26 June 2006. My mother and I awaited Radhanath Swami’s arrival at Bhubaneshwar airport. He was flying from Mumbai and was headed to Jagannath Puri, a two hour ride from Bhubaneshwar. Bittersweet emotions churned in me. Soon I would be basking in the association of my guru Radhanath Swami on the car ride to Puri. But then, I would be missing my mother. The yearly visit to my home in Bubaneshwar was sadly ending. I stayed in a monastery at Mumbai emulating the life of Vedic monks, a life centered on studying and teaching the scriptures under the supervision of a guru. After the pilgrimage at Jagannath Puri I was returning back there; my duties at Mumbai called me.
An hour later, while Radhanath Swami sat in the car, I loaded my luggage into the car’s rear. When I approached the door, I found my mother standing there. She spoke to Radhanath Swami through the open window. Emotion cracked her voice as she expressed a mother’s feelings. Radhanath Swami asked me to translate her Oriya into English. “She is saying that I am now under your care,” I told him. Through gestures he assured her that her son would be taken care of nicely.
As we cruised along the highway, Radhanath Swami turned to me, “Why was she crying? Where they tears of joy, or where they tears of separation?” He still mulled over my mother’s sentiments.
“That was a confluence of both kinds,” I replied. My mother felt proud that I had dedicated my life for the welfare of society. Yet, her heart always wanted me on her side.
Silent moments passed. “That I now belong to you was what she actually intended to convey,” I now rendered the corrected translation. Swayed by emotions, I hadn’t translated accurately earlier. Instantly, Radhanath Swami replied, “No. It’s not that now you belong to me. You now belong to God.”
I had surfaced his renunciation from the depths of his heart. Though having a following of hundreds of monks and thousands of householders, he never thought they belonged to him. He felt himself only a caretaker, assisting them in their service to God and humanity.
That renunciation however, didn’t harden his heart. It was still soft and sensitive to the feelings of a mother.
–Smitharanjan Pattnaik.
In 2005, my mother wrote to Radhanath Swami complaining that I wasn’t communicating with my family after joining the monastery. Following this, Radhanath Swami instructed me to regularly call up my home, and I duly followed that instruction.
In 2010, my mother visited me. As we conversed in a garden adjoining the monastery, Radhanath Swami happened to come there. Walking to where we sat, he first asked me, “Are you calling home regularly?” Tears welled in my mother’s eyes. Even after five years, Radhanath Swami remembered the concern of a mother.
–Siddeshwar Bhat
94 replies on “Radhanath Swami’s Heart — Renounced, Yet Soft.”
very touching!
It is very true that Radhanath Swami as a Spiritual Master is both Father & Mother to all of his disciples. This is something special which all of those who know him would definitely experience it in different ways on many occasions.
Radhanath Swami is a geniune well wisher of everyone, even someone who has walked into the temple for the first time. Its heart melting to see his concern and love for everyone
very touching and emotional, thanks for sharing, bhakti
HHRM gestures are simply priceless and HHRM really knows and understands the importance to please his devotees and their peers, Maharaj ki Jai! rajesh karia
A very rare combination!
Radhanath Swami is very personal and caring person.
Radhanath Swami, never for a moment, forgets that he is a servant of his spiritual master and God.
Such a caring attitude can be seen from this article about Radhanath Swami….
Amazing how he remembers each individual student’s life and needs, even though he has thousands of students. just amazing.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj cares for everyone!
Radhanath Swami reciprocates with the human emotions in such a beautiful & reassuring manner. He is genuinely concerned not only about the well-being of his disciples but also of their parents & relatives.
Radhanath Swami is genuinely concerned about everyone’s feelings and never forgets that, always grateful
Radhanath Swami is a great leader……..leader who feels himself a servant of his followers……an ideal example to follow………..
Thats how a sadhu is !!!!!!!!! hard externally but soft like butter to feelings of all. Thank you maharaj.
The beauty of an ideal guru is that he never considers his disciple as his own property, though it seems (from the disciple’s perspective) that the guru has every right to do so.
Very touching filled with emotion and care.
Glorious is Radhanath Swami and Glorious are his followers like you.
Thank you for sharing this!!!
Radhanath Swami is the genuine friend, well-wisher and guide for all of us under his care.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s behaviour shows the qualities of a true spiritualist, always dedicated to serve the Lord yet taking care of peoples emotionally.
Radhanath Swami is a caretaker in the true sense.
Very touching story. Radhanath Swami by his behaviour captures the heart of others. Thank very much for sharing the same.
Radhanath Swami is a perfect care taker of everyone.Its very emotional incident.Thanks for sharing
Radhanath swami is truely caring person. Even though sanyasi and living life as monk, he has soft heart. His caring nature and to be a well wisher of everyone is applicable for all the individuals even grihasthas.
H H Radhanath swami always remember that he has to follow the order of his spiritual master as a servant.
Beautiful combination of renunciation and soft heart is found in personality of HH Radhanath swami
Radhanath Swami is really a soft-hearted person.
Such humility & care inspite of having such a large following – that’s Radhanath Swami
Radhanath Swami shows true humility as well as softness and sensivity of the heart which is quite rare in today’s age.
Thanks for sharing this.
thanks for sharing!
Awesome!!
Radhanath Swami is truly a transcendentalist…. even after years he remebers small details of people’s lives… especially of those under his care.
Radhanath swami’s compassion for everyone is heart melting
Thanks for sharing your personal wonderful experience! Maharaj is truly a great teacher.
HH Radhanath Swami is a living example of how taking to spirituality leads to softening of heart for every individual against the popular notion that spiritual practices makes one hard-hearted.
Very touch story! Radhanath Swami cares for the relationship without getting bonded by it, like a lotus flower.
This quality of Radhanath Swami makes him unique. Many Gurus hanker for followers and are proud of their following, Radhanath Swami has followers whom he accepts as service to his Guru and never thinks they belong to him rather feels he is an instrument meant to serve them in achieving the real goal in life. That’s the reason many of Radhanath Swami’s followers are willing to do anything for him
Its very rare to see such a caring & loving leader……he cares not only for his followers but even for thier relatives…….great
Thank you for sharing such a nice incident. Nice to see the relationships and care .
Very nice!:)
Very touching.
thanks……….
all glories to radhanath swami maharaj.
Amazing what a memory Maharaj has.
it directly touches my heart.. Maharaj is so concerned about devotees and their families.. JAI !!!
Radhanath Swami’s loving exchanges give me so much solace…
It touched my heart, cannot be explained, Jai Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
Love and concern is all it takes to swell feelings of true life-long surrender to any authority.
Radhanath Swami is a leader who floors us all by his profound love.
thanks for sharing. very touchy.
Maharaj’s sensitivity towards devotees and their family is really heart touching.