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Radhanath Swami’s “Intentional Mistake”?

(continuing from the post of October 6…)

When the editing of the book was nearing the end, Radhanath Swami told me to do a final proofreading of the 300-page manuscript. (During our editing, the draft had grown by over 50 pages) He said, “After you finish, tomorrow we will send the manuscript.” My mind started spinning at the thought of how I could complete the whole manuscript in one night. Fortunately, he got busy with some guests and so didn’t ask for the manuscript till the next evening. When he called me, I had carefully gone through around 240 pages and hastily glanced through the remaining. I gave him the manuscript, wondering what I should do about the remaining 60 pages. Again, fortune favored me, for he, due to his other engagements, didn’t finalize the draft till the next noon. By that time, I had carefully gone through the remaining pages. When I told him that some proofreading changes needed to be incorporated in the draft that I had given yesterday, he silently assented. When I pointed out that the spelling of “Bhaktisiddhanta” had been written as “Bhaktisddhanta” (the second “i” was missing), he suddenly exclaimed, “You passed the test!” Seeing the bewildered look on my face, he explained, “I had kept the spelling like that to see whether you would find it or not. Now that you have found it, you have passed the test.” I didn’t know what to say or even what to think. Laughing to see my confusion, he added, “Don’t worry; I was just joking.”

To this day, I don’t know whether Radhanath Swami made that mistake intentionally or unintentionally, but I do know that there was a divine intention in that whole incident. When we do a service, we should aspire to do it the very best that we possibly can, and not be satisfied merely because nobody can find any visible fault with it.

–Chaitanya Charan Das

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148 replies on “Radhanath Swami’s “Intentional Mistake”?”

Wonderful…Its really an important instruction of how carefully & devotedly our seva should be executed…thank you for sharing

Thankyou for sharing this story….it is really very difficult to read Radhanath Swamis mind….atleast for a neophyte like me

Thank you Radhanath Swami for inspiring us to serve sincerely and to the best of our ability.

Working on details is a sign of love.

A wonderful story which highlights the mood in which service needs to be done.

Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki Jai…such a wonderful way with his disciples…hari Bol!

Radhanath Swami is very down to earth. He never thinks he is someone big. In reality he is very big being a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord

Thank you! This is my favorite website, as I love to read these amazing stories! It’s so easy to think ‘this is good enough’ when with a little more effort the service could be the best we can do.

Radhanath swami deals with every situation so tactfully that the outcome is always a wonderful lesson to learn and to contemplate upon. Thank you prabhu for sharing.

The Lord reciprocated with the sincerity of the author by reaffirming to him, through this incident, that one HAS to be sincere.

This is a great lesson. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Radhanath Swami and his followers are definitely special in unlimited ways.

We look for perfection in quite a lot many things we do, Radhanath Swami being a pure and compassionate soul teaches and trains one for perfection in one’s spiritual quest, his guidance comes in so many practical forms to ensure we get a perfect learning from it in the most simplest way.

Radhanath Swami always insist on 3 aspects, sincere, serious and without any alterior motive. The author Caitanya Caran prabhu passed all the 3 tests.

Radhanath Swami combines wit with wisdom, especially when he is teaching his students.Perfect
spiritual master.

such a beauiful lesson “When we do a service, we should aspire to do it the very best that we possibly can, and not be satisfied merely because nobody can find any visible fault with it”

“When we do a service, we should aspire to do it the very best that we possibly can, and not be satisfied merely because nobody can find any visible fault with it.” This is very nice thought prabhu.

Thank you, Chaitanya Charan Pr, to reveal the great lesson from this incident. Without that, I guess I would have never fathomed divine intention behind Radhanath Swami’s ‘intentional mistake’!

Haribol, what wonderful fortune to receive such an intimate personal service for Radhanath Swami

Wonderful expereince! When our intentions our good …some unknown power supports us and that what I call as Gods support.

Thanks for sharing this and explaining in what consciousness we should do our services.

Radhanath Swami brought out another aspect of spiritual life – we must pay minute attention to details.

This story shows the dealing between Guru & Disciple which is purely based on spiritual advancement of Disciple.

Radhanath Swami’s method of instructing is subtle, humorous (but never biting) and very helpful. At the end, one is left feeling closer to him.

Sounds like editor being edited by the author :). Thank you sharing such a wonderful, profound and instructive experience.

I find myself short of words to describe my fortune to have witnessed Radhanath Swami portraying wonderful qualities through his disciples who are his teachings personified.