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An Exhilarating Moment With Radhanath Swami

In 1998, I often rode Radhanath Swami from an Ayurvedic Clinic in suburban Mumbai to Bhaktivedanta Hospital. He seldom spoke during these journeys, for he would be exhausted after his treatment at the clinic.

On one ride something interesting happened. He was nonchalantly   fingering the vehicle’s cassette player and accidently pressed the play button. And guess what? Emerging from the silence, Radhanath Swami’s voice filled the car: the player had Radhanath Swami’s lecture tape in it.

He let it play. After a while, as we soared through the highway, Radhanath Swami reclined on his seat and apparently fell asleep. The mesmerizing lecture played on, every word of it surcharged with the power of devotion.  Whenever it sparkled with wit, I peeked from the corner of my eye. And each time I saw Radhanath Swami smile. His eyes were shut, but he was awake and listening.

At the end of the two hour ride, the car halted at the entrance of Bhaktivedanta Hospital. A small group had gathered there to welcome Radhanath Swami and many stood with garlands in their hands. Radhanath Swami opened his eyes, saw them waiting, and closed his eyes again. The lecture played on. Outside the car, people exchanged confused glances. Why was Radhanath Swami not coming out?

Time ticked slowly. After ten minutes  the lecture ended. Radhanath Swami opened his eyes. He sat straight. As he opened the car door, turning to me he said, “Good class! Wasn’t it?”

Something I had read about the sage Kardama in the Vedic text Srimad Bhagavatam sprang to my mind.

Kardama Muni, being a saintly person, was living in a humble hermitage, but when he saw the palace constructed by his yogic powers… he himself was astonished. That is the way of a God-gifted person. … When a yogi’s power is exhibited, the yogi himself is sometimes astonished.

I had just witnessed a Bhakti Yogi being astonished by the exhibition of his own power of Bhakti.

– Prakash Nanjudiah

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150 replies on “An Exhilarating Moment With Radhanath Swami”

Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience. We are really fortunate to know about Maharaj.

Very good article. Radhanath Swami Maharaj shows us the way how we should hear lectures

Very nice story – Srila Prabhupada used to similarly get astonished by reading His purports – Srila Radhanath Swami Maharaj is following the mood of His Guru Maharaj.

Radhanath Swami is very particular about the class he gives and a lot of effort goes into each such class. And Radhanath Swami always asks for feedback in the form of knowing what was the most impactful point point in the class. And he boldly invites questions after each class.

Radhanath Swami shows his humility through this as he feels that it was his Guru speaking through him and no himself. That is why he was intensely listening to the class. Thank you prakash prabhu for sharing this

self realization at its best, HH Radhanath Swami Maharajs each lecture is just inspiring, wonderful article and thanks for sharing with all of us, rajesh karia

self realization at its best, HH Radhanath Swami Maharajs each lecture is just inspiring, wonderful article and thanks for sharing with all of us, rajesh karia

self realization at its best, HH Radhanath Swami Maharajs each lecture is just inspiring, wonderful article and thanks for sharing with all of us, rajesh karia

No words to say…..just want to say that HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj is special soul and we are all grateful to Krsna for giving us all such Spiritual Guru..Haribol!!

Thank you for sharing such a sweet patime about Radhanath Swami. This way, we come to know so many facets of his nature.

It’s so nice to here that how Radhanath Swami was focused on the teachings of Bhakti Yoga no matter who presented it.. including himself.

This is true!Radhanath Swami has been so humble in his demeanour that he himself might not realise the success he has gained in his preaching ventures . He has succesfully developed so many projects and much more on the way to success.All undertaken under his able guidance

Radhanath Swami is so humble and ever immersed in the thought that we are not the doers .The Supreme Lord is the Doer , we are just instruments in his hands

Its just wonderful to listen to HHRM lectures as they are the most inspiring and very instrumental tools of teaching in ones routine life and spiritual practise, bhakti

it goes to show the quality of humility that HHRM possesses even after the kind of achievements Maharaj Swami has accomplished, haribol, rajesh karia

Krishna speaks through the mouth of pure devotee who is completely surrendered to him like HH Radhanath swami Maharaj

His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj has shown a perfect example to follow in the footsteps of great spiritual saints.

It is nice and wonderful experience.

Thank you so much prabhu for sharing wonderful experience.

shows the symptoms of pure devotees as explained by Krsna in Bhagavad Gita…pure devotees are always engaged in hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord…

This is a wonderful story of how great personalities like Radhanath swami will be astonished by their own deeds.

Radhanath swami is so much involved in listening to the class even though it is given by him. He is teaching us by his own example of how to listen a lecture.

Yes, great saints always feel themselves to be only an instrument in the hands of god and hence feel the lord to be speaking and acting through them.