Radhanath Swami on Bringing A Change

To a certain extent we have the power to change our environment. But ultimately it is very limited; we may not be able to change the whole world or how people think or how people act or why people do what they do. Of course, we can try our best to help, but there is one thing that we could always change and that’s ourselves. If we live by that power, if we live with that potential of devotion, if we carry God’s grace in our lives and express it through what we do, that’s the greatest way in which we can influence others and there will be many people you do seriously influence. And of course there will be other people you may not be able to influence so much. But you can be transcendental to that. We cannot always change everything in this world but we can change ourselves and that gives us this great strength to be an instrument of change.

Radhanath Swami on The Focus of Our Lives

Ignorance is to make the goal in life that which is temporary. And those who live by truth aspire for that which is ever-lasting, eternal. We are eternal, God is eternal and our relationship with God is eternal. That quest for eternal truth, that quest for ecstatic love which is dormant within us should be the prominent focus of our lives. And all of our occupational responsibilities, domestic needs, they should all be harmonized to fulfill that aim of life because death is inevitable. At the time of death, everything except whatever cultivation of spiritual consciousness we have attained is taken away.

Radhanath Swami on Honest Living

Human life is meant for purification. If we understand this very clearly then we will make it a priority in our life to teach our children how to be pure lovers of God, honest and earnest servants of the society, and we will lead all by our own example. That is true love, that is real knowledge and to make it a priority is intelligence. When we make it a priority and have faith in the Absolute Truth then it behooves us to balance and regulate our life in such a way that everything we do or speak is harmonized towards achieving that goal. If we are honest before God and honest with ourselves then to lead such a life is very simple. But to the degree we are duplicitous, it’s very difficult. But where there is a will, there is a way. We see throughout history, many of the most dynamic people within the world were servants of God and humanity. And they never compromised their integrity.

Radhanath Swami on A Life of Purification

An intelligent person prepares in this life and prepares also for what is beyond this life. When we associate with spiritually minded people, when we associate with people who are searching for spiritual elevation or with people who have realized the spiritual essence within their hearts and in their association when we hear the transcendental knowledge then we are inspired to read the holy scriptures and the sacred commentaries of the great saints. And then we desire a life, not of temporary enjoyment, but a life of purification. The nature of the soul is to seek ecstatic love and joy. Yoga, spirituality, religion – all these are the means by which we can cleanse or purify our hearts.