Radhanath Swami's Blog, page 10
July 20, 2017
Russell Simmons & Radhanath Swami Speaks on Compassion
On June 26, 2017 Radhanath Swami was invited to speak with Russell Simmons on the topic of compassion at the Tantris Center for Yogic Science on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. The talk was hosted by Kumi Yogini, yoga instructor and owner of Veda Yoga studio in Culver City.
Russell Simmons is the Chairman and CEO of Rush Communications and cofounder of the hip-hop music label Def Jam Recordings. He is also an avid yoga practitioner and an advocate of veganism and animal rights. He founded the Tantris Center to help bring the wisdom and practices of yoga to the mainstream. “The practice and elements of yoga create a happier and more enlightened person. I intend to help make trendy its true purpose, generate awareness of the full benefits of yogic science and continue to cultivate a mindful generation.”
You can watch a video recording of the evening above.
Photo’s by Suresh Krishna Das and Beate Sophia Scholz
July 11, 2017
Mindful Leadership – Radhanath Swami Speaks at the Bank of England
If you met someone in the heart of London’s financial district and told them a monk was speaking at the ‘Old Lady’ of Threadneedle Street, they would likely be in disbelief. Although he hasn’t had a bank account or signed a check since 1969, and to the humour of the hundreds that attended when he admitted that, Radhanath Swami spoke at the Bank of England on Wednesday 22nd March 2017. Founded in 1694,the Bank of England is a public institution responsible for maintaining the monetary and financial stability of the United Kingdom. It serves as the model on which most modern central banks have been based.
The event explored issues such as how leaders in large and influential organizations can improve their impact by actively considering how their attitude, actions and approach impacts those around them, whether there are practices that they could adopt from the field of mindfulness that could help leaders thrive, and how they can continue to promote the development of mental well-being and self-awareness to improve the working culture and environment.
The Swami also spoke of how the highest form of leadership is compassionate leadership, that greed isn’t the best formula to get the best out of people and that by appreciating others and encouraging them we can bring out the good in them, and when this is done, people go above and beyond their capacity. “To reach such a stage of compassion, we need to understand ourselves” he continued. “Emerson said that ‘the reason there is so much disunity in the world is because people are so disconnected in themselves’ so we must build an inner foundation of compassion within our hearts.”
One attendee reflected how Radhanath Swami narrated a story from his childhood that particularly resonated with her. He spoke of how when he was younger he stole the only rose from his mother’s garden to present to her on her birthday. “She broke down in tears” Radhanath Swami said, and told him that it’s not the thing that gives value but the purpose and love by which it is given in. She went on to mention how the principles being talked about have been useful for her because what it showed that these values (such as working with integrity) are beyond possessions or the typical tangible pillars of success in her career. She said that a key message she took away with her was “we all have a duty to make a difference and we are all connected”.
Professor Stephen Chan OBE, Professor of World Politics at SOAS University of London, had heard Radhanath Swami speak before at his institution. “I hosted him at my institution and he is very popular amongst the SOAS students. Everyone, whether they have a spiritual affiliation to him or not, really admires his outreach and compassion. We try to support him in every way possible.” The theme of interconnectedness and unity remerged in his interview as he remarked “I particularly like his redwood tree story and the interlinkage of the root systems. I really like seeing that as a way the world should be. That makes me feel happy and reassured that there are people who understand the need for unity, brotherhood and sisterhood in the world. The world at large, and I used to be a peace-keeping diplomat, is very turbulent. For instance, the message of not being overcome by fear and atrocity and still maintaining in one’s heart the possibility of redwood trees and humanity being interlinked should drive all of us.”
Radhanath Swami ended with words of gratitude that the Bank had invited him to share his realizations and experiences.
July 10, 2017
Radhanath Swami Speaks at Facebook Headquarters
On Thursday, June 15, 2017 Radhanath Swami spoke at Facebook Headquarters in Menlo Park, Silicon Valley, in California. Sixty employees attended a talk on the subject “Keys to Inner Fulfillment – Wisdom from Ancient Yoga Texts”.
He began the talk by saying how Facebook is offering the technology to connect billions of people around the world yet still there are so many disconnections. Real satisfaction comes when we connect to our inner roots. He spoke of his visit to Muir Woods where he learned that the strength of the mighty Redwood trees was passed on by how they all connect together on the root level.
Speaking of who we are and the nature of real life, he said that when we connect to our true self, we realize that we all have the potential to love. “When we water the root, it naturally extends to the branches, etc. Similarly connecting to our inner self, naturally extends to all beings. Everything comes from an origin. We all have forgotten that. In giving we receive and in giving we nourish our hearts. Great people in history have lived by this principle.”
He shared the idea that the real key to inner fulfillment is to connect to our real self and that this can be done through three essential principles of sadhana (regular spiritual practice), satsang (good association) and sadachar (good behavior). He explained the practical aspects of these principles. “However small we are, we can make a big difference – through our own way of living, we can be the change we want to see in the world. All the good changes in the world have come from sincere people who wanted to make the change.”
June 30, 2017
Mindful Leadership – Radhanath Swami Speaks at the Bank of England
If you met someone in the heart of London’s financial district and told them a monk was speaking at the ‘Old Lady’ of Threadneedle Street, they might be in disbelief. Although he hasn’t had a bank account or signed a cheque since 1969, and to the humour of the hundreds that attended when he admitted that, Radhanath Swami spoke at the Bank of England on Wednesday 22nd March 2017. Founded in 1694, the Bank of England is a public institution responsible for maintaining the monetary and financial stability of the United Kingdom. It serves as the model on which most modern central banks have been based.
Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO of Virgin Money and National Ambassador for the HRH Prince of Wales charity, Business in the Community, was pleasantly surprised that this event was happening at the Bank: “I think that it is brilliant for the future of the banking sector, London and society in general, because in the city we are not used to hearing that kind of inclusive talk.” Radhanath Swami narrated a story from his childhood that particularly resonated with her. He spoke of how, when he was younger, he stole the only rose from his mother’s garden to present to her on her birthday. “She broke down in tears” Radhanath Swami said, “and told me that it’s not the thing that gives value but the purpose and love by which it is given in.”
In response to his story, Jayne Anne explained, “My husband comes from a very poor background. He grew up in Kenya, and as a Hindu has always lived a life that the Swami talks about. Not as deeply and broadly, but nevertheless, it’s been useful for me because what it has meant in my career is that these values are beyond possessions or the typical tangible pillar of success. The values the Swami represents have meant that I can do my job with integrity.” She said, after Radhanath Swami gifted her two of his books, that a key message she took away with her was “we all have a duty to make a difference, and we are all connected.”
Aakash Mankodi, an analyst for market intelligence at the Bank, and influential in organising the event, said “topics such as diversity, inclusion and mental well-being are important to us. We want to try and explore issues such as how leaders in such a large and influential organisation can improve their impact by actively considering how their attitude, actions and approach at work impacts those around them. Whether there are any best practices that they can adopt from the field of mindfulness that can help leaders thrive, and how they can continue to promote the development of mental well-being and self-awareness to improve the working culture and environment.”
Chris Salmon, Executive Director for Markets at the Bank, introduced Radhanath Swami’s hour-long presentation on the principles of mindful leadership. The Swami spoke on how the highest form of leadership is compassionate leadership, and that greed isn’t the best formula to get the best out of people. By appreciating others and encouraging them we can bring out the good in others and when this is done, people go above and beyond their capacity. “To reach such a stage of compassion, we need to understand ourselves” he continued. “Emerson said that ‘the reason there is so much disunity in the world is because people are so disconnected in themselves’ so we must build an inner foundation of compassion within our hearts.”
Professor Stephen Chan OBE, Professor of World Politics at SOAS University of London, had heard Radhanath Swami speak before at his institution, “I hosted him at my institution and he is very popular amongst the SOAS students. So everyone, whether they have a spiritual affiliation to him or not, really admires his outreach and compassion. We try to support him in every way possible.”
Regarding interconnectedness and unity, Professor Chan remarked, “I particularly like his redwood tree story and the interlinkage of the root systems. I really like seeing that as a way the world should be. That makes me feel happy and reassured that there are people who understand the need for unity, brotherhood and sisterhood in the world.” He followed by speaking on the effects of this presentation at the reputable Bank of England and society in general: “The Bank of England will go through a few difficult years because of all kinds of things like Brexit etc. They have got to be the lightening rod that makes that whole process work without too much turbulence. The world at large, and I used to be a peace-keeping diplomat, is very turbulent too. For instance, the message of not being overcome by fear and atrocity, and still maintaining in one’s heart the possibility of redwood trees and humanity being interlinked should drive all of us.”
The Bank is very diverse and has over 3600 employees. One of them, Priyank, who works for the Bank’s Stress Testing Division in Moorgate, was excited by the talk, sharing, “I’ve just finished his autobiography The Journey Home and I am currently reading his newest book The Journey Within. Everything he said was true. We also know it deep down, but when he says it the aura is different because he truly believes it. I’m happy someone came to the Bank to speak about this topic.”
Radhanath Swami ended with words of gratitude that the Bank had invited him to share his realisations and experiences.
June 25, 2017
On Greed
Wherever we see the greed for wealth, gold, power, prestige, name or fame – consequently we see a rise in hate, envy, fighting and war.
Greed is a source of misery because it never gets satisfied. Its demand increases more and more, despite of our efforts to pacify it. It is compared to feeding a blazing fire, no matter how much amount of fuel you put in, the fuel gets consumed in seconds. It always ends in dissatisfaction.
The harder you try to satisfy this enemy of greed, the deeper you fall in the abyss. Its like voluntarily taking a noose around your neck and making it tighter and tighter with every step.
As long as we are engaging this enemy of greed for our selfish purposes we will be tormented. But when the things of this world- wealth, gold, power, prestige, name and fame are used in service to God and humanity, without attachment and pride, then we will experience the tranquility of peace and love within. We must always remember the principle of God consciousness – simple living and high thinking. Otherwise this enemy of greed will wash away all the good qualities of the soul. – Radhanath Swami
June 23, 2017
To Be an Instrument of Divinity
One of my dearest godsisters, who was like a mother to me, was on her deathbed in London. I left from Mumbai to go visit her. By God’s grace I happened to come just the day before she passed away. She was a very independent, active, dynamic lady who loved to get things done and who was always caring about people, and now she was with cancer, paralyzed, crippled and emaciated. Her husband had to bathe and clean her because she couldn’t even move.
Yet, she said with a smile, “Even though I appear very helpless, I have infinite relevance. I have infinite significance because Krishna loves me, and nothing could ever change that — not disease, not even death. That’s my greatest wealth and that gives me unlimited importance forever — that God loves me.” And then she again smiled and said, “But I have nothing to be proud of over anyone else because God loves everybody.”
To experience God’s love and to actually understand our love for God is the greatest wealth, and this is within us. It simply has to be awakened. And that is what spirituality, what religion, what yoga, and what true human culture is meant to do—to awaken the divinity that is within us, and to be an instrument of that divinity. — Radhanath Swami
June 2, 2017
May 31, 2017
The Spiritual Principle
It is described that the mercy of Krishna is like the Sun. The Sun does not discriminate, whether you are from this family or that family, this nationality or that nationality. The Sun rises for our benefit, giving itself to everyone. But if you hide in a cave that is your own misfortune. And those representing the Lord, they are like mirrors of the Sun of Krishna’s mercy. They are reflecting the divine mercy of the Lord in all directions to anyone who is simply accepting it.
And what is the problem in this world? The problem is that such great souls are so rare to find. Everyone is pursuing their own petty, selfish ambitions in life. They are missing the whole point of human civilization, which is to act as a servant of God for the welfare of all living beings. And you should know, until you accept that principle in your life, you will never find real happiness. The more you take the less you have. The more you give the more you have. This is the spiritual principle. Of course, if you have nothing, what have you to give. So therefore a devotee is very serious about their own spiritual practice. The great devotees of the Lord do not want to practice sadhana or Bhakti-yoga for their own spiritual advancement. They will be very attentive in their execution of devotional service so that they can make spiritual advancement. But the reason why is because the more advancement they make, the more they can give to others. They do not want to take anything for themselves. – Radhanath Swami
