After a pleasant learning experience of Vipassana meditation under S.N.Goenka, whom Richard found to be a man of honesty and integrity, Richard decided to go to Calcutta to seek the blessings of Mother Teresa. At Kali Ghat, on the bank of Ganges he entered a temple of Mother Kali, a compassionate energy of Lord Shiva. Inside the temple Richard was shocked to see a black goat being butchered as an offering to Goddess Kali. Richard nauseated and struggled to make sense of the striking contrast between the bloodshed he just witnessed, and the peaceful sages he lived among in the Himalayas who follow the same Hindu religion. He met a former priest of the temple who had quit his duties, unable to take the nightmarish experience of seeing innocent goats being mercilessly slaughtered. The former priest explained to Richard that in every religion people interpret scriptures and follow practices according to their level of realization. The Vedas are like a desire tree wherein we can find a path to fulfill whatever we seek. He also pointed out to Richard that Goddess Kali is a vegetarian. Richard realized he now needed a guide in spiritual life
“Up until this day, I had been thinking that examining many paths would broaden my understanding of spirituality. But this incident gave me a deeper understanding that, without a mature guide, apparent contradictions in every tradition could seriously bewilder me”.
The Hindu religion allows killing of animals as a concession for those who cannot give up meat eating altogether. It isn’t a license or a recommended path. There are many restrictions to eating of meat, and a sincere practitioner evolves to a stage of finally giving it up for the service of God. While killing the goat, the butcher chants mantras, hymns which translate literally as, “my dear goat, I shall kill you now but in your next life, you shall become a human and I shall be a goat, and then you kill me.” Offering such prayers regularly makes a practitioner think about the meaning of these prayers and he eventually realizes the futility of killing animals. He then evolves to a higher level of spirituality where he abandons meat eating.
To understand the rationale behind such apparently contradictory teachings in Hinduism, the Vedas- the sacred book of the Hindus- recommend studying spirituality under a bonafide, practicing teacher. A genuine teacher can not only help the student develop his relationship with God, he also resolves contradictions and confusions that a student may experience during his spiritual quest. Some people may be averse to taking guidance from a spiritual teacher but for developing material skills like dancing, martial arts, learning tennis or athletics they accept a coach or a guide. In other words, in order to gain mastery in any field, we agree to become an apprentice under an expert who is advanced in that field. Since we accept a teacher in every walk of life why not accept a teacher in spiritual life? Spirituality is also a science that is best learnt under a teacher who is self realized.
Although it’s recommended we accept spiritual guide, we should do so only after due testing; otherwise we may be cheated. For example, a person who accepts medicine from a quack is unintelligent and is inviting trouble and suffering. One should consult only a qualified doctor, who has graduated from a recognized medical college, has good clinical experience, and can help in curing the ailment. One cannot test the genuineness of a spiritual authority by the language he speaks, by his physical appearance or by his nationality. Just like the genuineness of gold can be determined by certain specific tests, there are also tests to determine the genuineness of a spiritual authority. He should be sense controlled, shouldn’t be teaching meditation for material benefits, and he himself must follow his guru sincerely.
Radhanath Swami, who has followed his guru for the last forty years, says, “The most important qualification of a Guru is he has awakened the truest desire to serve God eternally.” Following his guru’s footsteps, Radhanath Swami also aspires to eternally serve God as the servant of God’s servants.
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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 is everything for us. Likewise i only says about him is : Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwara, Guru sakshat para brahma tasmai shree guru ve namaha….
View Commentreally it is very difficult to undestand the contradiction between the Religion and to understand them in very broad sense for the elevation of a leving entity.
View CommentIts amazing to know how Krishna was reciprocating with Radhanath Swami. He was sincere seeker and Lord was taking him through several paths making him reject the one;s which unfortunately lacked the true essence which is love of God.
View CommentAwesome post! You’ve a great blog, absolutely the very best Ive read so far. I will be looking forward to your next entry. Thanks again.
View CommentMaharaj provides sych beatuful instructions to all who are willing to listen. Hari Bol!
View Commentin today’s world when everything becomes business including spirituality(pseudo),this article is an eye opener.
View CommentWithout a teacher, one cannot progress, nor can he learn correctly.
View CommentSimilarly, for progress in spiritual life, we need an expert, a guide, a true friend and a role model. So, the spiritual seekers should seek for a spiritual master, a guru for the progress in the proper path. He will guide us from any deviations and mistakes.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for your guidance.
A bonafide guru like Radhanath Swami help in resolving the contradictions that exists in religion as well as within ourselves. They help to steer our lives on the spiritual path so that we can experience true bliss & happiness.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj is an ideal example of Guru. He practices what he preaches. He has deep faith and surrender to his Guru.
View CommentAll my doubts get resolved whenever I hear Radhanath Swami Maharaj. His commitment to serve his guru and compasssion for everyone deeply touches my heart.
View CommentRadhanath Swami himself took the most authorized guidane of the Founder Acharya of ISKCON and now he is giving the same guidance to thousands of people in disciplic succession. Thanks for sharing this story.
View CommentMaharaj is a true world spiritual master.
View CommentMaharaj has clearly brought the point that we should not judge or understand the things as we see based on our own previous conceptions, but should seek higher guidance to clear the confusions and contradictions, this requires guidance of a proper authority in parampara.
View CommentIn today’s day & age of cheaters & bogus gurus, only a most fortunate person or a sincere seeker like Radhanath Maharaj can come across a bonafide guru as described above. We are actually living in a society of the cheaters & the cheated!
View CommentMaharaj is the personification of love of God.
View Commentvery inspiring … all glories to Radhanath Swami
View CommentWe are thankful to genuine gurus like Srila Pabhupada and Radhanath Swami for diseminating the true meaning of the Vedas to us. It is only because of their words of wisdom and knowledge that all our confusions and contradictions are resolved.
View CommentWonderful explained about animal killing in Hinduism.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s insights through the incidents happening to him in his quest for God teach us many lessons. Here being the importance of guru. Radhanath Swami himself has been a very faithful and sincere follower of his own guru and now as a spiritual master he is guiding thousands of souls on this path of God.
View Commentthe dualities and various interpretations of the vedas can only be understood by the mercy and guidance of a bonafide guru which Radhanath swami has beautifully come about in this incident
View CommentWe need teacher to teach us cook, to teach us how to drive car and specially to teach us how to live us spiritual souls in this material world.
View Commentradhanath swami maharaj guides all souls through his life experiences
View CommentA bonafide teacher is absolutely necessary to understand the Vedic truths in essence as mentionned in the article. And Radhanth Swami has really helped thousands of people not only to take up and practice Krsna Consciousness but also relish every moment of this life.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj teaches us the way to live a practical and spiritual life, to take instructions from higher authority making us humble
View CommentVery inspiring statement form Maharajah that “The most important qualification of a Guru is he has awakened the truest desire to serve God eternally.” How fortunate we all are to have Radhanath Swami as our Spritual Teacher.
View CommentWho-ever follows the path of devotional service under the guidance of a bonafied guru like radhanath maharaj is sure to make fast spiritual progress.
View CommentVery nice..All glories to Maharaj!
View CommentRadhanath Swami is a real guru. Radhanath Swami walks his talk. He himself follows the philosophy he teaches to other.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is following the perfect spiritual master Srila prabhupada and he is in pramavara. Radhanath Swami is giving this crest knowledge for the welfare of all people.
View CommentYes Radhanath Swami’s dedication to his GURU is unimaginable to a normal person. He is a living example for anyone who has genuine desire to elevate to spiritual platform. Thank you very much for nice writeup.
View CommentJai…
View CommentThere are numerous so called cheating gurus who give initiation to the masses, simply to rob them of their money, faith and human life. However, when you approach a genuine guru like Radhanath Swami, you not only understand the importance of accepting a spiritual master, but you also have to qualify yourself. True, imitation stones are numerous, but diamonds like Radhanath Swami are rarely found.
View Commentvery nice!
View CommentIt’s good to discover great posts like this one. Thank you!
View CommentIn today’s world of cheaters and cheated, it is so difficult to find a bonafide guru like HH Radhanath Swami, who is a walking scripture himself.
View CommentThanks for contributing so much with this wonderful content.
View Commentvery very inspiring
View CommentI actually appreciate your writing style. actually a wonderful post! Thanks!
View CommentGreat submit!?!! I take pleasure in your subject matter and arrive here every day.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj very nicely points out the definition of guru, which gives us an easy criteria to decide upon the genuinity of guru:
“The most important qualification of a Guru is he has awakened the truest desire to serve God eternally.”
View CommentThere are many qualification in Guru but the most important
View Commentqualification, mentioned by Maharaj is ‘awaken the truest desire to serve God eternally’.
I enjoyed reading this blog post! Keep up the good work.
View CommentThank you for a wonderful post. I enjoyed it.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is giving this crest knowledge for the welfare of all people.Thank u very much.
View CommentRadhanath Swami bears a torchlight to show entire humanity to
View Commenthow to lead God Conscious and compassionate life.
This is a REAL GOOD site… with REAL GOOD ideas!!!
View CommentKeep-up the good work, guys.
Possibly the GREATEST post that I read this week 😛
View CommentRadhanath Swami is an authentic spiritual master in the line olf Srila Prabhupad (his own guru) and if we take his shelter, we can also join the authentic spiritual parampara.
View CommentA very Awakening thing.
View CommentThank you Maharaj for making us realize the NEED of SPIRITUAL Guide and also mentioning in brief about his qualification which we should look for before accepting a spiritual master.
To be rid of darkness of Maya is a constant fight
We are bound to lose it, unless we have wisdom’s light
Who can shine it for us, except the Master- Right?
Let us surrender unto his guidance- and divine foresight.
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