Radhanath Swami on Action and Reaction

For every action there is an equal corresponding reaction. There is no question of exceptions. Anything you throw up will come down – this is the law of nature. If you commit violent activity to another, you cannot escape the reaction. That violence must come back to you. Exactly when, exactly how, that you may not be able to understand the detail, but it will be an equal corresponding suffering which will come back to you. If you give in charity, it must come back to you. Ignorance of the law is no excuse to breaking the law. If I put my hand in fire, I am burnt whether I believe its going to burn or not. The laws of nature are never subjected to what you believe. The laws act regardless.

Radhanath Swami on Channelizing Our Intelligence

The air pollution, the water pollution, the wars taking place, the prejudice and hate throughout the world, the putting of nuclear waste in the ground, the horrible diseases like cancer and AIDS which are born of misuse of our own bodies, the breaking down of the ultraviolet layers of the ozone covering which protect us from the sun, and so many other innumerable problems – are they caused by the birds and the beasts? Or the frogs and the grasshoppers? They are all caused by human beings. Because human beings are trying to use the conscious power of discrimination towards satisfying our lower nature like the insects and animals, we cause a complete mess. We become endlessly greedy and envious and proud and lusty. What is happening to the whole planet and the suffering of all living beings is a direct result of that. Therefore, it is very important for us to apply our good intelligence for the ultimate goal of life which is to understand who I am.

Radhanath Swami on Being Connected

The greatest musicians study under other great musicians. The greatest artists study under other great artists. The greatest lawyers, doctors, and professors study under other great lawyers, doctors and professors. So why should we take spiritual life so cheaply? To study every other subject matter seriously, we try to find a teacher to teach us. But we think that in approaching the science of God, we can just figure out our own way. If we are truly and deeply serious about finding God, then the Lord within our heart will direct us to a teacher who can show us the path. Even the great personalities who don’t need teachers accept teachers just to show us how important it is. Jesus accepted John the Baptist and Krishna became the disciple of His own devotee, Sandipani Muni, just to show the world the importance of being connected to a teacher. When genuine faith awakens within our heart then we understand what is a guru.