Isn’t our spiritual goal achieved only at the time of death? Radhanath Swami clarifies…
Insights — By RNS Online on March 27, 2011 at 3:14 am
Question to Radhanath Swami: In ordinary life, our short-term goals—wealth, fame, money, etc.—are measurable. To aspire for love of God is to pursue the proper long term goal. But unlike short-term goals, isn’t this goal achieved only after death?
Radhanath Swami: The highest goal does not come at the time of death. The highest goal comes when we make service to God the highest priority of our life. We are not waiting for death to attain love of God. If we do not develop love of God when we are living, we will not have love of God at the time of death. Therefore little Prahlad (about whom the Srimad Bhagavatam speaks about) said to his classmates, “Now is the time to live a life of devotion,” though he and his friends were only five years old then. Prahlad had pure, ecstatic love of God even as a small child and he lived his whole life expressing that love of God, in a spirit of compassion to others. That is what we are striving for. Love for Krishna is not far away. It is the closest thing to our heart and is the very essence in the core of our heart. But unfortunately, our consciousness is running far away from the thing that is closest and nearest to us.
Yes, now is the time to begin to redirect our consciousness to our essence, to our eternal spiritual nature. We cannot wait till the moment of death. If we haven’t deeply realized the Absolute Truth when we are living, the time of death will proclaim a great sorrowful failure of our human life. But if we pursue the goal of pure devotional service now, then we are already on the path of perfection.
Srila Prabhupada, our guru, once told the devotees, “Because you are living a life of service to God, and you are chanting the names of God, you are all liberated.” The devotees were astounded, because even though they were following the principles, chanting the names of God, serving God, reading the scriptures, they understood that they had much envy, pride, greed and lust within their hearts to deal with. Srila Prabhupada said that his followers were liberated because they were living like liberated souls by following the principles of Bhakti. They just hadn’t realized their liberated state! So if we just follow Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, we are actually living in a liberated state. And by living in that state, gradually we realize our liberated condition. And that is the perfection of life.
Tags: answers, death, fame, god, money, radhanath swami, service, spiritual goal, wealth
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74 Comments
Very encouraging reply by Swamiji……..Thanks for your guidance & encouragement to take our devotional service very very seriously……
Radhanath Swami has given wonderful answer. Whatever state of being we are at the time of death, we will get our next body accordingly.
In the association of bonafide saints such as Radhanath Swami & by following their instructions, we can make rapid spiritual advancement & live a life of pure devotion to God.
The next breath in life has been promised to nobody.So, we need to act on HH Radhanath swami’s instructions, in order to be liberated.
Very well answered by HH Radhanath Swami.
When we make service to God our highest priority, then we have achieved our goal.
The statement “If we haven’t deeply realized the Absolute Truth when we are living, the time of death will proclaim a great sorrowful failure of our human life” was very much sobering and instructive to me.
We must make Krishna consciousness our priority.
Wow! Have been fortunate to hear Radhanath Swami several times and his discourses are full with nectar,they really wake one form a deep slumber. This reply is really special it kind of puts a sense of urgency – for time is ever running out on us.
Death is but a peaking of lamentation for one who has missed the essence of life.
This answer from Radhanath Swami is just perfect. It answered many similar questions for me too!
Maharajah is reminding us to use our body,mind and words for the service of God and go back to Godhead.
Radhanath Swami’s answer gives much hope to us to follow spirituality in our life sincerely and seriously
The time for spirtuality is now! Wonderful realization, thanks for sharing!
Let me strive to follow the principles laid down by Srila Prabhupad and repeated by Radhanath Swami
Radhanath Swami Maharaj is revealing a very confidential truth that we are liberated if we follow Prabhupadas instructions & that we don’t have to wait till death to achieve love of God!
very true answer we should try to live as per Shrila Prabhupada instructed us through his deciples like Radhsnath Swami.
The love of GodHead is very close to us.It is in our heart.But the nature of this material world is to keep us away from that love because once we wanted to enjoy seperatly from God,Sri-Krishna.But by the grace of Spiritual masters like HDG.Srila Prabhupad and HH.Radhanath Swamiji we can practice Sadhdana Bhakti and reclaim our lost eternal Love for God,Sri-Krishna.
great explanation by Radhanath Swami.
Very much hope giving
All Glories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
A very beautiful narrative, rather a explanation which is strong enough to enlighten what our actual goal of life is.
Hare Krishna
Nice reply…..
“The highest goal comes when we make service to God the highest priority of our life. We are not waiting for death to attain love of God. If we do not develop love of God when we are living, we will not have love of God at the time of death.” These are real words of wisdom to be practiced.
very convincing answer. thank u maharaj.
such a wonderful answer.
This is a very good question. Sometimes people think spiritual life about next life and not about the present. It’s about every moment; death is just an event like any other.
Nice explanation.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj has explained the beauty of Bhakti!
“If we just follow Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, we are actually living in a liberated state”
HH Radhanath swami explained very nicely, in fact gave more strength to our spiritual life.
All Glories to HH Radhanath swami maharaj.
Thank you so much for posting nice and wonderful nectar.
Great question. Without knowing its answer, one could easily reject spiritual life altogether. Thanks Radhanath Swami!
Very nice answer! Never knew that even one who is just practicing Bhakti is also liberated-Just the realization about it is missing!!!
Brilliant Answer
Thank you Radhanath Swami for giving us the importance of having spiritual goals.
very beautifully explained by Radhanath Swami.
Convincing reply by Swamiji….
I have always thought that the death is my final exam. That would reveal whether I have attained my goal of life.
Thanks for explaining – “If we do not develop love of God when we are living, we will not have love of God at the time of death.” that I have to make service to God as the highest priority of my life. Thanks Maharaj.
very inspiring Maharaj – thanks for giving us the right direction.
So true. Thank you so much Radhanath Swami.
Krishna Consciousness Now is the real offer!!
The principles taught by HH Radhanath Swami are very sublime and simple to follow which will lead us to reach the perfection of our life.
It is impossible for one to know the truth but through authority one can. Following the authority is the principle of journey on the right path. All glories to Radhanath SWami.
Thank you for clarifying.!
Thank you Radhanath Swami for bringing urgency in practicing devotional service to Lord
An explanation that brings courage and devotion in our heart, beautifully put forth by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
Thank you so much Radhanath Maharaj for such profound wisdom and making us realise that the means and the goal are the same for one on the path of devotion to God.
Wonderful article. The urgency to take to the path of God consciousness is so beautifully described. Very hope giving too. All Glories to Radhanath Swami.
thanks very much for sharing
This is a very nice answer by Radhanath swami maharaj–which clearly depicts that spiritual life is not a process to be done at the end rather it should start now!!!
Good answer
something that needs to be practised from a early stage in life till the end. sounds perfect. thanks radhanath swami.
perfection comes only after a through practice.from childhood till death. thank you radhanath swami.
Radhanath Swami has answered so nicely.
Beautifully explained – Thanks a lot Maharaj for the wonderful instructions.
Thank You Radhanath Swami.
Many Times I heard ur Answers Maharaj and all Answers Which u Give in your Lecture are Realised all are very Perfect.
amazing
-The highest goal comes when we make service to God the highest priority of our life.
-If we do not develop love of God when we are living, we will not have love of God at the time of death.
-So if we just follow Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, we are actually living in a liberated state.
I like this points, thank you Maharaj
This is a perfect answer by Radhanath swami.
Very nice article
Whatever state of being we are at the time of death, we will get our next body accordingly. This one insrtuction if followed sincerely, one can become serious in his sadhana.
Amazing explanation.
Beautiful explanation!!!:):):)
Radhanath Swami teaches perfectly about goal of life
Very nice clarification about the result and practice of spirituality .Thank you Maharaj!!
Radhanath Swami gives a brilliant answer.
Wonderful answer ! in fact nectar of instructions.
Thank you so much Maharaj for guiding us in each and every aspect.
Wonderful.
Very nicely explained.
Thank you so much Maharaj.
Beautiful answer!
very nice question and a very nice answer
very nice answer.
Thank you for this article.
Wonderful article about how to develop love for God when we are still alive.
Thank you Radhanath swami for explaining self realization can not be achieved at the time of death but it happens when we are alive.
Radhanath Swami makes complicated answers so precise & perfectly answers them without a benefit of doubt in readers mind. He makes it very clear what the goal of life is : “The highest goal comes when we make service to God the highest priority of our life.”
Thank you very much Radhanath Swami Maharaj !
Hare Krishna !
If we haven’t deeply realized the Absolute Truth when we are living, the time of death will proclaim a great sorrowful failure of our human life. But if we pursue the goal of pure devotional service now, then we are already on the path of perfection. Nice teaching from Maharaj.
Thank you for the wonderful advice.