Meditations on The Journey Home – Lesson from Chapter 2
Inspirations from ‘The Journey Home ‐ Autobiography of an American Swami’
Richard’s first sight of the Himalayan foothills exhilarated him beyond imagination. The foothills were covered with dense forests and he felt each tree emitting a kind of peace and serenity he hadn’t experienced before. His first sight of river Ganges was like a spark that caused a sudden surge of spiritual emotions. Once while quietly meditating, he was approached by a golden complexioned holy man who had seen his determination, and now offered him the cloth of a sadhu, a wandering mendicant who has forsaken worldly attachments to pursue a divine life. This was two unstitched pieces of white cloth, one to cover the lower part of the body and the other one for the upper part. Richard prayerfully cast his western clothes into the river’s sweeping current, and heard the Holy man’s assurance that in time it will be revealed to Richard that Ganges will be his mother.
I often wondered what’s so special about the Himalayas. Is it the marvelous height, snow peaks, the amazing beauty of Nature? But these things can be found in some other mountains, elsewhere in the world as well. This unique, majestic glory of the Himalayas is because of the spiritual culture that originated and flourished here. Almost all the saints and Holy men of the Indian subcontinent of the ancient times and many great spiritual sages of the modern times have chosen Himalayas for conducting their spiritual practices. It is the impact of the deep spiritual practices of the sages that has enriched the Himalayas with divine spiritual vibrations. Austerities and meditation has been an integral part of every moment of the lives of the rishis, the holy men living here. Richard too humbly endeavored to follow their tradition.
Daily Richard spent hours sitting on the rock at Ganges and meditated on the Himalayan Mountains.
“ The closest mountain took the shape of a heart at its very top. I gazed on it for hours thinking of how it symbolized for me the heart of God, a heart that is unlimited, giving ultimate shelter to all beings; a heart that is majestic and beautiful. Just as in climbing a mountain we leave behind the earth where we stand, to reach the heart of God we have to leave behind unfavorable earthly attachments. Sincere spiritual practice is an uphill climb, and no matter how many difficulties we face, we have to continue looking upward with hope. The mountain provides all support for those who strive to reach its top. Similarly, if we are sincere, the Lord will provide us with the means to reach his supremely merciful heart.”
Quoting from the Bhagavad Gita, Radhanath Swami assures that if we are sincerely seeking God, He shall certainly help us reach Him, and care for us by providing what we lack and preserving what we have. In the crowded ashram for the monks at Radhagopinath Temple, sometimes a member may lose his towel or slippers, and that can be discomforting. Radhanath Swami assures them, “You may not find your towels, slippers or kaupins, underwear, here in the ashram, but be rest assured, here you will certainly find God and if you are sincere in your pursuits, you shall certainly experience God’s reciprocation of love in your hearts. God does care for you and me, in ways inconceivable to us.”
Radhanath Swami says, “Sometimes we may doubt that God is caring for us. At such times we should know that God protects us either directly or indirectly by doing what’s best for our spiritual lives. And that means sometimes putting us in danger and unpleasant circumstances.” Our challenge therefore is to see God’s divine, merciful hand in all situations. God’s merciful nature is like the Himalayas, tall, huge and assuring. Shelter of this grace is the only hope in our spiritual quest.
Table of Contents
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........
When a person has a bird’s eye view, he has a complete picture and can guide people who due to being too engrossed lack that.
Thank you for sharing this understanding with us
View CommentIt is very difficult to have faith during trying situations that the Lord is making everything happen for our good.Hearing such words as from Radhanath Swami helps us to develop that faith in such circumstances, which is not an easy thing.
View CommentIn today’s life, full of turmoils, it is very difficult to comprehend God’s loving hand in our lives. But Radhanath Swami’s words reinstill the firm faith in our hearts that God does care. Radhanath Swami is full of such valuable realisations.
View Commentgreat !!! Thanks a lot.
View CommentGreat site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!
View CommentHimalayas is like our Guru Maharaj, he is there for us teaching us many things, caring, protecting of our spiritual life through his book. This is a perfect book for those who wants to develop a Bhakti of Krishna….
View CommentIn the ups and downs in life , when one looses faith, Radhanath Maharaj’s words has instilled faith in my heart to feel God at these times.He is a great saviour.
View CommentThe book gives a deep understanding about the inner meaning of life.
View Commenthare Krishna.
View CommentH.H.Radhanath Swami explained here clearly that if one is sincere then the Lord will provide us with the means to reach his supremely merciful heart and certainly experience God’s reciprocation of love in your hearts. Thank you so much
View CommentHare Krishna. I feel too small to write any comment but I am not able to keep quite too. His determination to realise the Absolute is like Himalayas.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj’s quote “Our challenge therefore is to see God’s divine, merciful hand in all situations” is very important for everyone to increase strong faith in every action of God with the understanding that he is our only wellwisher of all.
View Comment“God’s merciful nature is like the Himalayas, tall, huge and assuring. Shelter of this grace is the only hope in our spiritual quest.” Thank you very much for reminding me of this magnanimous and merciful nature of the Lord
View Commentgood one
View CommentPatience is the present action for future sucess.from radhanath swami’s book I’m learning so many lessons.Thank you.
View CommentYou may not find your towels, slippers or kaupins, underwear, here in the ashram, but be rest assured, here you will certainly find God and if you are sincere in your pursuits, you shall certainly experience God’s reciprocation of love in your hearts. God does care for you and me, in ways inconceivable to us. This is really funny yet so deep and inspiring. Radhanath Swami by his personal example inspires me to be determined to follow Krishna’s teachings. Then we will experience the reservoir of pleasure.
View CommentI simply pray that the spirit of Radhanath Swami impresses upon me and I can take his teachings into the core of my heart.
View CommentThis book is fascinating! Radhanath Swami seems to draw lessons from things which for a ordinary person like me are impossible!
View CommentRadhanath Maharaj has such wonderful realizations.By his own example he has shown us that “to reach the heart of God we have to leave behind unfavourable earthly attachments” as we read in his book The Journey Home.
View CommentThanks for sharing amazing article!
View CommentReally an inspiring article!
View Commentthe Himalayas call only the Majestic persons like Radhanath Swami….
View Comment“Our challenge therefore is to see God’s divine, merciful hand in all situations.” What a wonderful statement.It is so true.Radhanath Swami teaches us by his personal example how to have faith in the Lord in each and every situation.
View CommentHare Krishna, Thank you
View CommentThis gives us an insight into how much God cares for us. He is like a merciful father who to protect his children sometimes chastises them..punishes them..sometimes rewards them only to see that they come closer to him. This book very well depicts the same theme through life threatening encounters the author had…. A must read.
View Commentwonderful topic
View Commenti have travelled to himalayas and the experience is heart throbbing. the majestic nature of the mountains and the serenity of everything around it immidiately takes you to a spiritual realm.
View Commentthis is really inspiring . i could not believe that a person in this world also can be so clear and unbias in his motivations. Radhanath mh’s has taught so many of us how to live a pure life free from bad activitis , i am really very greatful to Maharaj……
View Commentthank you very much mh…..
Radhanath Swami’s faith in God is really very very inspiring….!!!!
View CommentIn life often we come across people or books who have the power to change…But seldom do we come across both at the same time. Maharaj and His book are one entity, whose gentle words are repeatedely sounding out the desperate wake up call for all of us to awaken from our slumbers and endeavour towards God realisation . The book changes us with each & every page, filling our hearts with so many deep realisations. Even if we can imbibe a fraction of Maharaj’s qualities then our relationship with ourselves, with others and God will move to a richness far beyond our imagination and we’l truly experience trancedental bliss and can spread the message of love to all with an overflowing and happy heart..
View CommentRadhanath Swami has a amazing determination for self realization.
View Commentradhanath swami is amazing.iam so fortune to have him as our guru.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj’s book is very very amazing, and learns many many lessons about the determination required in spiritual life. Thank you Maharaj for writing this wonderful book, it is a source of inspiration for us that he came in India Just “TO SEARCH GOD” and that too from “AMERICA”. So we can practically see the sincerity & determination of Maharaj from which we should desire to try to imbibe atleast a percent of qualities of Maharaj.
Thank You very Much,
Hari Bolll….
View CommentYes what Radhanath Maharaj says is very true ,we are always safe in the hands of nature.Nice lessons by him.Thanks Maharaj for inspiring me.
View Comment“God’s merciful nature is like the Himalayas, tall, huge and assuring.” Fantastic comparison.
View CommentGod helps those who help themselves. Radhanath Swami teachings are very good. He is making everyone to become serious.
View CommentWonderful –very inspiring to pursue spiritual inclination in this fast paced world. “The mountain provides all support for those who strive to reach its top. Similarly, if we are sincere, the Lord will provide us with the means to reach his supremely merciful heart”
View Commentwe have to stay with nature with simple living and high thinking principal
View CommentAN ARTIST BY HIS PAINTING TEACHES US TO SEE THE SUSET
View CommentMAHARAJ,BY HIS TEACHINGS,TEACHES US TO SEE THE REALITY OF EVERY MOMENT
Radhanath Swami is truly an inspiring personality!
View CommentI have read a few other books before…but Journey Home is one of its kind, it actually takes you in the Journey with Radhanath Swami and you can actually see the visuals in your mind as you read it. Grab your copy and experience it…
View CommentTo see the hand of God in every situation…good or bad…a very deep and profound lesson what Radhaath Swami is trying to imbibe in us…!!!
View CommentTo see the hand of God in every situation…good or bad…a very deep and profound lesson what Radhaath Swami is trying to imbibe in us by his example…!!!
View CommentVery true ,we may loose slippers ,towels etc but certainly get Krishna if we remain determined and sincer.
View CommentRadhanath Swami stands tall amongst all the spiritualist of modern times one may ever come across.
View CommentHis absolute devotion to GOD is as immovable as the mighty Himalayas.
This makes him the perfect via medium to distribute the mercy of GOD amongst all those who come in his contact.
This is true! Radhanath Swami has rightly pointed out …”This unique, majestic glory of the Himalayas is because of the spiritual culture that originated and flourished here”.So Many people of this maerial world undertake so many kinds of expeditions to the Himalayas trying to scale its glory, not knowing it’s true glory. Only saintly personalities like Radhanath Swami can know its true glory …of vast and wonderful history of spiritual culture
View CommentThis is an insight which can be given by a deeply realised person.
View CommentIf you have eyes you can see God everywhere. After reading the story of Swami being in Himalayas I develop great desire to go there. How nicly he say that you may not find towels, underware but you will find God. Beautiful. He also focuses on good.
View Commentso many australites Maharaj did we can’t even think of even in our dream,
View CommentGod has personally guided Radhanath Swami on his spiritual path, carrying him in his own lotus hands…….
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