Monday, November 29, 2010

Radhanath Swami on Controlling Pride

Wealth, power and prestige have the irresistible nature to make us proud, to think that we are better than others. And as soon as we start thinking like that, the disease that "I am the proprietor and I am the enjoyer" follows. This happens to most devotees, unfortunately. God gives power and facility and we think it is ours to enjoy and we become proud. And this could happen in a very subtle way.

For example, we could be given a position in devotional service and we may think, “This is my service”. Even if someone else can do it better, and everyone else wants that person to do it, we may still think, "no, this is my service". Nothing is ours. This is God’s service. What does service mean? Service does not mean we do what we want, when we want. Service means whatever makes God happy. And God reveals what makes Him happy through the guru (spiritual master), sadhu (saintly persons) and the scriptures.

The proper consciousness is that this is a post and I am simply a humble servant performing the duties within this post, but this is not mine.

29 comments:

  1. Thank you Radhanath swami for giving this deep insight.

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  2. Very true.
    "Service does not mean we do what we want, when we want. Service means whatever makes God happy."
    Thank you Radhanath Swami for this very useful information.

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  3. Very well said, if you do the service that we want to do then it is not really a service in subtle sense. Service means selfless service to God.

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  4. Simply put but so true. We do not realize when Pride creeps in and takes over. Guru, Sadhu and Sastra help keep us on track.

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  5. Everyone is part and parcel of God and I'm not better than anyone; the external covering may be for time being in a better position and one should not mistake that 'to be better than others'. I'm very grateful to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj for constantly guiding us on the right path. Thank you Maharaj.

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  6. Very humbling and nice message from Maharaj. This should be the goal of life to attain humility to a point where I do what Lord Krishna wants not what my mind wants.

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  7. Thank you so much Maharaj for the wonderful explanation.

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  8. If we use our post with proper consciousness in the service of our guru and for the pleasure of the lord, then we might not fall down,however that is possible only with the help and blessing of our Guru. Thanks Maharaj for guiding us in the proper direction.

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  9. Very Nice Article.

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  10. Radhanath Swami is giving an incredible understanding of what real service is.

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  11. "Service means whatever makes God happy." Such a beautiful definition of service.

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  12. Radhanath Swami is cautioning about a very subtle way in which even a devotee can become puffed up

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  13. H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj is explaining what is real service. Thank you Maharaj.

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  14. Amazing formula to have a happy leader and satisfied followers.

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  15. Interesting post. Some things I understood, but some I couldn't.

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  16. Wonderful explanation of the true meaning of service......service is to be done for the pleasure of Krishna, as instructed by the spiritual master, not because "i like doing this service". Thank you, Radhanath Swami Maharaj, for this really nice explanation.

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  17. its really nice

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  18. Very powerful by Radhanath Swami!

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  19. very nice, it's kind of slap on false pride and attachment.

    Thank you very much Maharaj for such nice quotes for enlighten common people like me.

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  20. Pride can come even through spiritual service, which means what is important is what is the PURPOSE, the motivation of what we do---not WHAT we do.

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  21. Very often we get attached to the service, thank you Maharajah for reminding us that it is ultimately for the pleasure of Krishna only and not our pleasure.

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  22. Following guru, sadhu, and shastras is the best way to guard ourselves. Thank you Radhanath Swami.

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  23. Yes very important to guard against Pride and Radhanath Swami practically tells where it can be tracked and stopped.

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  24. Radhanath Swami has given great message how we can fight against our desire to become the master even after understanding that we are constitutionally servant of the Lord.

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  25. Thank you so much Radhanath Swami for such deep nectarean words. Even in our devotional services, pride very easily creeps in and we don't get the full benefit of our service.

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  26. Very instructive article......thanks

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  27. Thank you maharaj for your wonderful instruction

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  28. Superb,Well said by Radhanath Swami

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