Categories
Humility

Radhanath Swami’s Unwillingness to Take Credit

Whoever meets Radhanath Swami is inspired by his unassuming nature and natural unwillingness to take credit for the works he inspires—developing communities, massive food distribution to indigent children, missionary hospitals, eco friendly farms, schools, ashrams and emergency relief programs. As naturally as he avoids taking any credit for himself, he gives all credit to his guru Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Take for example the case of a missionary hospital in Mumbai, an outcome of his farsighted vision. In 1987, when I completed my graduation in Medicine (MBBS), a nursing home newly purchased for me by my loving father promised me a lucrative career. Earlier, during my final year of graduation, I, along with some friends—Dhaval, Ajay, Vivek, Bimal and a few others, popularly called the ‘spiritual medicos’— had idolized a life consecrated to social service, and would frequently organize free medical camps in the nearby villages. I had gained plenty of on-field experience in the process, and that could now be handy to dive plump into private medical practice in a new nursing home. It was a time when opportunities like these, for flourishing careers, were luring everyone in ‘spiritual medicos’, threatening to end the camaraderie we felt in selflessly serving society. We found ourselves at the crossroads of indecision: should we continue to walk together on our idolized path, or should we now resort to our own individual paths, pursuing our ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunities’? Befuddled, I one day approached Radhanath Swami. His saffron garments emanating a lambent glow under the morning sun, he sat cross-legged on a bench in the courtyard. As I disclosed my mind, kneeling in front, he mulled over every word I spoke. Then, as the birds warbled in the sky above, having found a direction to fly, Radhanath Swami gave me a direction to fly my life…“In my opinion, all of you will have flourishing careers if you individually take to private practices. But if all of you choose to stay together, you will do something which will be remembered in history.”After eleven long years, in 1998, the truth in those statements unfolded in the form of a missionary hospital in Meera Road, Mumbai. And guess what? Radhanath Swami named the hospital after his beloved guru, and called it Bhaktivedanta Hospital.

On the day of the hospital’s inauguration, we took Radhanath Swami on a tour through the new building. Midway along a corridor, Radhanath Swami asked in an irritating tone, “What’s that going on?” He was referring to the kirtan that played in the background. To create a spiritual ambience in the hospital, we had put up speakers in different locations—wards, offices, labs, and practically everywhere—and these speakers played devotional music all through the day. Now, what disturbed Radhanath Swami was, those speakers were transmitting recordings of kirtans sung by him. “When you have dedicated this hospital to His Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, it should be only kirtans sung by Prabhupada that should be played on these speakers,” he said firmly. Again, it was his natural humility!

–Dr. Girish Rathod (One of the pioneers of Bhaktivedanta Hospital)

 

 

Related Posts:

144 replies on “Radhanath Swami’s Unwillingness to Take Credit”

Amazing humility and dedicated surrender to his guru Srila Prabhupada by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj 1

Radhanath Swami genuinely is humble. he never takes any credit to himself but at the same time he would take all the responsibility on himself. This is a true leader. He always passes all credits to others, especially Srila Prabhupada- His spiritual master. Really exemplary.

All Glories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj.

A very beautiful experience.Thank you Prabhuji for sharing this experience.

Hare Krishna

Lives of selfless saints like Radhanath Swami is such a inspiration – the only silver lining in the dark clouds of today’s age…

This is the unique quality of HH Radhanath Swami to be extremely humble and not to take credit for what ever he has done.

Such humility is hardly seen in this world of hypocrisy, may Swami always inspire us with such wonderful qualities

This is wonderful article..
Maharaj has given nice advice..He is a true Yogi.
He is selfless server..
Thank You for posting this nice article.

HH Radhanath Swami puts a lot of emphasis on humiltiy in his lectures and he is preaching this by his life. I am touched and inspired. Thank you for sharing this.

humality is really very difficult to be . and maharaj is telling with so much emphasis on it it can be by devottees blessings only

Hare Krishna Maharaj…Maharaj ki jai hooo…!!!.Really Maharaj its being sensational
to see you coming out as world’s best Humanitarian,Spiritualist,Socialist and Loving father.
My heart fills with joy and tears filled with tears.What a sacrifice you have dne for all humanity.
What an example you have set in front of the whole world.Maharaj ki jai hooo…!!! jai hoo jai hoo…
I want to continue serving you life after life after life.I pray to Sri Sri RadhaGopinath that i may never
become ungreatfull to you and to your diciples and followers.
Your servant
anshu jaiman

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *