Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was intrigued by an incarnation of Krishna who had apparently descended to earth. This was a thirteen year old Prem Rawat who was worshipped as the incarnation of Lord Rama and Krishna and he was now being addressed as Guru Maharaji. He wore a crown and peacock feather and played a flute like Krishna and also stood in the pose of Krishna. Richard realized this incarnation looked a lot different from the painting of Krishna he had purchased on a pavement at Delhi. Guru Maharaji offered Richard initiation which he politely declined. Later as Guru Maharji left with much fanfare with thousands of his disciples swooning, Richard thought, “Who God is a serious subject, not to be taken lightly.” Thinking like this Richard felt no inclination to accept him as Krishna.
Radhanath Swami explains that in India there are many mystic yogis who can manipulate material nature and perform miracles. They can even transmit some super natural experiences to their followers. However all of this does not necessarily make them God. God is a title for someone who is the source of all mysticism and powers.
Radhanath Swami also notes that in spiritual circles lot of superficiality goes in the name of substance and likewise many ordinary souls are worshipped as God. Radhanath Swami’s guru Srila Prabhupada would often say that this world is a world of ‘cheaters and cheated’- a world where many con men go around in the guise of holy men and gullible people get cheated by them. He quotes an interesting story that his spiritual master would narrate. Sometimes young ladies go to holy places thinking, “if a sadhu marries me and impregnates me then it is very auspicious and I will have an excellent off spring.” With this intention these women go to holy places, especially to make the sadhus fall down from their vows. In the mood of serving a sadhu sweetly, they entice the sadhu and cheat him to give up his vows. However there are lowest grade of dacoits who know this ploy of certain women. These rogues disguise themselves as sadhus and accept the service from these beautiful young girls and enjoy them and eventually give them their dacoit seed. Narrating this example, Radhanath Swami exposes the mentality prevailing in some spiritual circles- of cheaters and cheated.
Radhanath Swami has often explained that there have always been cheaters posing as gurus. Many thousands of years ago, the demon Ravana dressed himself as a svami to win an audience with Sita, the wife of Lord Ramacandra (an incarnation of Lord Krishna). Ravana kidnapped Sita, but Lord Ramacandra killed him. Five thousand years ago, when the Lord appeared in the world in His original form as Krishna, He dealt with another cheater: King Paundraka donned an extra set of arms, in imitation of Lord Krishna’s four-armed Vishnu form, and demanded that Krishna worship him. Again, the Lord did away with the cheater personally. So Radhanath Swami concurs that we shouldn’t be surprised if someone claims to be God. We should respect such men and keep a safe distance from them, for God, as Radhanath Swami says is a serious subject matter and can’t be taken lightly by awarding the title of ‘God’ to an ordinary human of flesh and bones.
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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........
good article. thank you for uploading.
View CommentIndeed its a pity & also a matter of serious concern that even in a sacred land like India, there are so many bogus sadhus and self-proclaimed gods coming up. Only one who takes shelter of a bonafide guru like Radhanath Swami coming in a bonafide disciplic succession can understand who is who.
View CommentVery true..
View CommentThank you for sharing..
thank you for sharing :).
View CommentIts very shameful that so many cheaters falsely claiming themselves as God are propagating bogus ideas among innocent people. We should be alarmed of not believing anyone who is claiming himself to be God and showing some mystic power. Nice article. Thanks for sharing.
View CommentWonderful Article. Thank u for posting.
View Commentdid you know?—God is a title for someone who is the source of all mysticism and powers.
View CommentNice lesson- “Radhanath Swami concurs that we shouldn’t be surprised if someone claims to be God. We should respect such men and keep a safe distance from them, for God, as Radhanath Swami says is a serious subject matter and can’t be taken lightly by awarding the title of ‘God’ to an ordinary human of flesh and bones.”
View CommentReally one has to be very careful in this world of cheaters and cheated. Cheaters are there and there are people who want cheap things and they get cheated.
View CommentThank you Radhanath swami for giving us insight into who is Krsna and who is real guru.
View CommentVery nice article…
View CommentNice lessons by Radhanath Swami.
View CommentIn today’s day and age it is so hard to find an authentic person.
View CommentYes, if we have cheating mentality than we are bound to be cheated by others.
View CommentThank you for sharing this nice article on Radhanath Swami!
View Commentthanks for sharing nice article
View CommentVery informative article. Thank you for sharing
View CommentVery true. HH Radhanath Swami through the revealed scriptures makes us understand how this material world works and warns us against the cheaters.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Ki Jai
View Commentthank u for sharing this wonderful episode
View CommentA true seaker always gets his way towards enlightenment. Thank you Radhanath swami for sharing a wonder life lesson.
View CommentThank you so much for sharing this truth of our lives.
View CommentTo know about God is a serious subject matter and can’t be taken lightly by awarding the title of ‘God’ to an ordinary human of flesh and bones.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for opening the eyes so that we are not cheated by bogus gurus.
View CommentThank you for sharing the nice article on Radhanath Swami!
View CommentTrue. This is the world of cheaters and cheated.
View CommentI am always amazed at the profound realisations and genuine and sincere personal spiritual practices of Radhanath Swami.
View CommentHare Krishna. Good article.
View CommentIt is thanks to compassionate souls like Srila Prabhupada and his pure followers like Radhanath Swami that innocent people are able to distinguish between what is reality and illusion.
View Commentvery nice article.thanks for sharing
View CommentThanks for sharing this wonderful article.
View Commentvery inspiring article and thank u for sharing it
View Comment“Radhanath Swami concurs that we shouldn’t be surprised if someone claims to be God. We should respect such men and keep a safe distance from them”-Thanks for a practical tip.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s experiences are amazing
View CommentThank you very much Radhanath Swami Maharaja for sharing such deep and profound realizations.
View CommentThank tou Radhanath swami Maharaj for such an wonderful article.
View CommentIt is very unfortunate that bogus gurus are thriving now a days. Thank you very much for imparting this knowledge.
View CommentVery good article. Thanks for posting.
View Commentvery enlightening article..thank you for sharing.
View Commentradhanath swami has very nicely explained as to how to discriminate between the real and the fake.we have to be very careful in accepting someone as spiritual teachers.
truly the world is full of cheaters and the cheated.
People want to be cheated therefore there are cheaters.
View CommentThank you very much.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj have derived such vital and important lessons from his experiences, during his search for The Absolute Truth !
View CommentThank you !
Hare Krishna !
Radhanath Swami exposes the truth wonderfully with real life story of 13 year old boy and scriptural reference of Poundraka and Ravana. Thank you very much for sharing.
View Commentnice article.
View Commenthare krishna, dandavat pranam
View Commentthere is good article thank you for upload,,,
hare krishna, dandavat pranam
View Commentthere is good article thank you for upload,,,
NICE ONE
View CommentNice article.. Thank you for sharing..
View CommentBecause people want cheap things & be cheated, there are cheaters to cheat them by giving cheap things as desired by them.
View CommentVery true
View Comment