Hey! Have you heard of the scandals around Tiger Woods…????
Events — By RNS Online on October 7, 2010 at 4:22 am
Question to Radhanath Swami: Why is it that people love to gossip?
Radhanath Swami: People like to hear about other people’s problems. It’s fun for some. That’s the reason why some of the most popular magazines in the world just focus on scandals. Recently, a champion golfer got into some scandal. It’s like a rule in this world—that such news must be known to everyone, that such news must be the event on every television and news channel. That scandal was all that the people were talking about, for weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks. Ironically, nobody cared that much when he won a golf game. But when he did something really scandalous, all of a sudden everybody becomes really ‘concerned.’ Now, is it necessary to bother about all these things? But we have this inclination to gossip, which the scriptures call Prajalpa.
Prajalpa is one of the six most dangerous things that are detrimental to Bhakti Yoga. Rupa Goswami, a prominent saint of the 16th century wrote, “One’s devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) over-endeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters(or prajalpa); (4) Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Kåiñhëa consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements.
Why is it that people tend to gossip? It’s because there is a vacancy in the heart, a lack of spiritual fulfillment. So they look for fulfillment in sensual quests, in hearing and speaking of the faults of others, in accumulating more and more and more. To fill that vacancy, they need power, they need fame, they need money, and they need sex. They are never satisfied because nothing material can satisfy the needs of the soul. The soul needs to love God. The soul needs to love everyone connected to God, and that includes every living being. That’s the nature of the soul. But without that love, people do so many things, just to try and forget that emptiness within.
Tags: gossip, need, news, people, prajalpa, radhanath swami, scandals, television, Tiger Woods
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183 Comments
Thank you Radhanath Swami for protecting us from so many dangers
I have heard that Radhanath Swami recommends that his followers gossip about the activities of Krishna…
Although we have more things today than man has ever had before, the vacancy of the heart is only increasing. Radhanath Swami has the perfect solution: love of God.
Awesome explanation by Radhanath Swami Maharaj about why there is always the tendency to gossip? and it has the relation with the spirituality.
i liked the following sentence particular:
They are never satisfied because nothing material can satisfy the needs of the soul.
This is a perfect ans. by Radhanath swami.
Beautiful answer.
Radhanath Swami has so much understanding in depth about complex human psychology because he is deeply caring for every living entity, and his realizations are based on his purity.
Radhanath Swami’s understanding about the human psychology is indeed very profound.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for giving such a complete understanding of the root cause of the tendency to gossip.
nice exposure of the term gossip by radhanath swami, people just want to have a company of people suffering from problems which one wishs that he should not be the only one with such problems, hence they look for justifications,
Beautiful reply by Radhanath Swami. Thank you.
Thank you Maharaj for such an beautiful answer.
Its so spontaneous for Radhanath Swami to give a reply based on spiritual values for so many important behavioural patterns in different kinds of people. This is due to his deep spiritual realisations.
beautiful reply by Swamiji…….really emptiness of one’s heart is the result of gossip
Wonderful answer.
great explanation! thnks maharaj!
Nicely explained why people like to gossip.
I like the way Maharaj described the vacancy in the heart. This is so amazing as it so clearly explains the connection between gossip for self satisfaction and our soul’s quest for God. When one is absent the other is predominant. Hari Bol!
Have been gossiping since eternity and just NOW found the real cause!!
better late than never
Radhanath Swami has diagnosed the problem expertly – the vacant heart feeds on gossip etc., and still remains vacant.
Deeply catch the human psychology and express this whole complexity of human being so nicely. Thank you very much.
Nothing can fill up the vacancy of the heart except love – this teaching by Radhanath Swami should be taken seriously because doing so will save lot of time and effort that is simply wasted in struggling to be happy by useless material engagements such as gossipping.
Nothing can fill up the vacancy of the heart except love – this teaching by Radhanath Swami should be taken seriously because doing so will save lot of time and effort that is simply wasted in struggling to be happy by useless material engagements such as gossipping.
Hats off to radhanath swami maharaj for his excellent answer…
Thank you maharaj…
only after hearing from can we understand how subtly gossip acts on the body and also the reason why people gossip
Give me some spice in my Life! Well that’s our nature we want to get exited about something and we keep searching everywhere for it, something captivates us for sometime, then the next, the next and so on and so forth. Radhanath Swami as put is so nicely for us to realize, that true happiness lies in discussing topics of the lord and his devotees.
Radhanath Swami has so nicely tried to explain us that nothing can replace the love of God with any material enjoyment which is flickering and can not give any pleasure to the eternal soul.
Radhanath Swami has identified the root cause of problem of gossip as ‘vacancy in heart’ or ‘lack of spiritual fulfillment’ and the solution is fill the heart with love of God. Thank you Radhanath Maharaj for opening our eyes to see the Truth.
No doubt, majority of people in the world find gossiping about others very pleasurable. What Radhanath Swami concludes is that they severely lack spiritual content in their life- no connection to GOD.
Vacant hearts need something to fill themselves up with. Even if its rubbish. Thats why we have so much gossip flying around.
All Glories To.H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
How beautiful is this understanding, and thus behooves every soul to endeavour for the practice of true Bhakti by following the principles that are favourable for it.
Hare Krishna
So nicely Radhanath Swami brings out the necessity of refraining from gossip and the reasons for a person to engage in gossip.
Radhanath Swami has a deep understanding of how the human minds functions. This article gives a insight on why people like to hear and indulge in gossip.
The soul needs to love God. The soul needs to love everyone connected to God, and that includes every living being. That’s the nature of the soul. H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj has explained the real nature of soul.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj through his nectarean words fills up our empty hearts that are devoid of love!
Radhanath Swami always emphasizes on focussing on the good side of a person. He says that if we dwell upon the negative qualities, then the same will manifest within us sooner or later.
very clear answer. thank you very much.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for telling us that this tandency of gossiping is because of our inner emptiness of heart and we can fill that emptiness only by loving God…
Simply Fantastic!! How perfectly Radhanath Swami has diagnosed the disease of modern man. Let us all learn to take pleasure in seeing the good in others rather than derive some satanic joy in seeing the suffering of others.
Very nice answer by Radhanath swami Maharaj
Thanks a lot for sharing.
gossip is like a sip of wine for the dissatisfied souls. But the thirst for more scandals ever increases and the media are so obliging in digging them out from every corner of the globe. Radhanath Swami’s perfect answer to this problem should be broadcasted to everyone
Wonderful insight given by Radhanath Swami
It’s amazing how the answers to our everyday problems are coming from spiritual person’s like maharaj. And yet all of them are devoid from these mundane entanglements.
This is a perfect answer by Radhanath swami maharaj.
Radhanath swami is showing us how we should be very careful not to get sucked by the prajalpa and loose our spiritual credits…
A very nice explanatory answer and mostly to follow on that pursuit.
Pretty deep. Good one!
Thank you for keeping us away from this most dangerous disease of Prajalpa
This can be avoided only by engaging in discussing the passtimes of the Lord, its fulfilling and satisfactory to the heart.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj gives a perfect analysis of what we do & why we do!
very relevant.!
Thank you Radhanath Swami for letting us know the pitfalls of such gossip and why we have the tendency to do it.
How perfectly Radhanath Swami has diagnosed the root cause of our tendency to gossip! Yes, it’s true that our heart is vacant and shallow and to fill that we need so many unnecessary necessities as mentioned above.
This is a very expert diagnosis and prognosis of a common malady!
Very nice answer
Without loving relationships, with God in the center, nothing can be done to fulfill the vacancy in the heart.
Thank you Maharaj for giving us hope and the solution to fill the vacant heart.
Radhanath Swami’s answer is heart awakening…
Maharaj,
Thank u so much for elivening us on Prajalpa (mundane gossips) & criticism. Such instructions from you would really help us to monitor if our spiritual endeavors are in the right direction or not.
Radhanath Maharaj ki Jai!!
Thanks !
Thank you Swami Radhanath for giving us this wonderful message. We pray to put it into practice.
Radhanath Swami is so rihgt even at work sometimes i get involved in gossip but this never happens when we are in association of devotees
Gossip leads to waste of time. there is nothing we learn out of it. we create more problems and spoil our consciousness
Nailed the issue very nicely.
wonderful,thank you
Prajalpa is one of the six most dangerous things that are detrimental to Bhakti Yoga – H H Radhaanth swami
Thank you H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj, for understanding us this deep philosiphy of emptyness without love of God.
Well said by Radhanath Swami.
Thank you so much for re-iterating the consequences of prajalpa.
Thanks Maharaj for wonderful quote from scriptures.
In todays world prajalpa is becoming more common, one who do more prajalpa becomes more prominent in news paper or channels with big head lines.
Thanks Maharaj for reminding once again about Prajalpa and consequences of prajalpa.
Thank you Maharaj for your instruction
Radhanath Swami Maharaj said in one of his lecture that people who gossip are like crows who always tries to eat some garbage, where as people who inquires the true purpose of life and those are in the path of self realization are like Butterflies who always look for the nectar.
if we can truly follow this verse then our spiritual life will be so strong. By mercy of Radhanath Swami i am sure it will be possible.
I knew that we should not do Prajalpa, but I was never known why people love to do Prajalpa. I will say Maharaj understanding is really very deep and wide.
The world is interested in gossip devotees are interested in nectar
Although i m not a pure devotee but still i experience so much bliss & happiness in Krishna Katha. Thank u Radhanath Swami for giving us such nice instructions.
Because of Lord & spiritual master like Radhanath Swami’s causeless mercy within few years of Krishna Consciouness we can taste so much nectar in Krishna katha.
Thank you Radhanath Maharaj for giving us proper direction for our life.
Maharaj your answers are so fulfilling that we can see things we were never able to fathom . Thank you Maharaj , in so many ways these articles have brought us so much closer to Guru and Krishna.
Oh! I pray that by mercy of HH Radhanath swami my internal emptiness vanish
Wonderfully expressed by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj that only Bhakti can fill the heart.
Thank you Maharaj for helping & guiding us, on such valuable points.
Radhanath Swami has written about the futulity of gossips !! However the tendency to gossip can be dovetailed for everyone’s benefit by talking about the Lord’s pastimes.
Radhanath Swami is giving us very important instruction
Radhanath Swami wants us to focus on the positive
Thankyou for enlightening us on prajalpa. We think many times that we are discussing something to help others but its really prajalpa. Forgive us Maharaj for indulging in this anartha.
Nothing material can satisfy the needs of the soul. The soul needs to love God. That’s the nature of the soul. But without that love, people do so many things, just to try and forget that emptiness within.Nice point from Radhanath swami
Maharaj has rightly connected that gossip is also because of lacking love about God in our heart.
very nice reply
Thank you very much HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja for wonderful message from this article.
Wonderful answer Maharaj.
Radhanath Swami is filling that spiritual emptiness(which leads to gossip) with love of GOD and love for all living beings through his expert guidance.
Radhanath Swami has pointed the root cause of gossiping …i.e. vacancy in the heart of people. Amazing solution from Radhanath Swami to fill up the heart with Spirituality. Thank you Radhanath Swami for your inspiring answer!!!
As told by Radhanath Swami, this prajapla is so rampant in this modern world and its a real block in our spiritual growth….
thank you for the reminder.
THIS IS REALLY VERY HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND THE ROOT CAUSE WHY WE TRY TO LOOK THROUGH THE GARBAGE OF SENSUAL TOPICS EVEN IF WE KNOW ABOUT IT. ONLY ENGAGING THE SAME TENDENCY TO GOD CAN SATISFY US. THANK YOU RADHANATH MAHARAJ
Thank you Radhanath Swami for guiding us on the pitfalls.Especially on Prajalpa
I happened to hear a few discourses by Radhanath Swami and they can truly fill the “vacancy in your heart”
What a thought provoking answer by Radhanath Swami, he is a true saint, knows the exact reason behind every ill in this world/society.
All Glories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
A Profound understanding, but a transparent explanation of how the vacuum of heart can if filled with spiritual wisdom will never lead us to seek futile pleasure derived off futile subjects.
Hare Krishna
Thank you very much for sharing such a nice article. Nothing can satisfy us. The soul needs to love God. The soul needs to love everyone connected to God, and that includes every living being. That’s the nature of the soul.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
When we hear something bad about others, it makes us feel better because we think I’m not a person like him who did such a bad thing. We think we are better. Actually, we may not have done exactly the same mistake that the other guy did, but certainly we have done and are doing other kinds of things which may be equally bad. Since nobody found out yet, we think ourselves better and take pleasure in hearing others being ripped off by the news and media for their mistakes. Often wondered why? Now I know the answer; vacany in our heart, lack of spiritual fulfillment. Unless I work toward the solution given by Maharaj, my knowing of the solution is waste. Thanks Maharaj.
Yes, i agree. Prajalpa can lead to unnecessary waste of time and sucks out the bhakti. One needs to guard against it. Hare Krishna !!
So true.. Thank u for the wonderful explanation.
Very nice explaination……thanks
Radhanath Swami often says hate the sin not the sinner or hate the disease not the diseased. this principle of forgiveness and living a life where we set an example will certainly help us change the world at large
Thank u for sharing..
If we are not talking about Krishna then we are engaging in prajalpa. What a heavy statement. Hare Krishna !!
Radhanath Swami is giving us the right direction
Thank you for sharing this…
Why is it that people tend to gossip? It’s because there is a vacancy in the heart, a lack of spiritual fulfillment.
-This a amazing point.
One more thing i observed in the answer is how Maharaj is asking us to see good in a person irrespective of anything else.
I will try to apply this in my life. (To see always- good in everyone).
Thank you for sharing. How important it is to strive to access that bhakti rasa thats dormant within ones heart.
Thank you so much Maharaj for enlightening us…
Here is the root cause analysis from HH Radhanath Swami on the gossiping. Good one !
thats a thorough answer by HH Radhanath swami maharaj
Thank you Radhanath Swami for giving us the root cause of the tendency to gossip based on the teachings of the previous acharyas.
Maharaj expalined so clearly. Thank you very much Maharaj
Listening to other people’s problems is like an anaesthetic – one temporarily forgets one’s own problems. But they don’t go away and will come back.
Thanks for the enlightening article maharaj
Radhanath Swami sees through the eyes of scriptures and thus can bring out scriptural essence – nothing material can satisfy the needs of the soul.
wonderful realization thanks for sharing
Perfectly told by Radhanath Swamiji.I heard from HH.Devamrut Swami Maharaj that no problem can be solved on it’s own level,it requires higher level to solve that problem.Therefore there is no solution to our material problems of Janma,Jara,Vyadhi and ultimatly death.To solve these material problems we have to go to higher level and that higher level is “Spiritual Level”,under bonafied giudence.Thank you very much.
Thank you Maharaj for enlightening once again on this very important obstacle in our oath of Krishna Conciousness,
Thanks a lot maharaj for showing us how we should be very careful not to get sucked by the prajalpa and loose our spiritual credits. HARE KRISHNA
nice explanation about gossip by radhanath swami,
many thanks to swamiji for the nice answer
Unfortunately this gossiping is a hard tendency to let go of..but if we know the cause, and now the solution by maharaj’s beautiful answer, we can work to get rid of this fault in ourselves, and replace it with glorification of devotees and the lord!
Thankyou Radhanath Swami for showing us the true nature of the soul and wht it really wants.
What an answer.Really profound.Thank You Maharaj!!
Thank you very much for sharing. We are not satisfied by anything or anyone and search for happiness in this material world. The soul needs to love God. The soul needs to love everyone connected to God, and that includes every living being. That’s the nature of the soul.
“One’s devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) over-endeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters(or prajalpa); (4) Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Kåiñhëa consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements.
There is no better answer than dis !!!! Thank u Sir,
This is so profound. Thank you for the post.
Radhanath Swami has a unique ability to express any problem and its solution by using perfect words “Vaccum of the heart” what a perfect way to address the emptiness of the heart !!!!!!!!!!
Nice answer given by Radhanath Swami Maharaj. very true.
Very true. Thank you Maharaj for protecting us from all this. Thank you for giving us Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Gopinath and the association of the devotees.
Very nice analysis of ‘prajalpa’ by Radhanath Swami.
Very profound answer by Radhanath Swami, focusing on the root cause. Thank you Radhanath Swami
Wonderful explanation.Thank You Maharaj.
thank you Radhanath Swami.. and thank you to those for hosting this wonderful website
the bare facts of this world put through the spectacles of scriptures, an expertise of Radhanath Swami
It seems so natural to find fault in others. But as Radhanath Swami rightly points out, we indulge in gossip because of a void within our heart that needs to be filled with love of God. Thank you for your spiritual solution.
Thank you maharaj, you expressed it very wonderfully.
I love gossip. I now understand the reason behind such tendency. Need to work on it mite!
Also Visit – http://www.radhanath.com
Radhanath Swami has always focused on positive
Maharaj wonderfully revealed the reality behind the gossips.In fact it’s really eye opener.
Thank you so much Maharaj for enlighten us.
THANK YOU MAHARAJ FOR HELPING AND PROTECTING US.
IF WE SEE MORE CLEARLY, IT FINDS THAT MAHARAJ CARES EVERYONE, MAHARAJ ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT SOUL, THE ACTUAL PERSON, WHAT WILL BE HIS FURURE JOURNEY,IF HE ENGAGED HIS PRESENT TIME IN GOSSIPING OR HERE THERE, HIS TIME OF MISERY WILL INCRERASE,HIS TIME TO GET KRISHNA’S MERCY WILL INCREASE MORE.
IT IS BETTER TO LEARN LESSON FROM THIS,
Also Visit- http://www.radhanath.com
Maharaj always sees positive in others.
Such an amazing eye opener by Radhanath Swami – ” People talk Gossip to try to fill the emptiness aroused because of not having Love for God!”
Very True Maharaj.This Prajalpa ruins our spiritual tendency to love & serve God!
Thank you so much for such an amazing answer.
Wonderful… Indeed the tendency to gossip is very strong
Wonderful explanation by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
perfectly… Radhanath swami
practically a very good answer to contemplate and act upon our speech and words.
Unnecessary back biting draws all the positive energy out from us. Thank you Radhanath swami
WONDERFULLY EXPLAINED MAHARAJ.THANK U
thank u Radhanath Swamy, your words actied like a balm on my pained heart..
awesome explaination about gossip.
Thank you maharaj for the best reply and protecting us from such gossip.
Thanks for guiding us.
awesome!!!!
Wow!! I gossiped but never thought about gossip. I will be careful now onwards.
Lot to learn from this simple article.
Reading the above will hardly take 2 minutes.. But the realization of the same will take half way half of the human lives
very wonderfully explained and it also exposed my weakness to do prajalpa..will always take care to stay away from idle talk.
so well explained !!
thank you Radhanath swami for telling us the dangers about gossip
To consider the riches and fame of this world to be peanuts requires deep spiritual realization. The world is mad for material success but a true spiritualist gives it no more value than peanuts.
Wow.. i sometimes overeat.. didnt know that is also a Prajalpa. Will be careful from now on.. Thank You HH Radhanath Swami for sharing this. Hari Hari!
very nice article thank you very much.
This is Fantastic..
Rupa Goswami’s use of word prajalpa is significant here..
very enlightening answer
Very important lesson for those who are spiritual aspirants. Thank you very much Radhanath swami maharaj
prajalpa just drains our spiritual energy….Thank you very much Maharaj !
Thank you very much Radhanath Swami for time and again teaching us how we should avoid mundane gossip so that we remain focused in our spiritual life !
Thank you very much !
Hare Krishna !
wow…. wonderful answer…. such an amazing insight!!
amazing.
nice article
Thank you Radhanath swami for giving such a wonderful answer of why people engage in gossiping.
Swamiji makes to think about real problem.
Thank you Maharaj.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj gives the root cause of gossip-vacancy in heart. How sublime!
Thank you for warning us of the dangers of prajalpa and how it adversely affects our spiritual life.