Last year Radhanath Swami’s birthday celebrations came right in the middle of his writing marathon. In the Vedic tradition, the spiritual guide who helps one return to God is considered as a special representative of God, to be respected on par with God. So on the spiritual mentor’s birthday his students assemble together in his presence and express their heartfelt appreciation, love and gratitude to him through eloquently written offerings. Radhanath Swami often warns in his talks about the great danger that ego poses on the spiritual path. He also says that a sincere devotee feels most embarrassed to hear himself be glorified. Yet the Vedic tradition that he represents enjoins that he as a spiritual mentor hear the praises that his students shower upon him. No wonder Radhanath Swami often says that the day of his birthday celebration is for him the day of the greatest austerity in the entire year. For an ordinary soul whose ego is always hungering and hankering for praise, such a day would be the day to be most relished in the entire year. But Radhanath Swami’s natural humility makes hearing his own glories an immense austerity for him.
Despite the austerity involved, Radhanath Swami conducts himself on his birthday with consummate grace; he appreciates his spiritual teacher, he appreciates his spiritual peers and he appreciates even the sincere love of his appreciators. How does he not let such an even steal away his own humility? He has himself answered in his talks: whenever a devotee is glorified, he passes the glorification to Krishna.
During the last year’s celebration, one of his students praised him with heart-rending poetry comprised of captivating imagery. Immediately after the celebration, when we were working on his book, he asked me whether I had heard that poetic offering. When I replied, “Yes, it was beautiful,” Radhanath Swami immediately said, “When I was hearing this, I was thinking this would be so good to add in the book to glorify Krishna.” I was astounded at his devotional opportunism; far from delighting in his own praises, he had immediately seen an opportunity to literally pass that praise to Krishna. It was an inspiring example of how Radhanath Swami walks his talk: how his ego-less opportunism enables him to pass on to Krishna the glories that are offered to him.
–Chaitanya Charan Das.
145 replies on “Radhanath Swami’s ego-less opportunism”
Beautiful narration. It shows how Maharaj is deeply focussed and absorbed in glorifying Krishna.
Totally absorbing.
Radhanath Swami is always thinking of how to grorify God in the best possible way
Radhanath Swami’s humility is really amazing and i aspire to have atleast a drop of it!!
Ego-less opportunism enables him to pass on to Krishna the glories that are offered to him. It is so true. H.H Radhanath Swami is such a surrendered soul to Krishna. This only shows that every opportunity can be used to serve the Lord if one has surrendered.
Radhanath Swami teaches us to glorify God in all situations.
Thank you for sharing this inner mood of Radhanath Swami.
Maharajah is teaching us by his own action “what Krishna Consciousness mean” always glorifying Krishna, in all situation.
A true and pure devotee of Lord will always want to give preference to satisfying and please the Lord than their ownselves. Radhanath Swami,thus, always seeks opportunities to glorify Lord Krishna and devotees
HH Radhanath Swami is always remebering Krishna under all situations
Radhanath Swami is such a wonderful epitome of Humility for all of us to follow. Thankyou Maharaj for being there for us.
Swamiji wants to show by his exemplary behavious that we should think of Krishna’s pleasure then our own…..
very nice incident
Haribol. Thank you. Very nice
Nice experience. Thanks for sharing. Maharaj is an ideal Guru in words and actions.
Really this is touching one experience,the person is sitting on the epitome of fame but still he is so down to earth.This is very rare a personality like him can exhibit this kind of symptoms.
Maharaj is a pure devotee of the Lord.He is no ordinary soul.He is Godsend to save us from material quagmire to spiritual perfection.
Radhanath Swami is truly a very humble Guru
Thankyou for sharing such a beautiful story prabhuji
Radhanath Swami dovetails everything in the service of Krishna, even his offerings made by his disciples
HH Radhanath Swami always humble. Yet he always wishes the true welfare of all the living entities.
WOW!
This is the true way of greate souls!
Srila Prabhuoada always passed his achievements to mercy of His Gurudev!
We must imbibe these in our lives!
Realy Radhanath Swami walks his talk.
That is spiritual intelligence
Wonderful, Maharaj is personified humility.
Thanks so much for sharing such a nice realisation and experince.
Thank you so much for sharing this. Maharaj is so focussed.
Radhanath Swami walks his talk: how his ego-less opportunism enables him to pass on to Krishna the glories that are offered to him.
Thank you so much Prabhu for sharing.
This is really very touching experience. Radhanath Swami is really very pure and very humble devotee of the Lord.
Radhanath Maharaj always glorify God
Thank you for sharing this wonderful realizations.
HH Radhanath Swami possesses amazing humility!
This is very instructive. Thank you
Simple formula to remain ego-free. Pass it on to Krsna. Thank you.
thanks for sharing this about swamiji.
Very inspiring !
many thanks for sharing this
wonderful article.Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful !
HH Radhanath swami maharaj is real acharya. What ever he got engages in Krishna’s service. He act selflessly.
All Glories to HH Radhanath swami prabhupada
whenever a devotee is glorified, he passes the glorification to Krishna.
RADHANTH SWAMI MAHARAJ always teaches through his own example.
It was an inspiring example of how Radhanath Swami walks his talk: how his ego-less opportunism enables him to pass on to Krishna the glories that are offered to him.
Great souls like Radhanath Swami do not like to hear praises for themselves but pass it on to Krishna.
Radhanatha Swami is a perfect example for all of us and his messages are meant for everyone around the world. JAI GAURA NITAI!
Hare Krishna… Radhanath Swami ki Jai !