I and my wife were at Vrindavan, the holiest of holy places, but our minds remained distracted, dwelling on the misbehaviors of a co-pilgrim, an acquaintance. He, like us, had joined Radhanath Swami’s entourage of students and friends on this pilgrimage. But some of his rude activities and behaviors made him an odd man out.
One day at Vrindavan we met Radhanath Swami in his room and spewed out a barrage of complaints about our co-pilgrim. He silently listened, the expression on his face veiling any of his thoughts. Once we were finished, and were all ears to hear his response, he took us on a pilgrimage. Through his words he journeyed us to those holy moments of the past when the saintly qualities of our co-pilgrim had shined out. His sincere words of appreciation for him pierced through the layers of negativity that had clouded our minds and a feeling of guilt arose in our hearts: “how lowly of us to have highlighted the faults of such a wonderful person”.
As we hung our heads in shame, Radhanath Swami concluded with a confession. “I once judged a person wrongly when I was boy. Since then I have stopped judging people.”
– Dr. Mukunda Shanbhag
136 replies on “Radhanath Swami takes us on a Pilgrimage within a Pilgrimage”
what a deep realization by radhanath maharaj. I wish I also stop judging people…
Do not judge, lest be you judged. Maharaj epitomises this quality. I have never seen maharaj ever judge a person by the external. He is equal to all. that is quality of a pure devotee.
RAdhanath Swami wrongly judged one person when he was just a boy and he stopped judging ever since. I misjudge all the time and still I have not learnt my lesson. A wonderful lesson for me. May I stop judging all others.
Alas, I make the same mistake over and over again. I judge and actually believe my opinion is correct. Thank you for sharing this. It has made a deep impact on me.
I am amazed with the simlicity of Radhanath Swami, how easily he can tought us by his own example. Simply great.
It is Radhanath Swami’s hallmark quality that he overlooks all the negatives in a person & focuses only on the good qualities. This way, he has been able to transform the hearts & lives of tens of thousands of people all around the world. We have to really try hard to follow in his footsteps.
Its said that this age of kali is full of faults, So its very easy to see fault in others. But Radhanath Swami perfectly examplifies how one has to see the devotion and service a person is rendering and then every thing else become immaterial
This shows to remember the good qualities of person rather than remembering the negative qualities, which can make us close to Krishna.
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful experience.
WOw once judged… and never then. I wish one day I can follow his example,
May that day not far, when I could stop judging others.
Radhanath Swami illustrates a very important lesson from the Bible: Seek, and thou shalt find.
And Radhanath Swami has made a firm resolution to seek only the good.
This single principle is enough to wipe out all the malice present in the world today.
I guess this is one of the most difficult principles to follow..
Thank you for sharing…
Such a valuable lesson to learn…Hope i can also try to do that….
it’s not easy to get the realization which Radhanath Swami got in his boyhood.
Thats the quality of a true spiritualist. Radhanath Swami is guiding us not to be judgemental about others.
I found more abt Radhanath Swami on
http://www.thejourneyhomebook.com/home
http://radhanathswami.blogspot.com/
We all have our faults. Why magnify those of others?Besides, we ourselves are what we perceive in others. Only a great soul like HH Radhanath Maharaj can bring out this truth.
Radhanath Swami is a true teacher. He teaches from his example and experiences
To find faults in others is easy, in a self assessment of our own faults there is always justification. This is basic nature. Being connected to Radhanath Swami in some way is like being under the hands of a specialized doctor who very expertly removes the root of the ailment.
Thank you very much for sharing
Maharaj makes the most difficult things to appear so easy!!
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story – the way Maharaj makes a point is awesome and ever lasting.
What a wonderful way to teach us to stop judging people. Thank you Maharaj.
Radhanath Swami is the best example of humility i can see in this modern day world, which is full of swindlers and false spiritualists.
He always sees the good in others because the Lord is present in heart of every living entity
Radhanath Swami is expert in giving respect to everyone and seeing only the good qualities in them. He teaches us that no matter how lowly someone may be, there is always the spiritual spark within every person which has to be fanned by us. He mentions in one lecture ” By our actions we have to bring out the good in others NOT the bad!”.
That is real spiritually elevated personality, Thank you very much for sharing about Radhanath Swami and his qualities.
We hear about our previous great elevated saints and acaryas’ qualities. We can see these qualities being exemplified in these days only through pure and sincere saints like Radhanath Swami.
Thank you Maharaj for giving such an important take home message ” STOP JUDGING OTHERS” I will try to implement it in my life
All Glories To H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Thanks Prabhuji for sharing such a wonderful experience.
Hare Krishna
Wonderful lesson
Radhanath Swami practises whatever he preaches…rarely we find such people…!!
As i was reading this i realized i am already judging Dr.Mukund for judging others. The last line from Radhanath swami hit where it hurts. Hope it stays
To go for Pilgrimage along with a pure Devotee HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj is best boon anyone can get
great teacher!!
Radhanath Maharaj’s quality of never judging but always finding good even in the bad is awesome.
I think i should stop judging people .. since i always tend to judge them wrongly .
all i can say it takes a great person to relly apply this in practice and Radhanath Swami is showing by example it is possible
I really liked the point about not Judging people. Judging other people gives rise to vaishnav aparadh.
thank you very much for sharing your experience with HH Radhanath swami maharaj
A great lesson from H.H Radhanath swami maharaj- never judge people, we are nothing to judge anyone. our mind is not perfect, it first senses only the wrongdoings of other people
We judge others, when our ego is hurt so bad that we can’t make peace with ourselves. I pray that i also stop judging people and put all my energy in focusing good quality in them.
One should always look for the positive qualities of a being instead of the negative ones since it makes your thoughts clean and pure rather than filthy and foul. Thank-you for sharing this wonderful story.
Amazing is the sensitivity and maganamity of Radhanath Swami.Thankyou for sharing this incident.
Radhanath Swami teaches not to judge any one even if there are some apparant faults seen. Because we may be wrong in our assumptions.
Thanks for sharing.
Nice Article!! Thanks for sharing
I sincerely pray to Maharaj and Krishna that I can u=imbibe this quality in my life.
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki Jai!
To be able to imbibe a quality like not judging others or seeing only the good qualities of others or glorifying the good qualities of others is not an easy to task. But Maharaj did that after just one experience. Judging others has been so much deep rooted in me that I have only one hope of Maharaj’s mercy.
This is the most difficult task of not judging others…because of our own limited sphere of understanding of the situation we tend to judge others. therefore it is recommended to hear glories of those with whom we are finding faults, then we will be able to appreciate their actions.
Spiritual yatras with Radhanath Swami is a spiritual retreat for thousands of devotees…….
It took alot to share this experience. Thank you. I’m sure it will help all of us readers.