I recently had a dream about Radhanath Swami, a revered spiritual leader, where I found myself not responding as ideally as I wished.
In my dream, I found myself in a bustling temple, uncertain of my purpose there, until I noticed Radhanath Swami, a prominent ISKCON spiritual leader and author of A Journey Home, standing peacefully.. I was not sure why I was there, but then in the background I noticed Radhanath Swami, an initiating spiritual master in ISKCON and author of A Journey Home. He was standing silently and looking to the ground. Radhanath Swami appeared serene and radiant, standing silently amidst the bustling crowd, embodying tranquility and solitude. I called out to him, “Radhanath Swami, Haribol. Can I please talk with you?” He looked up and smiled and replied, “Come with me.”
I hastily followed as he led me to a large hall where people were eating prasadam. He sat down and asked me to sit beside him. I told him that he had always inspired me from afar and that I just loved the service he was doing all over the world. He nodded in appreciation and then said quietly, “Did you float for a while,?” seeming to indicate that I had strayed from the path of pure bhakti for a while. Gently placing his hand on my head, Radhanath Swami gazed at me with kindness, offering silent encouragement.
“Well I…yes, I guess you could say I floated for a while,” I replied.
“What happened,” he asked me inquisitively.
“Well, I never had a good relationship with my guru. I was never attached…” I said sheepishly. I was trying to justify why I was not visiting the temple as much, but in truth, my spiritual quest was a keen as ever; I had just decided to take a new approach for a while and this necessitated challenging my long held dogmas.
He did not seem at all interested in my response.
He then gave me some kind of confection and then served me kitchri (Indian vegetable stew), but for some bizarre reason I did not take it. I then asked him, “Can I give you a copy of my book, FOOD YOGA?”
He was silent.
I then offered, “I have a softcover book or an ebook.”
He seemed somewhat interested, but said, “I am not sure I want a hard copy.”
“Well, I can give a copy to one of the brahmacaris?”
“No, just give me an ebook,” he said, smiling.
Maharaja then walked away with his plate of kitchri. I then saw the server and asked for some kitchri.
This dream taught me that true devotees like Radhanath Swami embody kindness, tolerance, and patience, offering light and selfless love to the world. They offer light to the world; teach selfless love and live it through their unflinching determination to help others, despite numerous challenges. Radhanath swami is one such devotee of the Lord.
It was rather pretentious of me to offer him my book to someone so wise, and yet that was all I could do, rather than continue the conversation and open my heart for spiritual guidance. Yes, I had “floated” for a while, and interestingly, it was during that time that I last saw the swami. Just like now, he was incredibly kind and non-judgemental and sat with me and my friends and shared stories of his younger days when he cooked and served food to University students.
In hindsight, I can see that my response to his query was weak, dismissive and very wrong. The truth is we always have a choice, and at one time in my life I chose to walk a different path for a short while. Fortunately, that choice did lead me to new realisations, ideas, and opportunities. I took of the “hat” of past conditioning and dogma and took and honest and abrassive look at my life and motivations. I revisited past mistakes and challenges and shined a new light of objective perspective on them. I studied a variety of spiritual literature and asked myself frank questions about what it means to be God conscious? Was it just a philosophical conviction or did it all have to do with how we related to the world around us? I came to realise that it was certainly both, but more so the later. In other words, actions spoke much louder than words or convictions. Making a show of devotion is a crime against the world as much as it is a crime against oneself. The words of Srila Prabhupada now rang strongly in my ears, “First become conscious, then become Krishna conscious.” We had to live our spiritual truth in all of our daily activities and not simply in the temple.
It was during this time of reinventing myself that I began writing FOOD YOGA and set myself on a new path of teaching the wisdom of the ancient vedas in ways that were both digestible and accessible to a much larger audience. Of course, every new realisation that came to me was always connected to the culture of spiritual hospitality, for it seems without of shadow of doubt, that is my calling in this life.
Reflecting on that transformative period, I am grateful for the fresh perspective it provided, guiding me to my current spiritual path.
Sadly, in dreams, we don’t always behave or speak in ways that we are later proud of. But nonetheless, they serve to freshen our conviction, open our hearts to the truth and help us to see the lessons behind the veil.
I hope that in future dreams, I will accept the spiritual nourishment offered by Radhanath Swami, embracing the lessons fully.. 🙁
FAQ
Q: Who is Radhanath Swami?
A: Radhanath Swami is a prominent spiritual leader in ISKCON and author of “A Journey Home.” He is known for his teachings on kindness, patience, and spiritual growth.
Q: What is the significance of dreams in spirituality?
A: Dreams can offer insights into our subconscious, revealing spiritual lessons and guiding us toward self-awareness and personal growth.
Q: How did the dream with Radhanath Swami impact the author?
A: The dream highlighted the importance of kindness and patience, inspiring the author to reflect on their spiritual journey and embrace new perspectives.
Q: What is “FOOD YOGA” mentioned in the post?
A: “FOOD YOGA” is a book written by the author, exploring the connection between food, spirituality, and well-being.
Q: Why is Radhanath Swami’s presence significant in the dream?
A: Radhanath Swami’s presence symbolizes spiritual guidance and the embodiment of selfless love, offering valuable lessons to the dreamer.
Q: How can one apply the lessons from the dream in daily life?
A: By embracing kindness, patience, and self-awareness, one can align their actions with spiritual truths and contribute positively to the world.
Q: Who is Radhanath Swami, and why does he appear in the dream?
A: Radhanath Swami is described as an ISKCON spiritual leader, initiating spiritual master, and author of *A Journey Home*. In the dream, he represents kindness, patience, spiritual guidance, and the example of a devotee who serves others selflessly.
Q: What does Radhanath Swami’s question, “Did you float for a while?” mean in the dream?
A: The question refers to the author’s period of feeling spiritually unfocused and taking a different approach to long-held beliefs. The author later recognizes that this period involved challenging past conditioning, studying different spiritual texts, and reassessing how spiritual convictions should shape daily actions.
Q: Why did the author refuse the kitchri offered by Radhanath Swami?
A: In the dream, Radhanath Swami offers the author a confection and kitchri, but the author does not accept them. The author interprets this refusal as a symbolic failure to receive spiritual nourishment and guidance, choosing instead to offer a copy of *FOOD YOGA*.
Q: What lesson did the dream teach the author about spiritual growth?
A: The dream encouraged the author to replace defensiveness and self-justification with humility, openness, and honest self-reflection. It also reinforced the idea that spiritual life must be expressed through everyday actions and relationships, not only through philosophical beliefs or temple activities.
Q: What is *FOOD YOGA*, and how is it connected to the author’s spiritual journey?
A: *FOOD YOGA* is the author’s book about the relationship between food, spirituality, and well-being. The author began writing it during a period of personal reinvention, seeking to present the wisdom of the ancient Vedas in a more accessible way while continuing a calling connected to spiritual hospitality.
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