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Sensitivity

Radhanath Swami Accomplishes With No Casualties

Pin-drop silence filled the Radhagopinath temple hall, except for the soft yet commanding voice of Giriraj Swami. He sat cross-legged on a slightly raised seat (Vyasasana) along with Radhanath Swami, who was to speak next. The audience, numbering two thousand, sat cross-legged on the floor in rapt attention. They faced the Vyasasana that occupied one corner of the rectangular hall, close to the holy altar. The gold-leafing that embellished the ornately carved altars and altar doors reflected the golden glow from the chandeliers. Thus an all-auspicious golden hue enveloped the divine gathering.

Inches away from the Vyasasana I sat, listening. Momentarily, when my eyes drifted away from the speaker, they met those of Radhanath Swami, and found them gazing down right at me! With a movement of his index finger Radhanath Swami gestured me to come closer—he had something to say. My heart started to beat conspicuously. A wave of tension passed through my spine: I had to absorb every bit of his whisper in the first go, for asking for any clarification would mean disturbing both the speaker and the audience.

My life air circling around my ear drums, I pushed my head close enough to be able to hear his whisper. “Very politely, tell that girl not to lean against the deity’s doors.” I had heard every word clear and distinct. In quick reflex I looked towards the altar and found a lady who stood leaning against the altar doors. Making my way through the crowd, I reached her, and in all politeness pleaded, “Please madam, don’t lean against the doors. Or else, you shall ruin the gold leafing on it.” She obliged, and only when I re-occupied my seat did the four thousand eyes in the hall cease to follow me.

Sitting there I mulled over the sacred lesson I had just learnt. Often times, people emphasize just the aspect of detachment in spiritual life. Ironically, spirituality is more about attachment than detachment. A spiritualist is only detached from his/her selfish happiness. But he/she is completely attached to facilitating the happiness of God, and the happiness of those connected to God—and that includes every living entity. A temple is God’s home, and everything in it is designed for His pleasure. And to safeguard what gives God pleasure, a devotee considers that his sacred mission.

But what really hit me was that I had witnessed Radhanath Swami accomplish his mission with no casualties. He had safeguarded the happiness of even that lady who was also a child of God. He had perfectly structured his whisper. If the words “Very Politely” had featured anywhere but in the beginning of that statement, I would have definitely missed its import, given that I was high-strung at that moment. And impoliteness would have cost the lady’s happiness, and that meant casualty!

–Siddeshwar Bhat

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167 replies on “Radhanath Swami Accomplishes With No Casualties”

What a beautiful pastime! Radhanath Maharaj is so expert in keeping the temple of Krishna beautiful, but also SUPER SENSITIVE!

Radhanath Swami jhas nicely explained that there is nothing wrong with attachment. It is attachment to our ego is the problem.

RAdhanath Swami teaches here how we are supposed to take care of the property of the Lord with a humble mood of respect for others & taking care of their emotions as well.

Sensitive situations like this need expertise in handling and Radhanath Swami is very exert in taking care of such situations without hurting feelings of persons involved.

Thank you very much for sharing this incident as to how Radhanath Swami is always attached to serving krishna’s interest and at the same time he is not insensitive to others and wants them to come near to Krishna

This is yet another example of how Radhanath Swami is so concerned about maintaining relations.

Thank you so much for sharing this very wonderful experience where Radhanath Swami’s sensitivity, kindness, compassion, understanding and caring nature are shown. Radhanath Swami ki Jai!

Radhanath Swami has the the art of very humbly and politely and at times with good humor convey his thought in a manner most appropriate.

The empathy and sensitivity shown by Radhanath Swami in this particular incident is characteristic of him. I can sense this by reading all the previous posts that have appeared in this wonderful website.

Amazing the way Radhanath Swami handles seemingly contradictory needs so expertly.

Thanks for sharing the experience and the lessons to be learnt from it.

I had once heard a statement in Krishna Consciousness – We are not the servant of attachment or detachment we are servant of Krishna.Radhanath Swami aptly by his actions gives an import to these words.

WOW !! Thank you very much for sharing this! Maharaj amazing attention to details and the equally wonderful realizations of Mr. Bhat executing the orders given by Maharaj is a moment to cherish.

Thank you very much for sharing. Radhanath Swami does not make anyone hurt but makes them realize what is good

this is a very good lesson for people like me to learn from. Gurumaharaj is very expert in everything.

Srila Prabhupada must be very proud of Maharaj, who is walking in his path, and is compassionate to all and yet very instructive on what is right. Hari Bol!

wow! How well explained that spirituality is detachment from our own selfish happiness.However its is attachment to Krishna’s happiness.And Maharaj handled the situation so deftly …safeguarding the Krishna’s property as well the lady’s happiness.Thank you for sharing this wonderful incident

Very nice realization
“spirituality is more about attachment than detachment. A spiritualist is only detached from his/her selfish happiness. But he/she is completely attached to facilitating the happiness of God”.Thank you for sharing.

Maharaj treats every living being at the level of soul and not the body and this experience just goes to show that. Thanks for sharing.

here maharaj shows by his example that when the desire is do everything for krishna , others will also reciprocate positively

All Glories To H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

Thanks Prabhuji, for sharing this wonderful experience.

Hare Krishna

Radhanath Swami is so expert in handling people’s sensitivities even when he has to correct them. Truly a lesson to learn.

Being polite to people in all circumstances is one thing I have learnt from Radhanath Swami. This alone has changed my life.

great wonderful experience! how Maharaj is so affectionate and careful to the feelings of everybody.

No doubt Sri Sri Radha Gopinath temple is so beautiful and clean. Radhanath Swami takes such nice care and has strong desire to make Lord’s home really a King’s palace.

HHRM is very sensitive with all his devotees and deals with each one of them with promptness and politeness, thank you for sharing this wonderful experience, bhakti

Lord Krsna mentions that one of the qualities of His devotee is that he is an expert. Radhanath Swami is a living example.

This incident shows, Radhanath Swami repects every one and doesnot want to hurt any one. How nicely Radhanath Swami structured his words.

Thanks for sharing this expereince. It shows what hear Radhanath Maharaj has. He is very expert in dealing with people and always focused on serving the lord.