Radhanath Swami Quotes & Sayings

Compassion brings fulfillment to the heart. Selfish desires simply agitate the heart. — Radhanath Swami

Sometimes 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 Swami

The greater is our sphere of influence, the greater the responsibility. — Radhanath Swami

Substance of Bhakti is Surrender and Humility. — Radhanath Swami

There is false humility and genuine humility and between them, there is a desire of the practitioner to become humble. — Radhanath Swami

Spirituality is based on development of character and philosophy. — Radhanath Swami

What really pleases the Spiritual Master is our intent and the quality of our character. — Radhanath Swami

Out of all the opulences of a living entity its humility which pleases Krishna. Other opulences can also please Krishna if offered with humility. — Radhanath Swami

Faith is the act of seeing beyond the religion of possibility of the senses, the mind and the intelligence. — Radhanath Swami

The more we are happy in Krishna Consciousness, the more we become purified. — Radhanath Swami

If you are not being attacked by materialist, you must be doing something wrong — Radhanath Swami

You have too many gurus in this country. They have told you what to do, what to think, what to practice. They are the dictators. — Radhanath Swami

The essence of Hinduism is the same essence of all true religions: Bhakti or pure love for God and genuine compassion for all beings. — Radhanath Swami

My parents' selfless affection and dedication nourished and prepared me to receive the love of my guru or spiritual father, Swami Prabhupada. My parents prepared the soil in which my guru sowed the seeds of his compassion. — Radhanath Swami

Humility is not a part of devotional service, it is the heart of devotional service. — Radhanath Swami

Application of humility is service. — Radhanath Swami

Our 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

All beautiful forms of this world are in the process of transformation. Nothing is stable. With every moment, our reality is changing. Mother Ganges, like nature, is constant, but no manifestation of hers remains. Likewise, all that we hold dear in this world is imperceptibly vanishing. We cannot cling to anything. But if we can appreciate the beauty of the underlying current of truth, we can enjoy a reality deeper than the fickle waves of joy and sorrow. — Radhanath Swami

Whatever our destiny is, whatever our Karma is, if we simply accept the mercy of Guru, "Guru Kripa", it can completely liberate us from all of our previous Karmic bondage. — Radhanath Swami

Success in spiritual life lies not in being the Best, but doing the Best. — Radhanath Swami

The only way we can make this world a better place is to transcend it. — Radhanath Swami

What appears to be a curse can be a blessing if we simply appreciate the inner essence of the possibility of how to connect to God in that situation. — Radhanath Swami

Do not think that if you surrender to God you will be loser. You will not lose anything except bondage, frustration and suffering. That is all you will lose. — Radhanath Swami

To purify the heart is the one and only purpose that God has created this human life. — Radhanath Swami

Renunciation means death of false ego. — Radhanath Swami

When we are honoured for a thing, we become attached to that thing. — Radhanath Swami

Our free will could convert a curse into a blessing or a blessing into a curse ... To transform a crisis into an opportunity was true wisdom — Radhanath Swami

Wherever there is power, there is very great responsibility to utilize it properly. — Radhanath Swami

COOPERATION means to be willing to sacrifice for the sake of others — Radhanath Swami

Genuine spiritual movement should forgive and encourage. — Radhanath Swami

The diverse religions and races bring beauty to the world if we truly understand in our hearts the essence of who we are and what we stand for. And that really is the essence of spirituality. — Radhanath Swami

I am for God, I am the lover of God, I am loved by God, I am the servant of God, I am the servant of the servant of God, and I am the well-wishing instrument of God's love towards every living being, with all humility. The emergence of that realization is the greatest attainment in life. — Radhanath Swami

"What a joke: Tiny living entities crawling on a little planet and are thinking, "I am Great". " — Radhanath Swami

What 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 Swami

Every time you are passing the test, you are coming closer to Krishna. — Radhanath Swami

In our conditioned nature we do not understand value of something until we lose it. — Radhanath Swami

We were fine originally and lost that fine-ness. That's when we became defined. — Radhanath Swami

Death is not big thing, what is important is God's service. — Radhanath Swami

Compassion is an essential element of love. — Radhanath Swami

Trying to be happy in this world is greatest illusion. — Radhanath Swami

Opportunities are always there for us to grow, opportunities are always there for us to come closer to each other & come closer to God; if we just look for them. — Radhanath Swami

You can think your self to be great, you can go on thinking your self to be great, till you see all fellow devotees going Back Home Back to Godhead, while you remain in this material world only. — Radhanath Swami

The word surrender sounds horrible to one who wants to enjoy his senses but very sweet to one who has a humble heart. — Radhanath Swami

Theoretical knowledge can not touch heart without Humility — Radhanath Swami

The transcendental knowledge of devotional service is digested by the engyme of humility. — Radhanath Swami

Tolerance means to fix our mind, to fix our words, & our actions on a higher principle. — Radhanath Swami

If we are truly humble , we will co-operate. — Radhanath Swami

Giving up pride means giving all credit and glory to Guru and Krishna. — Radhanath Swami

In my own spiritual journey, I became a swami on the Hindu path of Bhakti. In the Hindu tradition, a swami is a monk who forgoes regular family life for the purpose of making the whole world his family and channels his full energy into spiritual practice, devotion to God and service to humanity. — Radhanath Swami

Where there is faith, fear cannot exist. — Radhanath Swami

I we are looking for God or an opportunity to learn and enrich our lives in every situation, we will find that, but if we are looking for how am I enjoying or suffering, we are subject to endless frustration — Radhanath Swami

The art of loving creates the unity which has unlimited spiritual strength, and that is the greatest need in the world today. Each one of us can make such a difference if we become humble, if we develop a service attitude, and if we develop the broad mind to see the oneness of all living beings. — Radhanath Swami

God, who is absolute, reveals himself to different people in different ways [..] I realized it would be very narrow to think there was only one way to God. — Radhanath Swami

Unless 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 Swami

Real humility does not depress you, but allows you to call intensely and brings us closer to Krishna. — Radhanath Swami

Actual Gratitude is the Symptom of Humility. — Radhanath Swami

The auspiciousness of any situation is how it brings us closer to Krishna — Radhanath Swami

In a relationship the way to overcome problems, is to focus our attention on higher principles that can help us transcend them. — Radhanath Swami

If someone takes responsibility without force, that is love. — Radhanath Swami

In giving respect we can be very happy, because we can do it in all situations. When we expect respect we are miserable, because it is not that everyone in every situation will respect us. — Radhanath Swami

Even when Krishna gives you strength, maya will delude you to think it is your strength. — Radhanath Swami

Do not offend devotees or even non-devotees. Because all those whom we know as devotees today were once not devotees. — Radhanath Swami

Humility is a natural symptom of those who love God. — Radhanath Swami

That is truth. In that truth, there is real happiness. And there is nothing that could disturb that happiness. — Radhanath Swami

We, as parents, must understand the serious responsibility that we have in inculcating love for God in the hearts of children. If our children do not feel love they will not understand God's love because the love of the parent is translated to the children as the love of God. When they feel their parents' love, they can actually begin to understand God's love. — Radhanath Swami

Whenever you possibly can, sustain the flow of the Holy Name. To repeat His Name is to be in His presence. If you associate with the Supreme Friend, He will reveal His true beauty to you. — Radhanath Swami

Humility is all about being truthful and honest. — Radhanath Swami

Dancing together in kirtans can help us develop friendships that no Mediation Therapy can. — Radhanath Swami

When one's eyes are anointed with the salve of prema, spiritual love then we could see Vrindavan. — Radhanath Swami

Bhakti and Humility cannot be separated like sweetness cannot be separated from sweet. — Radhanath Swami

In this world, all pleasures are sources of pain. — Radhanath Swami

Sincerity in sadhna and eagerness to serve is the basis of one's relationship with the spiritual master. — Radhanath Swami

Don't let a breath escape from your body without Krishna's name. That should be our determination throughout our life. — Radhanath Swami

In religion, there's a certain type of fear that if somebody believes differently from me, that it's a threat. Because I'm right, and there cannot be two ways that are right, so if I'm right, anything different than this must be wrong; and we attack those things and it's really due to insecurity, ego and fear. — Radhanath Swami

Through the practice of devotion to God, I was coming to learn that preserving loving relations in this world required much forgiveness, tolerance, patience, gratitude, and humility. An essential virtue of humility is to accept others for what they are, despite differences. I contemplated again how the tendency to judge others is often a symptom of insecurity, immaturity, or selfishness, and I yearned to rise above it. Everyone is a child of God. God loves all of His children. If I wish to love God, I must learn to love those whom He loves. — Radhanath Swami

Bhakti cannot be attained, it is a gift. — Radhanath Swami

A great soul is called Saragrahi that means one who is always looking for the essence of every situation that comes before us. — Radhanath Swami

The tension between the essence of spiritual teachings and the harmful fundamentalism that often arises in the name of religion is an issue that has engaged my mind practically as far back as I can remember. — Radhanath Swami

Real responsibility means to live and speak in such a way as to help peoples faith and not to disturb it. — Radhanath Swami

Humility is the foundation by which love manifests. — Radhanath Swami

When 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 Swami

I just didn't know where I fit in - I didn't seem to fit in my parent's generation. I didn't seem to fit in my own generation. Little by little, this took me into a spiritual search for understanding; a search for meaning and fulfillment. — Radhanath Swami

The true treasure lies within. It is the underlying theme of the songs we sing, the shows we watch and the books we read. It is woven into the Psalms of the Bible, the ballads of the Beatles and practically every Bollywood film ever made. What is that treasure? Love. Love is the nature of the Divine. — Radhanath Swami

The greatest leader is not someone who is the only leader. The greatest leader is one who inspires others to be leaders. — Radhanath Swami

To protect any community, we need intelligence and to nourish it we need humility. — Radhanath Swami

When people unfortunately use religion to facilitate their envy, arrogance and hate, communalism surfaces. — Radhanath Swami

Greatness is in not what you do but how you are an instrument in the hands of God. — Radhanath Swami

When you advance in Krishna Consciousness it is more difficult to tolerate being honored than to tolerate being dishonored. — Radhanath Swami

One who loves God sees everything in relation to God. Therefore, their love flows spontaneously toward everyone, at all times, everywhere. They even love those who wish them harm. If 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. — Radhanath Swami

The worst tragedy is that this uncontrolled mind steals our consciousness away from Krishna and that is the beginning, the essence of all suffering. — Radhanath Swami

An athlete gains more & more strength by facing resistance. Similarly in life, we only become stronger when we face the resistance of our struggles. — Radhanath Swami

When spirituality is the basis of your life, it gives you the strength, wisdom and courage to surmount the many storms of life that could destroy a weaker person who doesn't have this foundation. — Radhanath Swami

Speak the essence and live by it. — Radhanath Swami

Faith in God goes beyond intellectual presentation and logic. — Radhanath Swami

Real religion is not about being a Christian or a Jew or a Muslim. Real religion is about loving God, & dedicating ones life to be an instrument of Gods compassion, kindness towards other living beings. — Radhanath Swami

Taking responsibility of others means to be selfless. We have to put aside our own well being and desires as secondary and to think primarily of what is best for the persons who are looking up to us. — Radhanath Swami

I took an interest in the Civil Rights Movement. I listened to Martin Luther King. The Vietnam War was raging. When I was 18, I was eligible for the draft, but when I went to be tested, I didn't qualify. — Radhanath Swami

The perfection of yoga is to become detached. And the perfection of detachment is to become completely attached, attached to God. — Radhanath Swami

Spirituality is revival of our God consciousness, not creating something new. — Radhanath Swami

It'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 Swami