criticize is an expression of self glorification- Radhanath swami- thank U for this valuable instruction
View Commentthank u for sharing
View CommentMaharaj…we sincerely pray at your lotus feet to empower us to follow your instructions given above.
View CommentVery inspiring for everyone to not see faults of others and see only good qualities in them .The analogy of Bumble bee and Fly is so appropiate to graphically describe this situation .Also the conciusness of a person is determined by the atmosphere he resides in .
View CommentWe all have, to some degree the tendency to criticize others. Maharajah gives such a nice analogy “Imagine what it would be like if God judges us the same way we judge others. What hope do we have?” We really would have no hope at all. Thank you Maharajah for bringing it to our attention.
View Comment‘ a person who sees faults in others is the one full of faults himself ‘ – HHRM, regards, rajesh karia
View Commentvery inspiring, thanks for posting, regards, bhakti
View CommentCriticsm is indeed one of the baser instincts of man. It basically reflects our envious nature. If we repeatedly associate with the saintly people such as Radhanath Swami, then we can give up our natural propensity to criticise others as well as to overlook others’ faults.
View CommentRadhanath Swami often reminds us that criticism is one of the major roadblocks on the path of our spiritual progress. It has a tendency to gradually snowball into a monstrous proportion wherein we not only derive pleasure in criticising others, but also start becoming envious & intolerant of others success.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s analogy of bee & fly is very nice & befitting the discussion……..commonly everyone likes to judge other whereas no one likes himself to be judges by others…….What Swamiji said is very appropriate……..
View CommentWonderfully said.
View CommentWhen we are judged wrongly by someone, we appeal to be understood for our intentions, and not by our behavior. However when we judge others, we don’t consider if their motives are pure and harmless; we quickly catch them on the behavior that doesn’t confirm to our preconceived notions. — Thank you so much for posting this.
View CommentIf only I could take this teaching to my heart and remember it always, especially when the mouth opens up to criticise others. Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s words of wisdom are so purifying for the heart.
View CommentIt is next to impossible to stop critisizing someone, but after understanding from Swami where that proclivity stems for, I will make sincere efforts.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj himself always seeks the good qualities in others due to which we constantly feel his compassion. People are motivated to improve only because of this selfless acceptance.
View CommentProclivity to criticize is an expression of self glorification. Thanks to Radhanath Swami for such powerful statement. I hope to some day be freed from this dangerous proclivity.
View CommentCriticim is one of those habits which binds us to other baser instincts within us & hinders our spiritual progress. If we take shelter of Radhanath Swami’s instructions, then we can gradually overcome this nasty habit and start seeing good in others.
View CommentThank you very much Maharaj. Please bless me so that the tendecy to crticise others will not stay in my heart.
View CommentThank you Maharaj for this wonderful teachings on “Trap of Criticism”.
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