Spiritual Questions and Answers with Radhanath Swami
Question to Radhanath Swami: How do you recognize a genuine guru?
Radhanath Swami Answers: That takes a little education, but in principle, according to our traditions, a true guru is not one who claims to be God. A true guru is one who claims to be a humble messenger of God.
Question to Radhanath Swami: Can’t we practice spirituality without accepting a guru? Can’t we make spiritual advancement based on knowledge from scriptures and what we have learnt from others?
Radhanath Swami Answers: We can make progress to some extent. But whether we admit or not, we do have gurus: people who inspire us, people from whom we gain knowledge.
Question to Radhanath Swami: ‘God’ and religion is the source of so much strife in ourworld, perhaps because of the fact that it is misused. I just wanted to get your perspective on that.
Radhanath Swami Answers: My guru Srila Prabhupada said, “Philosophy without good character is practically useless.” The whole purpose of religion is to help us in transcending the arrogant ego.
Question to Radhanath Swami: Swamiji, what is your definition of God? Is God the manifestation of our own superior self, or do you see him as a distinct entity? Radhanath Swami Answers: In the Brahma Sutra, which is the summary, essence of the Vedas, Upanishads, Samhitas and Puranas, it describes at the very beginning the… Continue reading Is God the manifestation of our own superior self? Radhanath Swami Answers
Question to Radhanath Swami: 1) How important is the role of a guru? 2)Also, to develop character, isn’t it important to start early in life? Radhanath Swami Answers: Importance of a guru has been sung throughout the ages – in tradition and scriptures – because gurus preserve the essence of a spiritual tradition. Otherwise, our… Continue reading Radhanath Swami answers, ‘What’s the right age to build character?’
Question to Radhanath Swami: Swamiji, what comes first, love or trust? Radhanath Swami Answers: That’s a beautiful question. They are like a coin with the head side and the tail side. If you have heads and tails on the coin, it’s the same coin. They are inseparable. The depths of real love and real trust… Continue reading Radhanath Swami on the connection between love and trust
