Afternoon-silence occupied the Radhagopinath Ashram as some monks napped while the others pored over the scriptures. …I heard ONLY the loud screams of my restless thoughts!
Taking a walk through the ashram corridors–for no particular reason–I met Radhanath Swami on the way. In reflex I struck a conversation—a long premeditated one.
“I have been unable to follow one of your instructions,” I effused.
“What is that?”
“Seven years ago when I had joined the ashram you had instructed me to keep sanctified food and water in the bird feeder every day.” I was referring to the bird feeder in the garden; Vrindavan Forest, the garden in our ashram backyard, serves as an oasis for birds of downtown Mumbai. “I haven’t been able to follow that instruction, sometimes circumstantially and sometimes due to personal negligence.” By now tears of sincerity were brimming in my eyes—and my greedy mind began to anticipate a sympathetic embrace from Radhanath Swami, the warmth of which I had experienced innumerable times.
Surprisingly, he remained stoic through my ramble. “You should do it,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone and walked away.
It was unlike his kind demeanor, for he wanted to teach me a lesson: determined perseverance in following instructions is essential for spiritual progress, while sneak-out excuses are detrimental.
Months later when Radhanath Swami’s Autobiography The Journey Home was published, a passage in it struck me:
It is said that a saintly personality can be softer than a rose or harder than a thunderbolt. This morning, one guest made excuse after excuse to defend his immoralities and spiritual weaknesses. Srila Prabhupada listened, then his voice rose like thunder, “If you are weak, rectify it. If you have no determination, you have no character. What makes you different from an animal?” The man shrunk like a punctured balloon. Bowing down, he promised to do what he knew was right. When required, Srila Prabhupada could be very strict to emphasize the urgency of a person’s predicament. Like a scalpel in the hands of an expert surgeon, his strong words cut only to heal. Or as he himself explained, “A spiritual teacher is required to have the courage of a British General and the heart of a Bengali mother.”
Gajanan Bhat
96 replies on “Radhanath Swami—softer than a rose or…”
A spiritual master knows how exactly to correct his defendants. All glories unto the Swami and his disciples.
A spiritual master knows how exactly to correct his dependants. All glories unto the Swami and his disciples.
Thank you for sharing this experience with all of us we hope that we can follow Radhanath
swamiji’s teachings.
thank you
spiritual master’s instructions whether harsh or soft are always healing. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you very much Prabhu for sharing how each & every gesture and instruction of Spiritual Master is for the benefit & welfare of the disciple !
All Glories to Radhanath Swami Maharaj !
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada !
Hare Krishna !
This is wonderful story of how we should have strong determination in following the instructions of a spiritual master. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful experience.
thank you…great post
great
Simply wondrful
Perfect Doctor ! Heals the patient !!
Thank you very much Prabhu for sharing how each & every gesture and instruction of Spiritual Master is for the benefit & welfare of the disciple !
thank u so much Radhanath Swami
Many thanks for sharing this incident with swami Radhanath and the one from The Journey Home
Thank you for sharing. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
Thanks Prabhu very much for sharing this wounderful realization. Yes Spiritual master is softer like rose and harder like thunderbolt and this all will help us/me to advance in our spiritual life. That`s really true without determination our life is no better than cats and Dogs…
thank u so much maharaj for all these guadances .eternally indebted for all thee lessons
Hare Krishna Maharaj…!!! Maharaj ki jai hoo..
All Glories to Radhanath Swami Maharaj…
Very Very nice article.. classy and full of knowledge..you are really giving us the real nector through your articles. Thank you for engaging us in the web seva..
Thank you very much
Yas-anshu jaiman
thanx for sharing
nice one
nice story…thanks for sharing
very nice This is the correct method.
i reallty agree with u
All glories to H.H. Radhanath Swami. Thanks for sharing wonderful article.
hare krishna. fortunate is the disciple who is correct by the sp master.
Thanks for sharing.
RAdhanath swami ki jai
realistic
Thanks a lot.
Spiritual master instructions are always healing to heart and soul.
wonderful understandng
Thanks for sharing
Amazing .. thank you very very much for sharing … makes us determined to remove our anarthas.
Amazing message.
Many thanks for sharing this instructive incident involving Radhanath swami
Wonderful sharing. Haribol!!!
Very nice lesson inspired by Radhanath swamis’ dealings.
Nice one.
“A spiritual teacher is required to have the courage of a British General and the heart of a Bengali mother.” We can see both Srila Prabhupada & Radhanath Swami having both the above qualities for the benefit of their disciples !
Hare Krishna !
its really a rosy picture
very nice article as always
Radhanath Swami knows exactly what is needed at what time.
Preaching done according to time, place and circumstances. Preacher is like soft rose petal and strong like thunderbolt. All glories to HH Radhanatha Swami Maharaja.
Wonderful article.
Very nice article.
superb article
Wonderful!!!
thank you for sharing
Felt inspired!