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Compassion

Radhanath Swami Erupts

It was the April of 2004. One evening, after returning from a cultural program at Columbia University, Radhanath Swami sat at Bhaktivedanta Ashram, New York, conversing with his yoga students. At about 11.00 p.m., the conversation got exciting when Radhanath Swami began speaking about his early experiences with teaching bhakti yoga in North America. The amazing intensity with which he spoke and the shine in his eyes when he talked about each experience brought out the voracious appetite he has to give the precious gift of bhakti to the whole world. Each experience that he explained (although he joked and made the whole episode light!) showed me how much risk and inconveniences he took to give the pure message of Bhagavad Gita to so many souls.

Towards the end he stated in no unclear terms and with absolute intensity that helping people of the western world with bhakti was what Srila Prabhupad, his guru, really wanted. I said, “It seems so difficult to go out of the way to help others. I have tried so hard to do it…” He immediately cut me off, “Have you really tried hard enough? You have to use and really tax your brain to think out ways and means to help people with their lives. You have to take the risk. And when you take the risk, miracles will unfold. You have to become a compassionate instrument in God’s hands! That is the greatest joy! God performs miracles and you simply enjoy being the spectator of God’s miracles!”

I said, “It is so difficult even to pray to become an instrument…” He cut me off again with such intensity that I had my heart in my mouth for a moment. “That is because you are puffed up!! You have high birth, good learning, and lot of money, and you forget it’s all God given. How can you pray with intensity? You are simply puffed up, that’s all!”

The next day’s prayers felt so good, for they were perhaps the best prayers of my life; it looked like I was a little humbled by Radhanath Swami’s chastisement the previous night!

It was the rarest occasion of Radhanath Swami chastising me, or any of his students. He was imploring me to experience the happiness of selfless service that he himself experienced. But in the process, his compassionate heart erupted like a volcano, giving me a glimpse of the lava of humility that made it compassionate. I learnt one more lesson: we have to cultivate humility for our prayers to atleast touch our own hearts!

— Ramanath Subramanian, CEO, Bhakti Centre, New York City.

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157 replies on “Radhanath Swami Erupts”

very rightly said by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj, one is blessed to be chastised by Maharaj, haribol. bhakti

You have high birth, good learning, and lot of money, and you forget it’s all God given. How can you pray with intensity? — Such a clear understanding given for lack of intensity by Radhanath Swami..simply amazing.

Whle going through our scripture like bhagwatam and others we find that chastising from saints becomes blessing for them & there is one of the chance to go to back to god head…

Thank you very much for sharing this with us. I pray that I may become humble in my prayers and actions following in the foot steps of great souls like Radhanath swami

Its true for many of us, especially myself. My prayers are not as genuine as they should be. Thank you for sharing this nectar!

How true!!! To be compassionate one needs to harbor and nourish the lava of humility. Wonderful…Thanks for sharing

All glories to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj

Thanks for sharing this wonderful deep conversation. Words of pure devotees possess the potency to cut the shackles of this material world and liberate us. Especially if one is fortunate to be chastised with such a compassion.

Thanks for sharing this wonderful pastime which shows the intensity with which Maharaj is preaching and wants his disciples to follow suit.

I learnt one more lesson: we have to cultivate humility for our prayers to atleast touch our own hearts!,a wonderful lesson to be remembered for life.

I have never heard or witnessed Radhanath Swami getting angry or irritated. This is a rare incident when he has made his point curtly – yet with so much compassion & concern. This is the way of great souls – delivering the highest message in whichever ways it will have maximum impact – but with lots of compassion

Radhanath Swami is expert in driving out the pride accumulated in one’s heart. He teaches the truth. He purifies the heart of others because he is really pure.

Radhanath Swami can express his compassion even through chestising.The student who gets it is very fortunate.

What a powerful revealation? We are so caught up in our world being trying to enjoy what God has given (without giving God credit) – we not ready to become humble instruments of God and help ourselves and others.

I hope someday we pick up even a small amount of the intense love Radhanath Swami wants to share with all of us…

“when you take the risk, miracles will unfold.” This we can see from the very life of HH Radhanath swami maharaj. He took so many risks just to reach India for the first time. I don’t know if he had not risked his life that time what could have happened to miserable people like me.

Maharaj stresses that to preach one must take risk. Lord Nityandana took risk while preaching to Jagai and Madai

very nicely explained by Radhanath Maharaj that one must take risk to achieve ones goal in their respective spiritual practice, regards, bhakti

very thoughtfully explained by Radhanath Maharaj that one must take risk to achieve ones goal in their respective spiritual practice, regards, bhakti

It is very inspiring. Getting chastisement from Guru is like a blessing. Thanks for sharing.

A saintly person’s heart is full of compassion. They take any risk to bring people to the point of real happiness.

Radhanath Swami himself is such an empowered preacher and he pushes his disciples to achieve the same results in preaching. He is such a shining example of a selfless servant of Srila Prabhupada’s army.

Thank you Prabhuji for sharing this very special experience with Maharaj. We indeed have to cultivate humility for our prayers to atleast touch our own hearts – Great lessons.

Radhanath Swami teaches how to cultivate humility so that our prayers atleast touch our own hearts.

Thank you for sharing this experience. This shows that How hard Radhanath maharaj must have tried to give krishna consciousness to the western world.

How can you pray with intensity? You are simply puffed up-applies to most of us

This is very very rare. Radhanath Swami chastising anyone like this is unheard of. this is simply the Causeless mercy of the Lord upon you. YOu should be actually dancing with joy!. This shows how the pure devotee is so compassionate.

Sir you are so fortunate to have such an encounter and inspiring moments with HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj. Maharaj really wants to save all of us out of material existence

H H Radhanath Swami goes out of his way and take all kinds of risks to deliver living beings.

Even i learnt a lesson that “we have to cultivate humility for our prayers to atleast touch our own hearts! ”
Thank you Prabhuji for sharing this experience of Maharaj with all of us.

Good blog! I truly love how it is easy on my eyes and also the information are well written. I am wondering how I may be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which should do the trick! Have a nice day!

Thank you Ramnath for sharing your personal interaction. Its nice to see that Swami ji is so compasionate and so deep his thoughts.