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Humility

Radhanath Swami: The Prayer-er Writer

(Continuing from the post of October 10…)

Radhanath Swami had a deadline for completing the editing of the book, but the deadline had come right in the middle of one of the biggest festivals of the year. He had to give discourses that thousands had come from all over India to hear, and he also had to attend to guests who had come from different parts of the world. An ever-courteous host, Radhanath Swami was hard-pressed for time and so had no time to put into words the several ideas he had come up with to improve the book further. Consequently, our roles changed; he asked me to write several things and then he would edit them.

On the last day of our editing marathon, he told me, “This is a book about bhakti and Hanuman is well-known the world over as a quintessential bhakta. So we should write something about Hanuman in the book.” (Hanuman is the heroic monkey-warrior in the devotional epic Ramayana) After a brief, animated discussion, we finalized what I should write. Suddenly, he said, “You can come back after one hour and then we will edit what you have written.” I was surprised at what seemed an unnecessary delay; over the last fortnight, I had at times worked for hours in his room itself, where I would write and he would edit, and, in parallel, he would write and I would edit. Now, when we had reached the last lap of the marathon, I wondered: why this delay?

Anyway, I went to the room that had my workspace and returned after an hour. Alert as he always is, he probably sensed the question in my mind and said, “Do you know why I asked you to come after one hour?” When I shook my head, he said softly, “I had gone to the temple hall to pray to Hanumanji to guide us how to best glorify him in this book.”

I was speechless. In the beautiful temple at Mumbai that Radhanath Swami has inspired, there is an inconspicuous deity of Hanuman near the one of the doors. Most visitors to the temple probably don’t even notice his presence. When we were discussing about Hanuman for the book, I didn’t even think about the deity. But Radhanath Swami, with his intense devotional alertness, not only remembered Hanumanji as the deity, but also delayed his work just so that he could seek the blessings of Hanumanji.

The contrast between his devotional consciousness and my intellectual consciousness simultaneously dismayed and delighted me. Dismayed because I was seeing the writing mostly as a literary activity, which I would excel at by use of my literary skills. Delighted because I was seeking the example of a person whose writing skills were far better than mine, but who was humbly offering prayers and seeking blessings to be able to write, not a whole book, but a few paragraphs within a book. Generally, during my writing, I pray only when my literary skills fail me and I am forced to realize that, without higher help, I am stuck. But Radhanath Swami was teaching me by his example of how prayer should precede action, not succeed action.

I remembered how before Radhanath Swami had written his first book The Journey Home¸ he had been asked, “Are you a writer?” He had humbly replied, “I am not a writer, but a prayer-er, one who offers prayers.” Of course, he is not just a prayer-er; he is a writer, an excellent writer at that. And his excellence in writing comes from his scrupulousness in praying. His writing, being divinely blessed, doesn’t just titillate the mind and impress the intellect, but touches and transforms the heart. From the depth of the devotion of his heart gushes forth the spring of his writing, a spring that cleanses and purifies all those who chose to bath in it. I hope to be blessed with many, many more opportunities to bathe in that sacred stream.

–Chaitanya Charan Das.

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161 replies on “Radhanath Swami: The Prayer-er Writer”

“Prayer should precede action, not succeed action” this is one of the most striking statements I have read.
Radhanath Swami’s approach to any task is to be completely dependent on Lord.

Beautiful story! Thank you for sharing.

Radhanath Swami prayed to best glorify Hanuman. But, perhaps Hanuman wanted Radhanath Swami to be glorified first…. through this wonderful post 🙂

Thank You very much for sharing this wonderful experience. “Humble Prayers should precede every action and not just succeed the action” – this is a very wonderful lesson I learnt today.
Thank You very much.

Truely, prayer should precede action, not succeed action.. Maharaj teaches with his example.. thanks for sharing.. JAI !!!

Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience you had with Radhanath Swami. It demonstrates among many others a quality which is very dear to his heart – humility.

Radhanath swami is not only practical but also very personal.Not to forget to mention a prayer-er as well. Now we know the secret of his success – the 3 P’s

Radhanth Swami’s autobiography “The Journey Home” is a prayer from the core of his heart.

Thank you for sharing this…Its really a lesson of how our prayers should precede our actions & radhanath swami is a perfect example to follow in this regard

Thankyou for sharing this amazing incident which highlights Radhanath Swami’s always prayerful mood.

Radhanath Swami is always in a very prayerful mood and this particular narration reveals the depth of his surrender.

“From the depth of the devotion of his heart gushes forth the spring of his writing, a spring that cleanses and purifies all those who chose to bath in it. I hope to be blessed with many, many more opportunities to bathe in that sacred stream.”
We all aspire for the same, again and again!

You will Prabhuji. Such a nice experience with Radhanath Swami and the gratitude you have shown in the article towards him speaks out your sincerity. Radhanath Swami truly shows by his own example how to genuinely pray.

Yes, its perfect so for this presently I am incapable and require your belessings Radhanath swami maharaj.

Thanks Chaitanya Charan Prabhu for sharing such amazing experience with Radhanath Swami. This is awesome.

Beautiful note in the sharing that prayer should precede an action not succeed action as displayed by Radhanath Swami

Thanks for sharing your valuable experiences…..Every moment spent with Radhanath Swami is an inspiration for his followers…

Wonderful thought “Prayer should precede not succeed action” and Maharaj has given a practical example of this. Nice.

Ah what a example set by Radhanath swami Maharaj. After reading this I am also speechless. very profound and powerful lesson for all of us.

Radhanath Swami’s humility and his service attitude towards the great devotee hanuman ji is really admirable.

There is so much to learn from this happening; Prayer before action is one of the most important items as we hardly do this, unless it is a special event… Hari Bol!

This is an amazingly awesome statement ” prayer should precede action, not succeed action”. Thank you Chaitanya Charan Prabhu for sharing this wonderful incident.

“But Radhanath Swami was teaching me by his example of how prayer should precede action, not succeed action.”

Radhanath Swami is showing by his example how no matter how busy and hard pressed we are, we must seek divine blessings in everything we do.

Thank you very much for sharing this invaluable lesson. I will try to imbibe it in my life.

Radhanath Swami, with his intense devotional alertness, not only remembered Hanumanji as the deity, but also delayed his work just so that he could seek the blessings of Hanumanji.

What a narration! And just how fortunate is Chaitanya Charan Das for getting such intimate association of Radhanath Swami in one of his most important activities – writing, or should I say – praying?

Priorities – that’s what life is made up off. In a life time we are endlessly dragged by our desires and we align our priorities according to them, but in the bargain we foolishly neglect the top most priority, the very purpose for what we have been placed in this human form. Radhanath Swamis exemplary actions and subsequent teaching, if contemplated upon can direct us to making our lives more content.

beautiful experience with Radhanath Swami Maharaj narrated by the author. This shows how Radhanath Swami Maharaj exemplifies his teaching of always seeking the divine shelter for any task.

Few years before, i had heard Radhanath Swami enlightening a youthful audience with the topic of “Power of prayers”. But here we come to know that Radhanath Swami follows in his life what he speaks.
Also many thanks to Chaitanya Charan Das for sharing this intimate experience with all of us.

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