Shyly I walked into Radhanath Swami’s room and occupied a corner. Radhanath Swami, sitting relaxed on a rocking chair at the other end, beckoned me to come closer. And I sat closer.
He broke into a beautiful smile. “How are you? How are your services going?”
I had joined the monastery a few weeks ago. Being insisted upon by a senior monk, I was here, in Radhanath Swami’s room. The monk had intended to make me feel at home. Yes, now experiencing the gentle smile of the Swami, I felt at home.
“I serve guests who visit our monastery.” I replied. I went on to explain how I liked the service, and the challenges I faced while serving. As I rambled on, at one point Radhanath Swami’s expression grew yucky, as if a stinky sewer had just burst open. I paused. Did I speak something which I wasn’t supposed to speak? In a flash I realized. Inadvertently, I had criticized a guest.
Diverging to another topic, I saved my skin. I had heard from many that Radhanath Swami hates to speak or hear the criticism of anybody. Today I had gained a first hand experience.
—Manish Rajan
136 replies on “A Stinky Sewer”
radhanath swami is teaching us an important lessopn how not to criticise anyone. thank you very much for sharing
Thank you very much for sharing this experience with us. Swamiji says – “serve others and don’t criticize”. Thank you for reminding this again.
teaching by personal example !!! thank u maharaj and thank u prabhu for sharing this with us..not to criticize anyone…
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful experience
wonderful experience, haribol, rajesh karia
There is a famous quote by HH Radhanath Swami. “Don’t criticise devotess or even non devotees, because a devotee now was also not devotee once”. Thank you for sharing HH Radhanath Swami’s heart.
as per i heard ,in scripture it is mentioned that sign of uttam adhikari is that he is free from tendency to criticize, but here swamiji hates even hearing the criticism, thank u for sharing .
thank u prji for sharing such learning incident,thank u mahj, a devotee means free from tendancy to criticize,
Thank you sooooo much for sharing this. I will always remember this and will try to improve
Jai Ho….
Most important lesson for spiritual advancement and very difficult to follow. Thanks for reminding through this experience.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai!
Thank you prabhuji for this wonderful experience of how maharaj exemplifies by example of not encouraging criticizing devotees.
Thank you very for sharing this incident!
Thank you very for sharing this incident!
radhanath swami is like a honey bee who can find good even in most degraded people, and by catching that good uplifts them and makes them wonderful devotees
Very nice teaching. Thank you very much for sharing the same.
Yes, absolutely true! If there’s one thing Radhanath Swami hates, it is fault finding.
thanks for sharing… lovely.
jay ho
Haribooool.Its very dissicult in this Kalyug not to criticize any1 as it comes out so esily.All glories to Radhanath Swami Maharaj for teaching practically.Totally exemplified
Thank you for sharing the mood of Radhanath swami from your personal experience.
hare krishna. thanks for sharing. hare krishna.
Radhanath Swami never likes criticism in any form.
great realization. I am sure u won’t forget it for rest of the life.
A very nice example of the standards set by Swamiji. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing a wonderful experience. All glories to Maharajji
wow wonderful article. Really inspiring. That means criticizing devotee is like opening stinky sewer.
thank you for sharing
Thank You for sharing a wonderful article.
Hare Krishna a nice article
great realizations
An insightful story. Thank you for sharing.
Very inspiring and instructive! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much for sharing, makes us feel we should not criticize anyone.
Thank you for your kind sharing.
its a masterpiece show of criticism and praise both together……..hats off to u
It is great to see such qualities. Haribol.
Nice one.
Thank you very much prabhu for reminding what our Gurudev likes us to do.
every experience is a realisation !
Radhanath Maharaj sees every living entity as a child of Krishna and so has limitless compassion for everyone.
H.H Radhanath Swami do not like criticizing others. A noble quality indeed. All glories to Maharaj.
its really an ultimate sign of saintliness
This article clearly explains the true nature of a saintly person like Radhanath swami.
Just as it is so natural for us to criticize others, it is just very natural for Maharaj not to even want to hear criticism, what to speak of himself criticisizing.
rare are souls to hate criticism unto others. We normally like to criticize others ans hate those who criticize us. Radhanath swami is opposite
Radhanath Swami always teaches us by his example how we should behave. Thanks for sharing.
Acharya means one who preaches by example. We see people only speaking about not to criticize others but we also need examples like Radhanath swami who are not only preaching but also practicing this wonderful quality. Also thanks to Mr. Manish Rajan for sharing his experience openly.
good one