Radhanath Swami quotes:

Mother 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.

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.

Whereas religious prayers sing of peace and harmony, religion has divided human beings through an atrocious history of enmity and bloodshed. Yet, behind the veil of superficiality and hypocrisy, I always believed in the inherent beauty of God that lies at the essence of all true spiritual paths.

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.

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

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.

Religious and spiritual leaders should be held accountable for environmental activism, not only because they have access to large communities and can influence votes, but because service is integral to religious and spiritual life.

Parallel to our vast strides in technology, there is a dangerous rise in unemployment, foreclosures, and degrading education. Millions of people are stricken with hopelessness and strife. Sadly, in the name of progress we have polluted the air, water, soil and the food we eat.

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.

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 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.

Reducing carbon emissions is important, but it is shortsighted if not coupled with reducing the toxic emissions from our heart; and that is something spiritual leaders are supposed to teach and something all thinking people, regardless of their beliefs, should practice.

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.

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.

We can't really digest food unless there's hunger. So we can't really assimilate spiritual wisdom unless we feel the need for it.

We should honor Mother Earth with gratitude; otherwise our spirituality may become hypocritical.

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.

Whether we fear pain and suffering or not, pain and suffering will come to everyone. Why not keep our minds focused on where we want to go?

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.

When 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.

In 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.

Sadly, in the name of progress, we have polluted the air, water, soil and the food we eat.

In 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."

Reducing carbon emissions is important, but it is shortsighted if not coupled with reducing the toxic emissions from our heart; and that is something spiritual leaders are supposed to teach and something all thinking people, regardless of their beliefs, should practice."

Humility is all about being truthful and honest.

Bhakti is expressed through our service attitude.

Why 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.

Bhakti cannot be attained, it is a gift.

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.

A sincere soul is not trying to make a show. His enthusiasm is an act of service.

We have the tendency to judge others by their surface appearance, and to find only their negative qualities. But if we search beneath the surface we discover that a myriad of strains mix together to create a particular person's nature. The faults we perceive are likely to be the effect of circumstances, the psychological response to trauma, abuse, rejection, heartbreak, insecurity, pain, confusion, or disease.

Substance of Bhakti is Surrender and Humility.

Bhakti and Humility cannot be separated like sweetness cannot be separated from sweet.

Krishna is present fully in His holy name and this is realized by the humility and sincerity in our chanting.

A grateful heart is not one that is very selective and choosy about what to be grateful for.

Definition of love: capacity to forgive endlessly.

Enthusiasm and eagerness give life to our devotional service.

Pure devotional service fries the seeds of material inclinations in our heart.

Man cannot be enlightened through any organization, creed, dogma, priest or ritual, nor through any philosophical knowledge or psychological technique. He has to find it through understanding the contents of his own mind, through observation, not through intellectual analysis or introspective dissection.

If our mind is in conflict, not balanced with our body and with the needs of the soul, then there is a fundamental disunity in our life. Only if we have unity within ourselves, we can create unity in the world around us. You can't give something you don't have, even if you have all good intentions

Any propensity other than love cannot exist in the spiritual world. There is unlimited variegatedness, but they are all extraordinarily wonderful ways of expressing love.

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

The joy of the soul is in glorification of the beloved Lord of all creation.

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

To love someone in the spiritual sense is not based on how I want to love you; its based on what you want.

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.

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.

We must be instruments of God's compassion to those who are suffering.

In Kali yuga, whole atmosphere is surcharged with faithlessness, Material sense gratification is standard of civilization.

Kali yuga is so much saturated with vicious habits that there is a great fight at the slightest of misunderstanding.

In Kali yuga, duration of life is shortened not so much because insufficient food but because of irregular habits.

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

If we feel unqualified and feel grateful for an opportunity to serve, then Krishna will bestow in our hearts.

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

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

Detachment does not mean to neglect what Krishna gives you. Detachment means to do the needful as an offering to Krishna.

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

According to our purpose, motivation and sincerity, which compose our devotion, Krishna reveals Himself to us.

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

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

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

Familiarity leads to lack of Gratitude.

Guru is heavy, because he carries Lord Krishna in his heart.

There cannot be love without trust and there cannot be trust unless we take the responsibility to act in a way that people can trust us.

Real compassion means to understand what the needs for body, mind and soul are.

We should be in harmony with our own consciousness; our mind, body, and soul should be one in interest and in purpose. And in that unified condition, we can actually express that natural innate love that we have found in our own life in everything we do in the world.

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

Real problem is not population explosion, but what the population is doing.

How can our hearts not break? How can we hold our tears? How can we bear the pain of losing those loving children and their guardians, who were slain in Newtown, Conn.? Why can't we face the reality of our times and restrict deranged people from having these destructive powers?

Sometimes the Lord gives us a free sample of religious experience, but for more, we must pay a price with the currency of sincere dedication to the process of cleansing.

The greater is our sphere of influence, the greater the responsibility.

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

When we face difficulties and still remain faithful to Krishna and spiritual master we access the infinite mercy of their hearts.

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

You can not understand "Scripture" without seeing through the eyes of the Spiritual Master or Advanced Devotees.

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.

When we speak of the dust of the lotus feet of the Spiritual Master, we are speaking of humble approach to serve his instructions. Unless we humbly serve the instructions of the great soul, it is Krishna's arrangement the He never reveals Himself.

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

When you have an ego, you are limited to your own strengths and weaknesses. But if you are totally surrendered to God, nothing is impossible for you.

The cause of so much suffering and pain and one of the impediments to our spiritual progress, is the conditioning of expecting things to go our way, even in our spiritual life.

We get sufferings in life so that we become sober and listen to Krishna's message.

A dog will recognize his master in whatever way he dresses. The master may dress in robes, suit and tie, or stand naked, but the dog will always recognize his master. If we cannot recognize God, our beloved master, when he comes in a different dress from another religion, then we are less than that dog.

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.

Moon is like Soul. Clouds are like all the situations in our life, relationships, youth, etc. Wind is like the Time. Just like the wind moves the clouds, Time moves all the situations in our life. But the soul is always the same and not on the temporary situations. One who focuses on soul is a moon-like person....

Trying to be happy in this world is greatest illusion.

A virtue which is divine is humility. A person who could do great things and still maintain humility of the heart, charity of the heart, goodness of the heart is a person who could actually make a difference in peoples lives in a very positive way.

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.

"I had Krishna and I have lost Him." That is humility.

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

A devotee's life should be so exemplary that it increases the faith upon other devotees.

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

A person influenced by circumstances can become viciously envious or affectionately kind. Our company and our surroundings have a crucial effect on our consciousness. How important it is to be an instrument to bring out the inherent good of each other rather than the worst.

A virtue which is divine is humility.

Actual Gratitude is the Symptom of Humility.

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.

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

Application of humility is service.

Arrogance repels the Lord; humility attracts the Lord.

By hearing from the Guru, we can understand what is the desire of Lord within our heart.

Compassion brings fulfillment to the heart. Selfish desires simply agitate the heart.

Compassion is a quality which impels one to perform sacrifices.

Compassion is an essential element of love.

Compassion without detachment is attachment to the bodily platform.

COOPERATION means to be willing to sacrifice for the sake of others

Crying out to the lord is the only eternal reality within this temporary world.

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

Devotees are not impressed by the poverty or wealth in material sense in any way; what impresses is devotion.

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

Essence of humility is unity.

Even if you have done no wrong, no mistake in the last 50 years, remember the mistake you did 51 years ago and repent for it and become humble.

Even if you want one drop of respect you have to take birth in this material world again.

Faith in God goes beyond intellectual presentation and logic.

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

Fierce Determination and Gentle Humility are the ornaments which make one attractive in the eyes of the Lord.

For a devotee death opens door for liberation but for a non-devotee death is end of everything.

Genuine spiritual movement should forgive and encourage.

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

Humble people dont get Offended easily.

Humility is a natural symptom of those who love God.

Humility is an ornament which attracts Krishna's heart. Beginning of all knowledge comes from humility.

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