Monday, November 1, 2010

Radhanath Swami on Bitter Medicine

Sometimes our devotional service becomes a routine affair. But when tragedy strikes or a crisis looms, reality dawns. If we could choose what crisis to undergo, at least our life would be very comfortable. But the Lord knows what we need; he sends the medicine, sometimes sweet and sometimes bitter. Sometimes we get confused and bewildered: how and why is this happening to me? In that state what do we do - do we speculate, or do we run for shelter? If we run for shelter, the Lord is there for us. In fact, even in good times, we must be taking shelter of God. One must be convinced that material nature is very strong; miseries, even death, can strike anytime – while driving in a car, or flying in an airplane, or walking down the street, or just eating food. With this understanding, a devotee lives daily as if it’s his last day. In this mood, he can take shelter of God at every moment.

48 comments:

  1. Mahraj is again stressing that we should be convinced that this material life is impossible and even at relatively good times we should understand and see the upcoming miseries and thus taking the shelter of the Lord at every moment.

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  2. A wonderful passage for daily meditation.

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  3. … a devotee lives daily as if it’s his last day…”. Always remembering this helps us to do exactly what we are supposed to do at the end of our life- and we don’t really know we are going to die

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  4. Radhanath Swami is so nicely emphasizing how we should accept everything as Krishnas mercy in our life.

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  5. Beautiful instruction!!! Thank you Radhanath Swami for reminding us the futility of this life and the need of taking shelter every moment.

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  6. Best way to take shelter of the Lord is through chanting His Holy Names.

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  7. We like sweet medicine but bitter medicine is difficult to digest. If we can understand that death can strike us any time and take shelter of God at every moment, it will be easy for us to take shelter in a crisis.

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  8. wonderful,thank you maharaj

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  9. wonderful,thank you

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  10. Such a nice analogy of medicine explaining Lord's kindness to us. Thank you Radhanath Swami

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  11. Medicine may be bitter but when it comes in words form from Radhanath Swami it does not matter, thank you swamiji.

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  12. Even in good times, we must take shelter of God. One must be convinced that material nature is very strong; miseries, even death, can strike anytime – while driving in a car, or flying in an airplane, or walking down the street, or just eating food. With this understanding, a devotee lives daily as if it’s his last day. In this mood, he can take shelter of God at every moment. H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj always conveys the point to touch the heart. Thank you Maharaj.

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  13. Hare Krishna! Maharaja reveals this reality so many times in his classes that how distress and difficulties in life are greatest opportunities to take shelter of Krishna at every moment. Like Gajendra and Draupadi, a devotee always intensifies his prayers and remembrance of the Lord in times of challenges.

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  14. Swamiji gives superb clue on how to take shelter of the Lord in both good and bad times.

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  15. The vivid details that Radhanath Swami provides makes the message not only clear but also penetrating.

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  16. Radhanath Swami has brought out another important point - Death can strike at any moment and we have to be prepared at all times.

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  17. We must seek shelter at all times - not only the tough times but also when the going is smooth

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  18. Thak you Radhanath Swami for making us realise the importance of taking shelter of Lord in all situation. With your blessing I will be able to follow this in my life

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  19. Radhanath swami administers even the bitter medicines in a sweeter way so that we don’t refuse to take the medicine. This is the specialty of Radhanath swami.

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  20. That's a very nice take on 'shelter' by Radhanath Swami. We do need to live in Krishna Consciousness on a moment by moment basis.

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  21. Wonderful!!!

    Radhanath swami tells here how miseries arewake uo call of God and how we should take the shelter of Lord always because Every breath is a death breath...

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  22. Radhanath Swami has so wonderfully explained to us why devotional service is a lifestyle and not a separate practice.

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  23. Radhanath Swami very nicely points out that although God gives us bitter medicine at times, He also gives us the sugar to make it go down.

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  24. thank you very much maharaj for wonderful article.

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  25. Nice message from Radhanath Swami. It's very true that the final examination ie. death can come at any time within our lives and one who is sincere, serious and free from ulterior motives can score well in this exam by returning back home back to Godhead.

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  26. '...a devotee lives daily, as if it is his last day...'beautiful statement, very useful for progressing in spirituality.

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  27. beauty of maharaj instructions is, he gives such practical ways of how and when we should take shelter of the lord in our day to day life.

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  28. Thank you maharaj for inspiring to take shelter every moment

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  29. God is the best doctor to give us medicine even without going to him. Thank you Radhanath Swami.

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  30. Mahrajah is reminding us the futility of material life and urgency to take shelter of the Lord at all times. The easiest process to take shelter is to chant he Holy Name of the Lord always.

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  31. Radhanath Swami is very right. We must take shelter of Lord at every step, because we don't know what's in the next step. All I know is to take shelter of Radhanath Swami who is firmly fixed at the shelter of Lord.

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  32. very well said by radhanath swami, nondevotees of krishna live everyday to die one day whereas devotees of krishna die to live for eternity with krishna,

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  33. Thanks Maharaj for sharing this realization. Its really true if we think today is our last day and we can see a dramatic change in ourself with our enjoying mentality

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  34. Radhanath Swami instructions makes one think that he needs to understand the sense of urgency in which one must take shelter of the Supreme Lord

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  35. this really helps us to remain sober and in proper mood.

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  36. Radhanath Swami is sharing essential truths so beautifully. Thank you.

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  37. radhanath swami has so wonderfully explained how our attitude should be at every moment in our life

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  38. nice understanding given by Radhanath Swami on Medicines given by God.

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  39. Thanks to Radhanath swami for reminding all of us to take shelter of the holy names of God

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  40. Our only shelter is the lotus feet of Krishna, and this can be attained by taking shelter of the lotus feet of Guru Maharaj. Jai!

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  41. Wow. Maharaj has such a good point about Krishna giving us "medicine" that is sometimes sweet and sometimes bitter.

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  42. Thank you Radhanath Swami for making me realize the importance of strictly practicing devotional service and sincerely taking shelter of the Lord especially in good times.

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  43. Thanks for your nice unstructions swamiji

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  44. Taking shelter of the Lord at all times is the best antidote for all illness.But the bewilderment is so strong one needs to take shelter of a bonafide spiritual Master like Maharaj through his teachings and chanting of the Holy names to be able to take shelter of the Lord.

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  45. tough but essential principle...

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