October 1998, I was driving Radhanath Swami to a distant suburb in Mumbai. On a traffic signal street urchins knocked on our windows begging us to give something. Radhanath Swami asked me “Do you have some rice puffs or pancakes to give to them?”
I replied in the negative as I did not have any food item to give.
In a gesture of cupping his arms he looked towards me and said “Give me some money” I was relieved thinking he would give the money to the beggars. I immediately put out some change into his hands.
Looking at me he said “Now you give this money to them”.
I complied and drove off from the signal.
But for the next 20 minutes Radhanath Swami was driving the point to me that I was not carrying any food item to give to the beggars. He said “ It is a very humiliating experience to be begging” and then lowering his voice further “ It is even more humiliating when you do not give”.
In a mood of instruction and pleading Radhanath Swami said “ You must carry some food item like pancakes, rice puffs, grain biscuits etc. And as a last resort you can give money but know well that money may get misused”
This instance remains etched in my mind and I confirm the presence of small food packets in my car even before I look for the keys.
Radhanath Swami has compassion towards one and all without any consideration of race, caste, age, sex, religion, country or even economic status.
– Ujwal Jajoo
180 replies on “With Radhanath Swami at a Traffic signal”
Thats a very instructive lesson and I would love to follow this instruction of Radhanath swami
Such compassionate perception of a beggar’s feelings can only be present with a self-realized servant of God.
Very touching incident. Shows the heart of Radhanath Swami, as soft as butter.
Radhanath Swami emphasizes the concept of showing love and affection to everyone. In this incident, he shows personally how one should give a food packet to one in need. Nice story.
Once a devotee told me that the qualification for a person to enter the spiritual world is to have our heart so soft that we feel compassion for the beggars genuinely.Otherwise we are not fit to enter the spiritual world.This incident is a confirmation.
I used to feel disgusted at the sight of beggers. This atricle is such an eye opener for me. Thanks for sharing this article.
Radhanath Swami teaches in so many ways……….every instruction leaves one feeling blessed to have come in contact with such a soul.
This shows how compassionate Radhanath Swami is.
He is a real guru.There is so much that we can learn from him
This shows how compassionate Radhanath Swami is.
There is so much that we can learn from him
Radhanath Swami is a personification of compassion from the heart and not just superficially.
Since He is a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord, He naturally carries true compassion for all living entities.
What an exemplary character Maharaj possesses. He is compassionate towards all living creatures
Radhanath Swami’s book The Journey Home is all about his experiences with different situations and people and how he saw the hand of God in all.
only soul like of radhanath swami can express such deep compassion to every living entity, hence he is assigned by the supreme god to spread this message by making disciples from every corner of the world,
maharaj is a great teacher
HH Radhanath Swami reveals His soft and compassionate heart. As instructed by HH Radhanath Swami one should really look to take care of the needs of the soul besides taking care of immediate bodily needs.
Radhanath Swami is basically teaching us the “Sharing is caring” principle through this incident.
There have been occassions when I have been guilty of choosing to turn away from the beggars at the traffic lights. But after reading this article by Radhanath Swami, I have resolved to keep Parle-G biscuit packets in the car to give away to the needy ones.
He leads through realization. This is very powerful…
Radhanath is considerate about every living entity and has a soft and compassionate heart and here through this example is imploring each of us to do the same
Radhanath Swami is considerate about every living entity and has a soft and compassionate heart and here through this example is imploring each of us to do the same
Amazing & inspiring
See how maharaj express his compassion towards beggers. He teaches us how to purify them by feeding prasadam rather than money. Maharaj is great.
It is so inspiring how Maharajah feels the pain of everyone. He could sense the feeling of beggars. It resolved my issue, i never knew how to deal with the beggars.
Each of the experiences posted shows more and more the compassionate nature of maharaj.
This is a beautiful instruction from Maharaj. I shall make sure I carry some prasadam in my car all the time. Hari Bol!
wonderful
Radhanath Swami is basically instructing us that unless we are compassionate towards the poor & the deprived, God will not be compassionate towards us either. We can receive His mercy only if we ourselves are merciful to others who are in need.
Maharaj is compassion and mercy personified
radhanath Swami has agiven a nice intruction to all of us through Mr Ujwal Jajoo.
H H Radhanath Swami actually feels the troubles & difficulties people go through.
Such compassion is shown by self realised persons only.
This makes it clear. Radhanath Swami Maharaj has genuine compassion for all God’s children. But the message is practical. People waste so much, why not carry some good food offered to God in the car and distribute whenever approached by beggars?
i always use to avoid the beggars but now by maharaj instructions wil try to give some prasad to beggars.
I was very perplexed as to how exactly one should rreact to beggars. Thank you for making this si clear
Normally in situations like these, we get irritated and find ways to avoid the beggers, but Radhnath Maharaj’s vision certainly turns arround the situation for a good cause. Radhanth Swami Maharaj shows us by his own example how situations like these can be averted by carrying some packets of food. If not every time but at least a few times I would be conscious of this and carry some thing with me to give to beggers, eventually it may become a habit. Thank you.
the money given if misutilised can cause us karmic reaction so its better to give some Prasad thus benefiting the beggar too.
This experience with Radhanath Swami has changed my perceptio to look at the beggars. I used to think it is not really required to give them the charity but this incidence shows that we need to be sensitive towards them in a practical way!!
Food tasted by the Lord in the form of prasad is free from all sinful reactions. One who eats it will become free from sinful reactions and can elevate his conciousness. A very inspiring experience. Thanks for sharing.
Its even more humiliating experiance to not give anything .
I liked this article .Social service with a device result … wonderful
This quality of giving is the very life and soul of great exalted souls like Radhanath Swami. They exist in this world only for the welfare of all living beings, other than this they have no seperate interest in this world.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with HH Radhanath Swami maharaj. I will also try to carry some prasad as instructed by HH Radhanath Swami maharaj.
Oh! It’s heart touching deep compassion, which highly self realized souls have.
One who loves God sees his presence in each and every living entity and always extends himself to serve them in any possible way. This is how HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj is teaching through his examples and teachings.
How compassionate Radhanath Swami is!!!
Only one whose heart is full of love and compassion can think of others, even beggars, in this way. Radhanath Swami gives so much importance to the feelings of others, alwyas taking care not to hurt anyone.
This real compassionate nature. If do not learn to give then we become hard hearted.
such thoughtful compassion.
Such a simple but powerful instruction by Radhanath Swami
I was in confusion regarding this stutation since long time, but now H.H. Radhanath Swami has showed me the right way.
Maharaj is really very compassioante!
very touching it shows how radhanath swami is so compassionate