Krishna is present fully in His holy name and this is realized by the humility and sincerity in our chanting.
Radhanath SwamiA devotee's life should be so exemplary that it increases the faith upon other devotees.
Radhanath SwamiThe word surrender sounds horrible to one who wants to enjoy his senses but very sweet to one who has a humble heart.
Radhanath SwamiThe essence of Hinduism is the same essence of all true religions: Bhakti or pure love for God and genuine compassion for all beings.
Radhanath SwamiWhen the mind is turbulent, uncontrolled and restless, it is like a pond of water that is filled with mud. Therefore when we look within ourselves, all we perceive is the mud of our material conceptions of life. But when the mind is still through discipline, and through yoga, it is like a pond that has no waves and no turbulence. Then we can perceive through that crystal clear water the eternal nature of our soul.
Radhanath SwamiBy hearing from the Guru, we can understand what is the desire of Lord within our heart.
Radhanath SwamiWhen love is pure, it has the power to conquer. Lover and beloved conquer each other by their affection. The source, the essence, the fullest manifestation of love's conquering power is the love of the soul for the supreme soul, or God.
Radhanath SwamiWhen the kirtan is harmonious with so many people, it’s a tumultuous beautiful sound. We can’t hear just one voice during the chorus; or rather we do hear one voice. But that one voice is actually the sound of everyone’s voice in harmony. That’s our offering to God. And why is it so pleasing to the Lord? Because we are all cooperating for a higher purpose. We are all united for the pleasure of the center, for the pleasure of Krishna, in spite of all our differences.
Radhanath SwamiI came to the conclusion that unless I found myself and became the change I wanted to see in the world - as Gandhi said - I couldn't contribute much, nor would there be anything fulfilling or meaningful in my life. So I went on a spiritual search.
Radhanath SwamiDevotees are not impressed by the poverty or wealth in material sense in any way; what impresses is devotion.
Radhanath SwamiIn 1958, my father invested everything he had in a business venture and became the largest automobile dealership in Chicago for Ford's new Edsel line. But Edsel sales plummeted and my father fell into bankruptcy. I watched him struggle; working long hours to protect us from poverty.
Radhanath SwamiThe art of loving creates the unity which has unlimited spiritual strength, and that is the greatest need in the world today, and each and every one of us can make such a difference if we become humble, if we develop a service attitude rather than an exploitative attitude, if we develop the broad mind to see the oneness and to learn to love all living beings.
Radhanath SwamiReal responsibility means to live and speak in such a way as to help peoples faith and not to disturb it.
Radhanath SwamiIt’s not the body that people love, but the soul. The body is a temporary vehicle. Without the soul, the body is like a car without a driver. I see through my eyes, smell through my nose, taste through my tongue, hear through my ears, feel through my skin, think through my brain, and love through my heart. But who am I? Who is the witness, enjoyer and sufferer that activates my body?
Radhanath SwamiWhat I found particularly fascinating and satisfying about the Hindu tradition was its spirit of inclusiveness. In Sanatan Dharma, or what is commonly called Hinduism, I discovered the basic truths of all religions in a way that the oneness of God and religion is comprehensively understood.
Radhanath SwamiReal humility does not depress you, but allows you to call intensely and brings us closer to Krishna.
Radhanath SwamiDo not offend devotees or even non-devotees. Because all those whom we know as devotees today were once not devotees.
Radhanath SwamiWhat really pleases the Spiritual Master is our intent and the quality of our character.
Radhanath SwamiThe perfection of yoga is to become detached. And the perfection of detachment is to become completely attached, attached to God.
Radhanath SwamiDancing together in kirtans can help us develop friendships that no Mediation Therapy can.
Radhanath SwamiUnless we hear very strictly with great faith to the order of our Spiritual Master, we will not understand what is the mercy of Krishna and how it is coming upon us.
Radhanath SwamiWhen we face difficulties and still remain faithful to Krishna and spiritual master we access the infinite mercy of their hearts.
Radhanath SwamiSometimes river flows very strong, sometimes it flows very small, but it makes no difference to the ocean because it is satisfied in itself with its own quantity of water. Similarly, when our heart is cleansed with spirituality, we find pleasure and ecstasy with our own selves that is so sweet, so wonderful and so satisfying, that the so-called pleasures of this world no longer have any values, no appeal at all.
Radhanath SwamiWhen you advance in Krishna Consciousness it is more difficult to tolerate being honored than to tolerate being dishonored.
Radhanath SwamiMother Nature is always speaking. She speaks in a language understood within the peaceful mind of the sincere observer. Leopards, cobras, monkeys, rivers and trees; they all served as my teachers when I lived as a wanderer in the Himalayan foothills.
Radhanath SwamiWhy are we not tasting the bliss of Bhakti? Because we are taking shelter of stone boats. We are sinking and drowning in Maya & still we are further taking shelter of stone boats and this can go on life after life.
Radhanath SwamiThe more one makes spiritual advancement, one feels humble and as one's devotion is superficial that much he feels that he is a great devotee.
Radhanath SwamiIf you love God, you can't hate anything or anyone. If the love one offers is met with hate, it doesn't die, rather it manifests in the form of compassion. That is universal love. It is not just a sentiment. It cannot be manifested merely by a shift in mental disposition. It can only come from inner cleaning, an inner awakening.
Radhanath SwamiI try to maintain balance and apply principles the best I can in my daily life. What is the difference between material and spiritual? We are taught that, "God is perfect, ultimately everything that comes from God is perfect." If we fail to recognize something's relationship with the ultimate source, we fail to recognize how to live and utilize things in harmony with God's grace.
Radhanath SwamiOur humble service attitude in our life is what determines what effect chanting will have on our consciousness. Otherwise we can be chanting for millions and millions of births before we actually achieve the goal.
Radhanath Swami