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Radhanath Swami’s ego-less opportunism

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.

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145 replies on “Radhanath Swami’s ego-less opportunism”

In whatever ways…Radhanath Swami Maharaj always Glorifies His Guru Srila Prabhupada & Lord Krishna

The great souls like HH Radhanath Swami always look for an opportunity to some how or the other serve the Lord.

Radhanath Swami is egoless spirtiual mentor. Thank you very much for sharing the same.

Radhanath Swami follows the principle of humility as much as he wants all his disciples to.

Radhanath Swami is the true embodiment of the Principles of Humility and also Practising it at same time.In today’s day and age such personalities are very rare.

In the pure state like Radhanath Swami’s, there is absolutely no consideration but that of pleasing, serving, and glorifying God.

HHRNSM is always absorbed in the Lord and is very humble and pure at heart, haribol, bhakti

Greatly inspiring – Thanks a lot Prabhuji for sharing the nectarian realization.

these are the special and rare qualities of radhanath swami which makes his followers to follow his instructions, since he himself sets an example rather than just giving instructions,

Radhanath Swami Maharaj has proved his dedication to Srila Prabhupad’s mission again and again by setting an example of a perfect follower.

it is very special to read this, infact it is a great fortune to know Radhanath swami who is the embodiment of the principle ‘Keep Supreme Lord as the centre of one’s Life.’

This is an ideal example how one can be selfless and serving the Lord all times, glories of Radhanath Swami is beyond any words. thank you very much for sharing this quality….

HH Radhanath Swami, like Hanuman looks for an opportunity to offer every thing to Lord.

Thanks for elaborating the humility aspect of Maharaj, Only by disciples like you can some one like me try to understand the glorious nature of Maharaj.

Maharaj has set the milestone for qualities like Humble nature and humility in front of us.

So much to learn from this small incident involving Radhanath Swami. Thank you for sharing.

Radhanath Swami is a transparent via media – a direct connection to Lord Krishna, and he is following in the footsteps of his spiritual masters and grandmasters

Very beautiful sharing regarding a perfect example of humble nature & being conscious of passing on the glory to the superiors.

Such an important quality to progress on the path of devotion. Hope and pray that I will get a drop of it.

Interesting concept – ego-less opportunism. Radhanath Swami inspires writers too 🙂

Radhanath Swami must be a person with deep gratitude and humility – since here we can see him passing all credit to his grandmasters and the Lord

The first aspect that surprised me was when Radhanath Swami considered listening to praise as an austerity, but even more stunning is that even such a situation can be used in the service of Krishna. This is spiritualizing the most difficult glue holding us on to the material world – the glue of ego.

Serving the Lord and offering every thing to Lord is the main business of great souls like HH Radhanath Swami.

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