“Am I getting old?” a thought sneaked into my mind. I was in my car, returning from a festival that bubbled with enthusiasm, with young men exuberantly dancing in kirtan in a style introduced by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a bhakti saint of the 16th century. Through it all I was feeling the opposite—unenthusiastic and sluggish. Now my intelligence figured out why—perhaps I was getting old. Slowly that thought snowballed, and I started feeling older and older and older, way beyond my years. My mind rolled towards old age faster than the tires. Soon I started imagining difficulties of old age mounting on my frail body. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I expressed myself to my co-passenger Radhanath Swami, “I find myself out of the crowd and left out. All the other devotees are so enthusiastic and strong.”
He looked really amused by the jokes my mind played on me. But as a remedy he cut yet another joke. It was a witty one that sobered me up. “Those who are young, they are very soon going to become old. But if you are not very enthusiastic, you are very soon going to become young again.”
Wasn’t that deep?
–Dr. Ashok Shetty.
140 replies on “Radhanath Swami Cuts a Joke”
Radhanath Swami ki jai
Beautiful…it took me a moment to realize what Radhanath Swami meant
Radhanath Swami warms the heart by his amazing ability to become close to you, often through his wit.
Heavy truth in a simple joke…
All glories to Srila Radhanath Swami!
Radhanath Swami Maharaj really puts the other person at ease!
HH Radhanath Swami is the best combination of wit with humor to make the message penetrate the heart and head of the recipient
very profound, the entire philosophy explained in one sentence
Good one !!! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Maharaj is awesome, such a presence of mind, even while cracking a joke there is deep philosophy in it.
Thank you very much for sharing.
very deep indeed.
That joke from Radhanath Swami was serious stuff
Radhanath Swami never fails to make his disciples feel comfortable whenever they are spaced out. He instills in them renewed vigour through his amazing sense of humour.
What a profound statement by Radhanath Swami !! Hearing this, nobody would dare to ever be unenthusiastic !!
Simply eloquent!
very witty statement in a humorous way by Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
What tricks the mind plays on us? But what amazes me even more is that anyone else would have got into a self-pity mode but Radhanath Swami Maharaj addressed the main issue with a sense of humour, yet did not hold back the import.
On a physical level enthusiasm ensures longevity and on a spiritual level enthusiasm takes us towards eternity. The implications of Radhanath Swami’s purports are deep.
Excellent quote by radhanath Swami. If we are not enthusiastic in our devotional service then we will have to take birth again in this material world.
Radhanath Maharaj made a deep statement to ponder upon.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj has great sense of humour
Radhanath Swami has serious message behind his humour
Becoming young again means taking birth again as a baby. We dont want the cycle of youth and old age, we want eternal youthful existence.
it was really deep
My understanding of Joke was which just makes us laugh on something funny. Radhanath Swami is so amazing that even in joke he conveys so deep meaning…truly amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Thank u Dr, Shetty for sharing this.but honestly it took me while to understand it
Thank you very much Prabhu. H.H Radhanath Swami conveeys deep meaning even through humour.
Maharaj has this wonderful ability to use subtle humor to convey deep truths.
Very nice statement ..
Witty indeed! n motivating too!
Radhanath Swami is too good 🙂
Too deep!! So deep that it gives me a lot of scope to speculate. Maharaj is certainly witty.
Those who are young, they are very soon going to become old. But if you are not very enthusiastic, you are very soon going to become young again.
Radhanath Swami’s sense of humour is simply amazing
HHRM,s statements are just too powerful and deep indeed, Maharaj ki Jai! rajesh karia
Maharaj’s sense of humor is just amazing and has a strong impact on ones mind and thought process, thanks for sharing this wonderful experience with all of us, regards, bhakti
Radhanath Swami Maharaj has a very nice way of conveying deep messages that leave a mark on the heart
A serious instruction, a strong impetus and big push in a simple witty joke…..
Simple wit with deep meaning.Wonderful.
Thank you for sharing this personal experience you had with Radhanath Swami.
Perspicacious wit!
Radhanath swami’s humour is amazing
Funny and on target.!
Radhanath Swami is a very personal and wonderful person
Simple but with deep meaning. Amazing.
Very deep Philosophy, expressed in simple joke. It is a good reminder, when we don,t feel enthusiastic in our spiritual life. Very interesting, Jai Maharajah.
Wonderful article !! simple, Witty yet deep.
what a deep and meaningful joke
Radhanath Swami comes up with amazing one-liners which are humourous and profound at the same time.
Thank you for sharing.