Scene 1: Radhanath Swami returns to the banks, drenched in the icy cold waters of the Alaknanda River. But his clothes!!! They aren’t there, where he had left them. A pilgrim comes up and brags, that those clothes are now spotlessly clean. Gleefully he points in the direction where he spread out the clothes on a rock for drying.
The chilly winds are far from being co-operative. Under their sway the moist-clothes have frozen into a crisp icy-ware. Radhanath Swami puts them on, with no complaints.
The next day, we hear he is sick.
Scene 2: Outside Radhanath Swami’s guesthouse room in Badrinath, crowds impatiently clamor. His followers have gathered, and want to render some service to their Guru. One follower appears out of the blue and barges into the room. As others watch on, he quietly places his blanket upon Radhanath Swami whose form lies curled beneath a single blanket. With a content smile he walks out. The crowds disperse, only to reassemble after minutes. But now, each one is carrying a blanket.
In hushed voices, they communicate to form a single line that leads to Radhanath Swami’s room. Ceremoniously, each follower enters and drapes their Guru with a blanket, an offering of love. (Fortunately in 1990 when this incident occurred, only 50 odd of Radhanath Swami’s followers were on this pilgrimage with Radhanath Swami.)
Very soon, it’s a hillock of blankets over the bedstead, and buried beneath is Radhanath Swami. The followers wait outside, their chanting of mantras droning on. They await the recovery of their Guru. Hours pass by.
The hillock slightly trembles. The droning ebbs into an eerie silence. Everyone is transfixed in the sight of the shaking hillock. As some hundred eyes watch on, Radhanath Swami crawls out from beneath, sweltering.
“How’s your cold now?” a concerned voice inquires from Radhanath Swami.
“Cold?!!!!!……I had a stomach ache.”
–Vishakha Priya Devi
179 replies on “Radhanath Swami Bears the Burden of Love….”
I have no words to comment on the desire of Radhanath Swami to reciprocate the feelings of love for his admirers.
Simply amazing!
HH.Radhanath Swami has reciprocated loving service towards him without making any complain out of that.Nice example of bearing burden of loved one.Thank you very much sharing with us.
THe story shows the degre of tolerance a saint can have. Simply amazing.
Swamiji’s tolerance & humility is unparalleled….Very nice article….
HHRNSM is so very much tolerant in all situations and circumstances, haribol, bhakti
HHRNSM tolerance and humility is beyond comparison and understanding, a true spiritual saint, haribol, rajesh
one has love, only love comes out. Mahraj proved and qouted.
thank you very much for the post
thanks a lot
As Radhanath Swami mentions in one of his quotes- “Love means to serve and to serve means to please”.
Bcaz Radhanath Swami loves his disciples so much that he served them by lovingly accepting their blankets by which all the disciples were pleased.
many thanks for posting. swamiji walks his talk.
Vaishnaver kriyamudra bijne na bujhay…
simply wonderful!
Amazing, Radhanath Swami is so genuinely loving his followers & cares so much for their emotions.
Its a very interesting incident which shows how Radhanath Swami endures even the inappropriate service of his disciples without any complaint just to reciprocate with their feelings of love & concern.
It melts my heart to hear of these intimate loving reciprocation’s between a guru and his disciples.
Too good and humorous
simply wonderful.Thank you for sharing.H.H.Radhanath swami always keeps people in his blanket of love and give them comforts.Thank you maharaj.
Interesting incedent…..
This site is amazing as so many devotees are sharing such hidden treasures from their memories with Radhanath Swami.
when we took initiation from Radhanath Swami we transferred the mountain of our sins to our spiritual master which he accepted without complaining just lie we buried him under the love of 50 blankets and he never complained. This is love!!!!
Radhanath Swami is personification of love
Radhanath Swami only sees the love and good intentions behind any attempted service, even if it means sometimes inconveniences to himself.
Amazing,
Thank your Very Much for posting.
I could not stop laughing when I read this. HH Radhanath swami is so compassionate that even in his discomfort he thinks of his followers feelings.
This is such a nice incident.
Very humorous incident..
to what extent does Radhanath Swami tolerate inconvenience to himself to encourage others is simply amazing…Jai
Hare Krsna! Maharaj always is concerned about others’ feelings than his own. Such Selfless love!
This is simply amazing…..
really funny..but Maharaj’s tolerance power is amazing
Such a simple incident and apparently funny incident yet the concern Radhanath Swami has to reciprocate with the love of his followers and others is truly amazing.
This incident shows the nature of Radhanath Swami so well……he practices what he preaches……
I don’t know how to react to these incidents. They are showing the tolerance of HH Radhanath Swami. Even in the second incident, Radhanath Swami tolerates the bundle of blankets for the pleasure of others. Just as gold glow when heated in fire, one with tolerance in one’s life has the potential to make one’s own life glow like Radhanath Swami.
Every austerity Radhanath Swami went through teaches a wonderful lesson
Excellent.. Radhanath Swami’s patience is unique. Also very nicely worded
Radhanath Swami is very tolerant
so touching
Amazing experience with Radhanath Swami.
Its an experience of millions of life time – to meet personalities who are so selfless – that they are ready to undergo anything to help another person…Srila Prabhupada and all his wonderful disciples are such great souls giving us this most rare chance…
Yes! This story reveals the patience of Radhanath Swami and also its soo hilarious.
Hare Krishna!!!
Awesome Experience
Radhanath Swami’ mood of accommodating is so inspiring.Through this one of many such examples he is teaching us what it means to tolerate in order to please others.
Radhanath swami is ready to go through personal inconviniences for the sake of others
because of maharajs forebearance and humnble nature people all over the world love him so much
A wonderful selfless heart dedicated to love, please and serve others.
Loving exchanges between Radhanath Swami and his disciples
Radhanath Swami once said there are 4 types of klesha (the 3 that we know of are adhyatmika, adhibhautika & adhidaivika) The 4th is adhidasika – miseries caused by servants.
This incident really signifies in a way “The Burden of Love”
thats love.Thank you for sharing this.