Radhanath Swami’s ego-less opportunism

Radhanath Swami’s ego-less opportunism

Radhanath Swami’s ego-less opportunism

By admin on January 10, 2011 | Category: Humility | Tags: , , , , | 144 Comments

Last year Radhanath Swami’s birthday celebrations came right in the middle of his writing marathon. In the Vedic tradition, the spiritual guide who helps one return to God is considered as a special representative of God, to be respected on par with God. So on the spiritual mentor’s birthday his students assemble together in his presence and express their heartfelt appreciation, love and gratitude to him through eloquently written offerings. Radhanath Swami often warns in his talks about the great danger that ego poses on the spiritual path. He also says that a sincere devotee feels most embarrassed to hear himself be glorified. Yet the Vedic tradition that he represents enjoins that he as a spiritual mentor hear the praises that his students shower upon him. No wonder Radhanath Swami often says that the day of his birthday celebration is for him the day of the greatest austerity in the entire year. For an ordinary soul whose ego is always hungering and hankering for praise, such a day would be the day to be most relished in the entire year. But Radhanath Swami’s natural humility makes hearing his own glories an immense austerity for him.

Despite the austerity involved, Radhanath Swami conducts himself on his birthday with consummate grace; he appreciates his spiritual teacher, he appreciates his spiritual peers and he appreciates even the sincere love of his appreciators. How does he not let such an even steal away his own humility? He has himself answered in his talks: whenever a devotee is glorified, he passes the glorification to Krishna.

During the last year’s celebration, one of his students praised him with heart-rending poetry comprised of captivating imagery. Immediately after the celebration, when we were working on his book, he asked me whether I had heard that poetic offering. When I replied, “Yes, it was beautiful,” Radhanath Swami immediately said, “When I was hearing this, I was thinking this would be so good to add in the book to glorify Krishna.” I was astounded at his devotional opportunism; far from delighting in his own praises, he had immediately seen an opportunity to literally pass that praise to Krishna. It was an inspiring example of how Radhanath Swami walks his talk: how his ego-less opportunism enables him to pass on to Krishna the glories that are offered to him.

–Chaitanya Charan Das.

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144 Responses to “Radhanath Swami’s ego-less opportunism”

  1. January 13, 2011 at 6:21 am
    Ram Mohan

    Beautiful narration. It shows how Maharaj is deeply focussed and absorbed in glorifying Krishna.

  2. January 13, 2011 at 6:23 am
    Kuldeep Soni

    Totally absorbing.

  3. January 13, 2011 at 6:39 am
    Amol

    Radhanath Swami is always thinking of how to grorify God in the best possible way

  4. January 13, 2011 at 6:41 am
    Saurabh Vinayak

    Radhanath Swami’s humility is really amazing and i aspire to have atleast a drop of it!!

  5. January 13, 2011 at 6:46 am
    T.Sita Ramaiah

    Ego-less opportunism enables him to pass on to Krishna the glories that are offered to him. It is so true. H.H Radhanath Swami is such a surrendered soul to Krishna. This only shows that every opportunity can be used to serve the Lord if one has surrendered.

  6. January 13, 2011 at 7:47 am
    Abhijit Toley

    Radhanath Swami teaches us to glorify God in all situations.

  7. January 13, 2011 at 9:39 am
    Srivatsan

    Thank you for sharing this inner mood of Radhanath Swami.

  8. January 13, 2011 at 9:44 am
    Meera Sharma

    Maharajah is teaching us by his own action “what Krishna Consciousness mean” always glorifying Krishna, in all situation.

  9. January 13, 2011 at 9:55 am
    navin poojary

    A true and pure devotee of Lord will always want to give preference to satisfying and please the Lord than their ownselves. Radhanath Swami,thus, always seeks opportunities to glorify Lord Krishna and devotees

  10. January 13, 2011 at 9:56 am
    Gopasana

    HH Radhanath Swami is always remebering Krishna under all situations

  11. January 13, 2011 at 10:17 am
    Deepali Boradia

    Radhanath Swami is such a wonderful epitome of Humility for all of us to follow. Thankyou Maharaj for being there for us.

  12. January 13, 2011 at 10:48 am
    Ravi

    Swamiji wants to show by his exemplary behavious that we should think of Krishna’s pleasure then our own…..

  13. January 13, 2011 at 11:26 am
    Vinay Rachh

    very nice incident

  14. January 13, 2011 at 5:03 pm
    anand

    Haribol. Thank you. Very nice

  15. January 13, 2011 at 8:03 pm
    Madana Kishore Das

    Nice experience. Thanks for sharing. Maharaj is an ideal Guru in words and actions.

  16. January 14, 2011 at 1:23 am
    Rakesh Chandra

    Really this is touching one experience,the person is sitting on the epitome of fame but still he is so down to earth.This is very rare a personality like him can exhibit this kind of symptoms.

  17. January 14, 2011 at 11:25 am
    priya aiyar

    Maharaj is a pure devotee of the Lord.He is no ordinary soul.He is Godsend to save us from material quagmire to spiritual perfection.

  18. January 15, 2011 at 9:13 am
    Jayshree Shinde

    Radhanath Swami is truly a very humble Guru

  19. January 15, 2011 at 9:14 am
    Jayshree Shinde

    Thankyou for sharing such a beautiful story prabhuji

  20. January 15, 2011 at 9:18 am
    Jayshree Shinde

    Radhanath Swami dovetails everything in the service of Krishna, even his offerings made by his disciples

  21. January 16, 2011 at 2:02 am
    Y.Raja Shekar

    HH Radhanath Swami always humble. Yet he always wishes the true welfare of all the living entities.

  22. January 17, 2011 at 1:29 pm
    Vijay Mathias

    WOW!

  23. January 18, 2011 at 2:02 am
    Arabinda Sahoo

    This is the true way of greate souls!
    Srila Prabhuoada always passed his achievements to mercy of His Gurudev!
    We must imbibe these in our lives!

  24. January 18, 2011 at 7:49 am
    Anagha Warade

    Realy Radhanath Swami walks his talk.

  25. January 19, 2011 at 7:28 am
    ankur sharma

    That is spiritual intelligence

  26. January 20, 2011 at 8:46 am
    Gurrappanaidu

    Wonderful, Maharaj is personified humility.

    Thanks so much for sharing such a nice realisation and experince.

  27. January 20, 2011 at 9:18 pm
    T.Sita Ramaiah

    Thank you so much for sharing this. Maharaj is so focussed.

  28. January 22, 2011 at 1:01 pm
    madhura

    Radhanath Swami walks his talk: how his ego-less opportunism enables him to pass on to Krishna the glories that are offered to him.

  29. January 24, 2011 at 8:14 pm
    Harini

    Thank you so much Prabhu for sharing.

  30. January 25, 2011 at 1:32 am
    vishvesh

    This is really very touching experience. Radhanath Swami is really very pure and very humble devotee of the Lord.

  31. February 3, 2011 at 4:41 am
    vishvesh

    Radhanath Maharaj always glorify God

  32. February 6, 2011 at 4:27 pm
    Sundar

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful realizations.

  33. February 9, 2011 at 9:52 pm
    gopasana

    HH Radhanath Swami possesses amazing humility!

  34. February 23, 2011 at 6:20 am
    Chandrika

    This is very instructive. Thank you

  35. March 9, 2011 at 6:49 am
    rajat

    Simple formula to remain ego-free. Pass it on to Krsna. Thank you.

  36. April 14, 2011 at 4:56 pm
    anjan

    thanks for sharing this about swamiji.

  37. April 18, 2011 at 5:28 pm
    Nayan

    Very inspiring !

  38. April 28, 2011 at 3:52 pm
    anjanadri

    many thanks for sharing this

  39. July 12, 2011 at 6:10 am
    priti katkar

    wonderful article.Thanks for sharing.

  40. August 4, 2011 at 9:16 am
    Guru

    Wonderful !

    HH Radhanath swami maharaj is real acharya. What ever he got engages in Krishna’s service. He act selflessly.

    All Glories to HH Radhanath swami prabhupada

  41. September 19, 2011 at 10:23 pm
    SAILESH

    whenever a devotee is glorified, he passes the glorification to Krishna.
    RADHANTH SWAMI MAHARAJ always teaches through his own example.

  42. November 7, 2011 at 12:03 am
    Pravin

    It was an inspiring example of how Radhanath Swami walks his talk: how his ego-less opportunism enables him to pass on to Krishna the glories that are offered to him.

  43. December 9, 2011 at 11:28 am
    Kalpana Kulkarni

    Great souls like Radhanath Swami do not like to hear praises for themselves but pass it on to Krishna.

  44. February 13, 2012 at 9:44 am
    mohini

    Radhanatha Swami is a perfect example for all of us and his messages are meant for everyone around the world. JAI GAURA NITAI!

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