“Where do we go next?” asked the chauffeur, as he slowed down the vehicle. I gazed out through the window, and an eerie sensation seized me. Nothing looked familiar. Maybe, we were lost! I had recently arrived in Kolkata after being appointed as Vice President of ISKCON there, and knew only few sections of the city.
On this drive, Radhanath Swami and his secretary were my co-passengers. I was escorting Radhanath Swami from the ISKCON Temple, where he stayed during his Kolkata visit, to ISKCON House, Gurusoday Road, where he was scheduled to discourse. Though the distance was only two Kilometers, we drove on a chauffeur-driven car. It was a well-wisher’s, who had persisted that we use it. Radhanath Swami occupied the front seat, while Vikram and I occupied the rear. At the beginning of the ride, I had announced, “Gurusoday Road,” to which the chauffeur nodded. But once we had entered the crawling traffic, I got absorbed in a conversation with Vikram, and thus was oblivious to the new route taken.
Now, this neighborhood we had stumbled into, the chauffeur claimed, was Gurusoday road. But where is ISKCON House? My heart pounded. We were getting late for the discourse. Radhanath Swami turned around, “Better we take a taxi from here. Taxi drivers know all routes.” Straining a confident smile, I called up a person at ISKCON House instead, for directions. My one hand pressed the phone to my ear, my other hand fingered directions, and the car limped ahead. Meanwhile, time raced ahead, the finish point remained invisible. Radhanath Swami turned around, again to meet my strained smile. This time, however, my smile evaporated under his annoyed glower, leaving behind a strain on my face. Saying nothing to me, he stopped the car, stepped out into the pedestrian traffic, and waved for a taxi—all in a jiffy. I too jumped out, and so did Vikram. Finding a taxi, the three of us clambered aboard, and were in ISKCON House in minutes. The discourse began half hour late, at 9:30 A.M.
After the discourse, Radhanath Swami told me in private, “We were disrespectful in making so many people wait.”
“I had assumed that the driver knew the way,” I retorted. He shook his head, indicating the excuse wasn’t good enough. My heart sank. I had displeased someone whom I yearned to please. But yes! I have another chance tomorrow. Radhanath Swami was scheduled to again discourse in the same place the next day.
Back in my room, I pulled my socks up for the next day’s performance. First, I studied every route from ISKCON Temple to ISKCON House, and then, the traffic flow on each. I zeroed in on the best route. What about the driver? Radha Sharan was the best choice. A Kolkata man who commuted the chosen route routinely, Radha Sharan couldn’t miss directions there—perhaps even when blindfolded. But if misfortune personified were to reappear, Radha Sharan was no exception. Therefore, for added safety, I called up a few more acquaintances, and requested them to be in their vehicles at strategic points along the chosen route—next morning at 9:00 A.M.
That night, I dreamt driving though that route a dozen times, rehearsing.
Next morning at 9:00 A.M., as Radhanath Swami got into the front seat of Radha Sharan’s car, he declared, “Listen Acharya Ratna. This time if you lose the way, you won’t see the light of another day.” Then he turned to Radha Sharan who sat behind the wheels, “Understand, Acharya Ratna’s life is in your hands!” The car lunged ahead, to determine my destiny.
Everything worked well, and we reached ISKCON House well before time. Before getting out of the car, Radhanath Swami spelled his verdict to Radha Sharan, “You have saved Acharya Ratna’s life.” His naughty smile charming my heart, he rubbed my head and spoke a blessing, “May you see the light of millions of days…” I thought, “Through the entire drama, I now feel drawn to you, a million times closer.”
After the discourse, as we sat together, Radhanath Swami shared pearls of management wisdom. “Acarya Ratna, in management, never ever assume anything. That is the first principle of management. If you at all want to assume anything, assume that everything is going to go wrong, unless properly planned, organized, supervised and guided.”
– Acharya Ratna Das
(Vice President ISKCON Kolkatta)
154 replies on “With Radhanath Swami, On a Destiny Drive”
Thanks to Radhanath Swami for sharing the valuable lessons in such humourous ways.
Our destiny is in the safe hands of Radhanath Swami. We simply have to follow his instructions and practice humility, compassion for all & abstain from all illicit & undesirable habits and association.
Very good management principle “Never ever assume anything”
“Acarya Ratna, in management, never ever assume anything. That is the first principle of management. If you at all want to assume anything, assume that everything is going to go wrong, unless properly planned, organized, supervised and guided.”
Wonderful principle every manager in all streams could learn and practice.
Thank you very much for sharing. Radhanath Swami is an expert Manager.
Maharaj knows hot to deal in any situation. He really has wisdom!
Profound lessons taught with humor 🙂
That was a great lesson learnt with a spiritual smile !
A sadhu is supposed to be an expert and here we can see why
Great narration about Radhanath Swami’s humor! Thankyou for sharing!
Radhanath Swami teaches valuable lessons in such a serious yet humorous way. Any exchange with Radhanath Swami imprints itself in the person’s heart for ever.
Radhanath Swami said “We were disrespectful in making so many people wait.”
It’s very amazing and inspiring to see how Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s mood is to always respect everyone and expect no respect in return. An epitome of ‘Amanina manadena’.
Thank you for sharing this story with us.
Management By Radhanath Swami is the best of all. As he is very much concerned about others, he manages the situation the best way possible.He inspires everyone through his speeches, actions etc.All glories to Radhanath Swami.
too good
What a wonderful lesson in management. I will always remember Radhanath Swami’s advice.
Thanks for sharing a very touching experience with a wonderful management principle.
Thanks for sharing a very touching experience with a wonderful management principle given by Maharaj.
“never assume anything…” Simply wonderful. All Glories to Radhanath Swami
Great management lesson – shared so nicely. Thanks a lot Prabhuji for sharing this wonderful story.
Radhanath Swami is such a genious in everything that he does!
Radhanath Swami’s every instruction is pearls of wisdom!!!
Radhanath Swami can be witty in serious situations and teach a couple of lessons also.
“In management, never ever assume anything. That is the first principle of management. If you at all want to assume anything, assume that everything is going to go wrong, unless properly planned, organized, supervised and guided.”-truly a Management mantra by Radhanath Swami.
Breathtaking! Radhanath Swami is very particular about respecting the audience who have come to attend his discourses. He doesn’t take them for granted. Thats why he touches so many hearts.
hare krsna
Wonderful wisdom!
observing all the living entities through the eyes of the god, how compassionate radhanath swami is for his audience,
Thank you for sharing this personal encounter you had with Radhanath Swami.
In this world just good intention is not enough. It must be coupled with good management and efficiency. Thanks for the lesson, Radhanath swami.
Radhanath Swami’s transcendental anger and his transcendental mercy being exhibited here.
Radhanath Maharaj is an expert manager and he knows how to teach one time managemnt without touching one’s ego.
Really this pastime makes me realise how alert we must be in krishna consciousness and how we should be always conscious and sensitive about others.
How nicely Maharaj explained the importance of planning, organizing, supervising and guiding.
If you at all want to assume anything, assume that everything is going to go wrong, unless properly planned, organized, supervised and guided.” all managers should learn this from Radhanth Swami
Wonderful! Pearls of wisdom from Maharaj.May we keep his instructions close to our heart
Thank you so much for sharing this humbling, yet most wonderful experience! I’ve learned so much, and enjoyed feeling the whole thing, almost with you!
As one hears about and at times gets an opportunity to experience Radhanath Swamis keen interest in going into the smallest details when it comes to serving people in any way, you are caught up in amazement.Now days when it comes to ourselves everybody wants’ the best and for others in general if it happens well and good or no great deal if they are inconvenienced at little. But such is the concern and discomfort Radhanath Swami undergoes even for being unintentionally causing it, that he never fails to make amends and is spontaneous in his ‘Apology’
Radhanth swami’s every dealing touches the heart of the person and that peros is drawn more closure to him.Thank you MR. Acharya Ratna for sharing this wonderful experience with Radhanath swami.
Dear Acharya Ratan Prabhu,
Thank you for sharing your Experiences with Radhanath Swami.
very good management principle, haribol, rajesh karia
Each and every instruction of HHRM is a nectar of devotional service which we must keep up to always, thanks for sharing such a wonderful expereince, bhakti
“Acarya Ratna, in management, never ever assume anything. That is the first principle of management. If you at all want to assume anything, assume that everything is going to go wrong, unless properly planned, organized, supervised and guided.”
Thank you Radhanath Swami for these golden words of wisdom.
Radhanath Swami has taught us how we should not assume things in management and should plan things properly. Thanks you Maharaj for your nice insight.
I had only conception of disrespect as through verbal or actions but here Maharaj is giving a deeper understanding of disrespect by even making some body wait for you and taking responsibility for that. Thank you for sharing.
H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj is wisdom personified. I never heard him speak anything that were anything less than deeply thoughtful messages.But these pearls of wisdom are just annotations to his own exemplary conduct and impeccably pure consciousness. Speach is an index of the mind.
thankyou for sharing this Management class.
This is the sweetness of Radhanath Swami. He can straighten us out in a way where we realise and still our respect grows a million times
What a nice lesson by Radhanath Swami. that one should not assume things.
These are the BASIC management lessons which are not taught even in the BEST of the Management Schools. Because, the mentors are not surrendered to Lord. Thanks to Radhanath Swami Maharaj to teach these lessons and thank you Acharya Ratna Pr. for making these available to all of us.
Thank you Maharaj for this wonderful lesson. Due to our Laziness we take the easier route of assuming everything will be ok.