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
180 replies on “With Radhanath Swami at a Traffic signal”
HH Radhanath Swami is compassionate to all. Real gratitude or appreciation is to follow the teachings. Lord please give me the strength to embarce teachings of Maharaj.
Behavior is the ornament of a vaisnava. showing compassion is also behavior. Radhanath Swami is the personification of compassion.
How amazingly Radhanath Swami teaching his students !!!!!
Radhanath Swami is compassion personified. Many can feel for such people; but, hardly a few care…..
Radhanath Swami Maharajs compassion is very deep & exemplery.
The way Radhanath Swami deals with such unique situations shows his genuine concern for everyone. All glories to him!
Thanks prabhuji for sharing this wonderful view. Lots to learn from maharaj.
Very wonderful story!
H.H.Radhanath swami maharaj showering his mercy on everyone- much needed in this yuga
In the mundane routine life, the heart has become so insensitive, that a beggar is seen just as another beggar begging. Only the association of the words of a genunine sadhu such as Radhanath Swami can revive back that sensitivity & do what is required.
Today I can say that I got relieved form a big question. I was always thinking “How should a devotee treat a beggar?” Should we ignore them, avoid them, should we pay some money, or should we just pray them or should we offer some food to them. Thank you Maharaj I got my answer today. Thank you very much.
This is a very important lesson that Radhanath Swami is teaching us, how to be compassionate towards all living beings.
Thank you very much for sharing. It is also a lesson for me to learn. Henceforth I will also ensure that I carry some food stuff in my car.
A lot of us who travel on city roads every day and do come across such instances. Never have we spent time to think on such topics and pass them by in our daily lives. But Maharaj makes sure to do good and teach his disciples to touch the lives of every one in the most effective way!
I always wondered whether giving money to beggars was appropriate. Radhanath Swami has provided a wonderful solution!
This is very instructive. I always wonder what to do when someone is begging because I know money may get misused and I don’t always carry food. But now we’ve received an instruction. Thank you.
Radhanath swami is very compassionate.
THis s the example of real compassionate heart. Thanks for sharing.
some who loves God can not see God’s sons suffering.
Very Instructive! Thank you Radhanath Swami:)
Radhanath Swami’s compassion to all living beings is highlighted here. Radhanath Swami gives a wonderful point on alms giving, where in it is better to give foosd stuff rather than giving money.
It is even more humiliating when you do not give”.
I never really thought on these lines though must have felt sad for them . Thankyou Mr Jajoo for sharing .
a real sadhu like radhanath swami sees the deliverence of even the less priviledged one’s
HH Radhanath Swami always wants to give real benefit to every one. Besides taking care of the immediate needs of the body, HH Radhanath Swami always stresses on the real beenfit, the welfare of the soul. Thank you for the nice article.
“It is a very humiliating experience to be begging.It is even more humiliating when you do not give”. What a wonderful line spoken straight from the compassionate heart of Radhanath Swami
radanath swami’s existence is with full of compassion, hence his every activities reflect the same without any manipulation,
This is an expression of genuine concern and sensitivity from a true Saint or a spiritualist like Radhanath Swami. Very touching and inspiring.
I found more abt Radhanath Swami on
http://www.thejourneyhomebook.com/
http://www.radhanathmaharaj.net/
http://www.socialfront.in/
This incident reflects Radhanath Swami’s deep and real compassion. He shows real compassion by mentioning that it would be better to give food rather than money as they may misuse money.
Such simple instances show Radhanath Swami’s big heart of compassion.
Radhanath Swami’s extent of compassion, which embraces people in all walks of life can only be compared to its depth.
guru maharaj showed compassion both on the urchins as well as the narrator prabhu.
Thank you prabhu, for sharing this.
I often neglect and have no compassion is such situations. By grace of maharaj, may I change my attitude henceforth. Thank you maharaj for teaching us by examples.
His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki Jai !!!
Wonderful article shared showing the compassionate nature of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj towards all..Thank you for sharing!!
Radhanath Swami is an ocean of mercy and following him we will get some drop of it and make our life successful.Jai Gurudev!!!
HH Radhanath Swamis heart is filled with an ocean of compassion and mercy.
Maharaj’s teachings are a great awareness
Radhanath Swami, through his actions, is teaching us the qualities of a compassionate soul – to give!
very humble and so much to learn from radhanath swami, regards, rajesh
its a very inspirational article and full of knowledge, so enlightening, thanks for sharing this wonderful article, bhakti karia
its a very inspirational article and full of knowledge, so enlightening, thanks for sharing this wonderful article, bhakti karia
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story – Great inspiration from Radhanath Swami Maharaj – He is an ocean of compassion.
Radhanath Maharaj cares for every person he meets. You can feel his love towards you.
True compassion is one of the sign of true vaishnava.
we all should learn a lesson from this, we should always be kind, and compassion towards beggars
Fantastic instruction, to be followed by all of us
Nice sharing…Radhanath Swami always teaches his students how to lead god conscious life.
Irrespective of what the other persons intentions are – to look for something good and see everything connected to God is something only the likes of Radhanath Swami can do. So wonderful!
Even Srila Bhakti Siddhanath Saraswati Thakur used to chastise his disciples i have heard from devotees he used to say if you are not merciful to them then krishna won;t be merciful unto you…
Coming before to ISKCON i dont know i use to give some money to begger even though i had some stuff to give. I think most of us was having same practice. Guru Maharaj has taught us scientifically why we have to avoid money. Maharaj ki jai ho…
H.H.Radhanath Swami is compassionate toward every living entity and wants to lift up every one from the sufferings of this material world.