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Radhanath Swami Cuts a Joke

“Am I getting old?” a thought sneaked into my mind. I was in my car, returning from a festival that bubbled with enthusiasm, with young men exuberantly dancing in kirtan in a style introduced by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a bhakti saint of the 16th century. Through it all I was feeling the opposite—unenthusiastic and sluggish. Now my intelligence figured out why—perhaps I was getting old. Slowly that thought snowballed, and I started feeling older and older and older, way beyond my years. My mind rolled towards old age faster than the tires. Soon I started imagining difficulties of old age mounting on my frail body. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I expressed myself to my co-passenger Radhanath Swami, “I find myself out of the crowd and left out. All the other devotees are so enthusiastic and strong.”

He looked really amused by the jokes my mind played on me.  But as a remedy he cut yet another joke. It was a witty one that sobered me up. “Those who are young, they are very soon going to become old. But if you are not very enthusiastic, you are very soon going to become young again.”

Wasn’t that deep?

–Dr. Ashok Shetty.

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140 replies on “Radhanath Swami Cuts a Joke”

That was real deep – a perfect insightful reply with a very good sense of humor. Thank you so much Prabhuji for sharing this wonderful story.

Only Maharaj can give such profound and deep replies…thank you maharaj for coming in our lives

Thank you very much Prabhu for sharing this joke. Whenever Maharaj says anything, whether it is a joke or philosophy, there is a message to take home. Thank you Maharaj for enlightening through your joke.

Radhanath Swami is has amazing sense of humor, yet to he puts very nice lessons thru them. Thank you Radhanath Swami

A good blend of humor & thoughtful deep insight about life.Radhanath Swami is simply superb !

Dandvats,

You are so wonderful for you have association of Gurudev for long quality years.

Very true,If I am anyways not happy with our subtle or physical bodies,I may take another life but not sure to have association of you and Gurudev in that life,

What a wonderful reply by Radhanath Swami Maharaj !
All Glories unto Him !
Hare Krishna !

That last statement of Radhanath Swami is so deep and yet conveyed in a capsule of humor, so everyone can digest it.

I hope so that the last statement means that if we are not very enthusiastic about our devotional life to go back home back to Godhead, we will be taking birth again and then be young again.