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Compassion

With Radhanath Swami at a Traffic signal

October 1998, I was driving Radhanath Swami to a distant suburb in Mumbai. On a traffic signal street urchins knocked on our windows begging us to give something. Radhanath Swami asked me “Do you have some rice puffs or pancakes to give to them?”

I replied in the negative as I did not have any food item to give.

In a gesture of cupping his arms he looked towards me and said “Give me some money” I was relieved thinking he would give the money to the beggars. I immediately put out some change into his hands.

Looking at me he said “Now you give this money to them”.

I complied and drove off from the signal.

But for the next 20 minutes Radhanath Swami was driving the point to me that I was not carrying any food item to give to the beggars. He said “ It is a very humiliating experience to be begging” and then lowering his voice further “ It is even more humiliating when you do not give”.

In a mood of instruction and pleading Radhanath Swami said “ You must carry some food item like pancakes, rice puffs, grain biscuits etc. And as a last resort you can give money but know well that money may get misused”

This instance remains etched in my mind and I confirm the presence of small food packets in my car even before I look for the keys.

Radhanath Swami has compassion towards one and all without any consideration of race, caste, age, sex, religion, country or even economic status.

– Ujwal Jajoo

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180 replies on “With Radhanath Swami at a Traffic signal”

Very heart touching.I could build a scenirio in front my eyes while reading each line of this post.A lesson for all.Thank you

An eye opener! so many time we dont know how to behave in such situations, being a devotee. Thank you so much for sharing and enlightening.

Its a very deep & profound lesson taught by Radhanath Swami to one & all ! How we should sympathized with others needs & concerns ! Thank you very much !

“It is humiliating experience to be begging and it is even more humiliating when you don’t give.”- a profound statement of compassion of Radhanath Swami.

Something that is so easily ignored by ordinary mortals is looked at so differently by Radhanath Swami. That’s the vision of a true sadhu. Such a heart touching story…thank you for sharing it!

Radhanath Maharaj is very compassionate. This is very important quality of vaishnava that I feel should develop in myself.

In our urban life, we are so much absorbed in PASSION that we forget COM-PASSION. Great souls like Radhanath Swami are required to guide our PASSION and turn it into COMPASSION.

Many things to learn from the story. 1) Destiny may put us in begging condition.2) No one begs as hobby. 3) We should not be proud. 4) We should be compassionate.

Thank you Prabhuji for sharing this valuable story with us. As i also come across beggars sometime and become confused what to do. Now its clear from your experience. Thank you Maharaj for everything. Now i will also carry some prasadam with me.

Very simple way of expressing compassion in one’s day to day life.Truly,Radhanath Swami teaches a lesson with each action of his.

Many times we forget the sufferings of others when we are happy. But true spiritual life means to feel compassion for others and to give them God some way or the other. Giving sanctified food to beggars is one practical way to get them closer to God.

HH radhanath swami has a genuine compaasion for all and willing to always give. At the same time HH Radhanath Swami is very clear in his mind what to give and what not to give to them.

Wow thats a great experience with Radhanath Swami. Only a humble soul like him can have real compassion for all the living beings

Thank you very much for sharing such a wonderful pastime of Radhanath Swami. The best way of learning is when we get inspired to follow by seeing/hearing about the exemplary deeds of great personalities. Hope I too could develop such a heart

“ It is a very humiliating experience to be begging” “ It is even more humiliating when you do not give”.
Another heart touching lesson from Maharaj. I really did not know how to deal in this kind of situation. Thank you Maharaj for teaching us.

maharaj’s compassionate and considerate nature is quite clear through this instruction…

All Glories To H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj.

How every experienc ecan be an enriching piece of wisdom is truly inconceivable.

Hare Krishna

Here Radhanath Swami is so nicely bringing out the point that one should give charity to the needy and poor.

Radhanath Swami is a true spiritualist and knows what is the true compassion for a living being. Its not just food, water and money, but He offers sanctified food (offered to God) which is not only good for the belly, but also elevates the soul or the living entity.

each and every situation of radhanath swami brings out his true nature of compasion to his fellow human beings,

Radhanath Maharaj is asking us to cultivate this habit so that we do not become stone hearted and we imbibe this important quality of “feeling compassion for all living beings”. Thanks for sharing this.

How can someone be sensitive to sufferings others It is so inspiring. World needs leaders like Radhanath Swami, pure humble, tolerant, and well wishing friend to all.

After reading this incident it feels like Krishna has put in so much of the compassion of this world into Radhanth Sawmi and he is here to distribute this to all of us for free.Thankyou for sharing this wonderful incident.

Radhanath Swami’s compassion is boundless. Very rare to see such kind of personality in this age. Thanks for sharing this.

All the living entities are Lord’s children. So until we don’t develop compassion for all the living entities then how can we expect Lord’s compassion for us. In this incident Radhanath Swami so perfectly shows by his own example what it means to be commpasionate. Not only to human beings but we see so many other incidents where Radhanath Swami showers his compassion even to other living entities.
Thanks Mr. Ujwal for sharing this incident.

All Glories To H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj.

I am really inspired by this article. Maharaji teaches us that we should exhibit compassion towards all living entities.

Thank-you for sharing this story.

Very touching statement by Radhanath swami – “It is even more humiliating when you do not give”….Swamiji sees the soul in everyine’s heart, he has great compassion for everyone

What a lesson to be learnt! Swami ji thank you for making us sensitive by your example.

Reading this story brought tears to my eyes. Even though Radhanath Swami gets respect and honor from thousands of followers, he does not get arrogant or become blunt to the suffering of others. It does give some light of the purity of the person, who really is God conscious at all times without exception.

Gurudev has explained this in one of his lecture also. Not the incident but the principle…He does what he preaches…All glories unto Guru Maharaj

thanks for sharing this wonderful wonderful post.. I am learning and relishing every bit of this website

What to talk of Humans, Maharajas compassion even extends to animals, there is the story of that fortunate dear who got to drink holy water and hear the holy name from Gurumaharaj. I guess this happened in Jacksonville, Florida when maharaj was returning to the airport with a devotee and they saw this deer that was hurt and was counting his last breath.

It is heart-melting to hear….Radhanath Swami puts himself in the shoes of that beggar to experience what that beggar might be feeling when he begs. I pray to remember his instruction to give something to the beggars

Radhanath Swami is great personality. Thank you for learning and teaching us how to be compassionate with others. I will try and implement in my life.