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Humility

Radhanath Swami: An Editor’s Editor

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to edit Radhanath Swami’s upcoming book (tentatively named “Yoga of Love”). When I received the book by email, I was both excited and apprehensive.

Excited because I would be able to relish the condensed wisdom that Radhanath Swami packs into his writings.  Radhanth Swami’s speech is itself brilliant, permeated as it is with profundity, maturity, simplicity and beauty. But his writings are simply astounding; I like to call them as English Vedanta Sutras. (The Vedanta Sutra are the condensed aphorisms that encode the highest wisdom humanity has ever received.)  Of course, there’s a difference;  though both contain extraordinary wisdom, the Sanskrit Vedanta Sutras captivate by their complexity, whereas Radhanath Swami’s sutras enchant with their clarity. So, I was understandably excited to be among the privileged few recipients of a pre-publication manuscript of Radhanath Swami’s latest book.

But I was also deeply apprehensive. The very nature of editing is that it often brings out the differences between the author and the editor. Radhanath Swami is an exalted saint, a venerable monk, my foremost spiritual guide. I would normally never think of editing his writing, for it expresses sublime wisdom in superb language. Yet, now as a service, I was being asked to edit his writing. I didn’t want to displease him by seeming presumptuous and giving suggestions about how to improve his manuscript, yet I didn’t want to displease him by refusing the service he had given me.

Finally, praying for guidance to do this service in a sensitive yet competent way, I started the editing. It was a 250 plus page manuscript and it took a fortnight of some 12 hours work daily to complete it. When I mailed the edited draft to him I just didn’t know what to expect: his pleasure, displeasure or indifference.

To my great amazement, I received a call from his secretary saying that he was very grateful for my inputs. I was struck by the word “grateful”. It was I who had to be grateful to be considered worthy of this service. A week later, when I had gone to Mumbai for his birthday celebrations, he called me to his room and thanked me profusely. He said he had incorporated most of my suggestions, and added with a sweet smile, “Last several days, I have been doing your work.”

Relieved by his warmth and pleasure, I voiced my apprehension about editing the work of an exalted person like him. He reassured me saying that he was very pleased and asked me whether I would like to go over the whole manuscript once again to check whether the changes had been properly incorporated.

I was overwhelmed, not just because he had considered my service useful, but also because in him any attachment to his literary creation was conspicuous by its absence. As an author myself who gets published in international magazines, I often have to incorporate the changes suggested by the editors of those magazines. So, I know all too well how difficult it is for an author to change one’s own literary expressions to satisfy another. As I heard Radhanath Swami speak, from his tone and speech, I could realize that his writing was not to fulfill any literary craving, but to be an instrument to share Krishna’s message of love with the world. That’s why he could be so open to suggestions; he saw his writing not as his own creation, but as a contemporary rewording of Krishna’s timeless message, and if anybody could help word it better, he was more than happy.

When I contemplate on this experience in retrospect, I feel that, though, by my written comments, I edited Radhanath Swami’s manuscript, he, by his own example, edited my heart to point out to the attachment, the ego, the pride of literary creation that reside there.  He promptly incorporated the changes I pointed out, I am still struggling to incorporate the changes he showed me.

— Chaitanya Charan Das

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146 replies on “Radhanath Swami: An Editor’s Editor”

The author has beautifully brought out the subtleties of the exchange. Beautiful….

Thank you very much for sharing this. You seem to have imbibed your Guru’s (Radhanath Swami’s) qualities .

This interation with Radhanath Swami, brings out another aspect & level of his quality of detachment.

We can see how Radhanath Swami has taught his students to be humble, detached and always trying to improve. Such qualities can be seen right from the stage of initial excitement mixed with apprehension to the last stage of incorporating the teachings.

Very well written. I am a fan of Chaitanya Charan prabhu for his incredible presentation of Vedic knowledge. What a fascinating exchange between the master, Radhanath Swami and his disciple. Thankyou for sharing this.

Every moment with maharaj we can learn a lot of things. Thank you for sharing the nectar.

his writing was not to fulfill any literary craving, but to be an instrument to share Krishna’s message of love with the world.
—-Thanks for sharing such selfless and humble service attitude

I feel that Chaitanya Charan Prabhu’s description of Radhanath Maharaj’s writings as ‘English Vedanta Sutras’ is most appropriate. I find Radhanath Swami’s classes most eloquent and his writings most profound.
Thank you for sharing.

Editing Spiritual Master’s book is quite a task, you have accomplished it with a sincere heart.

Such a beautiful incident! Shows the geuine humility of a great spiritual leader and his sincere follower!

What a wonderful realization. Radhanath Swami’s detachment from his creation is exemplary.

Chaitanya Charan Das is really a blessed person to have had the oppurtunity to serve Radhanath Swami so intimately.

To be in a leadership position and to accept critical input from your subordinates involves an immense amount of humility and freedom from attachment to one’ work.
Swamiji is great!!!

HG. Chaitanya Charan Prabhuji is a great soul.Therfore he got an opportunity to serve another great soul Radhanath SWami.Thank you for sharing such nice interaction to us.

Prabhuji expertly points out that one can not be open to suggestions that threaten his attachments. On similar note but with different settings, Dhrtrashtra was one such person who could not heed the good advice of Vidura because of his blind attachment to Duryodhana. So we have to be detached from any material acquisition in order to advance in spirituality by listening to and abiding by the divine instructions of guru and Krsna. Because maharaj is detached and considers the work as a tool for Krsna’s service he is open to any suggestion that might improve it.

great story. radhanath swami as a writer is now known but the internal mood of detachment he revealed as a writer is so endearing. thanks for sharing

Radhanath Swami is setting a very nice example of humility and open mindedness by allowing his own student to edit his work.

a very strong article which goes to show HHRM intense humility that he has, haribol, bhakti

wonderful article with immense learning of humility and selfless service, HHRM is just way to humble with his devotees, hari hari, rajesh karia

Amazing realizations by Chaitanya Charan Prabhu. Thank you for telling us about Radhanath Swami’s humility and his eagerness to spread Krishna’s knowledge to others.

Very Wonderful article. Thanks for sharing the incident along with your wonderful realizations.

Nice meditation Prabhuji on the editing of heart by Radhanath Swami. Radhanath Swami is truly free of all the qualities of ego, attachment, etc. and hence can check and change (edit) these deep rooted propensities in us.

Thankyou you Prabhuji for sharing this wonderful article. You have brought to light yet another amazing quality of Radhanath Swami.

There are innumerable incidents of Humility shown by Radhanath Swami in all types of situations and each of them is a learning experience for those who have had such experiences it is sheer mercy.

What an amazing article.Thankyou for sharing your exprience with Radhanath Swami. We really look forward to this new book.

Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s simplicity is reflected in this sharing, he very simply even teaches others by his dealings.

You are really very fortunate such an important literature which is definitely a scripture in itself……..

Truly Inspiring especially the point on…” edited my heart to point out to the attachment, the ego, the pride of literary creation that reside there.”Thank you Radhanath Swami for your wonderful instructions for all of us.

It’s great to know from the author that Radhanath Swami Maharaj so lovingly brought to the fore author’s natural attachment to literary creation. Radhanath Swami Maharaj is exemplary in every way.

Radhanath Swami is one of the best spiritual writers & editors. His books are really very inspiring for people who are trying to seek out God in this maddening world.

Where else could one read such an exchange of words between two people one of whom is so senior in all respects to other, however there is so much genuine love and respect for each other springing from the proper spiritual foundation, based on a higher purpose….a purpose to please the spiritual master and the supreme lord- Krishna.