Mutual Glorification in Spiritual Circles; What is it all About? Radhanath Swami Clarifies…
Insights — By RNS Online on October 29, 2010 at 12:53 am
Question to Radhanath Swami: When one Vaishnava, a devotee of the Supreme Lord, praises another devotee’s devotional qualities, what should be the mood of one praising, and what should be the mood of one accepting the praise?
Answer by Radhanath Swami: Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur condemned flattering. .In the material world people praise others because they want to get something in return for that praise: one sometimes praises a politician because one wants help from that politician’s political powers; one sometimes praises a rich man because one hopes to get some money from that rich man. That is flattering. But when it comes to praising a devotee, one shouldn’t have this mentality. It should be done as a regulative principle as given by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to purify our hearts, for glorifying a devotee has that effect.
But the person being glorified should be very careful not to keep it for oneself, for 
then he/she will develop serious ‘indigestion.’ Any praise that comes, one should have a philosophical understanding, “Really, I am not the doer. If it wasn’t for the mercy of great saints like Srila Prabhupada and his associates, for what would I be praised for? Would I be following the principles of bhakti? Would I be chanting the holy names? Would I be performing devotional service? If it wasn’t for the association of the devotees protecting and sustaining me, where would I be? If it wasn’t for Krishna in my heart who is giving me intelligence and abilities, giving me the power to speak, what could I do? So, we should never take credit. We should give all glories to those from whom we are receiving our power and mercy. If we keep any praise for ourselves and we think we are the doers that will create havoc within our hearts. We should appreciate the affection of the person praising us, but the content of what he is saying we should understand belongs to Krishna and to those who are giving us that mercy of Krishna.
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55 Comments
It is so pleasing to the heart to offer appreciation to a sincere devotee.
Nice to hear Mr. Mafatlal’s honest confession….
Difficult to practice, but immensely beneficial.
Interesting point – we will suffer from serious indigestion if we keep any praise to ourselves. No wonder we are all so spiritually ill these days!
Only a truly humble person like Radhanath Swami will have no desire to take credit for any of the great tasks he accomplishes, and not let any amount of praise affect him.
Radhanath Swami has nicely explained the subtle distinction between non-devotees praising others as an act of flattery vis-a-vis devotees praising others as an act of regulative principle to purify our consciousness.
Radhanath Swami has nicely explained the subtle distinction between non-devotees praising others as an act of flattery vis-a-vis devotees praising others as an act of regulative principle to purify the consciousness.
Maharaj has so nicely explained the praising mood, especially the last two lines are remarkable and easy to understand.
Very instructive answer by Radhanath Swami on how to receive praise from others.
Radhanath Swami Clarifies… between glorification and flattering
Radhanath Swami Maharaj is teaching us the true meaning of humility.
What to do with the praises…so aptly described with Radhanath Swami.
Wonderful…Thank you radhanath swami
H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj has nicely explained about appreciation. This teaching can help in progressing spiritually.
Radhanath Swami gives us what position we should take when there is the slightest of praise else we can develop severe “indigestion”
Radhanath Swami clarifies very nicely how to respond to the praisings of others. Radhanath Swami always instructs based on the scriptures. In Srimad Bhagavad Gita krishna Says I am ability in Man. So attributing every achievment to Lord is the right attitude.
in my really so nice to hear appreciation but provided it should be passed to guru parampara.
although its heart purifying but very difficult to glorify to someone genuinely from heart.
Radhanath Swami has suggested very nice way to avoid the pride to generate in our hearts. Thank you Radhanath Swami for this.
we think we are the doers that will create havoc within our hearts — humility will never manifest in such a heart
By glorifying sincere devotees we develop the quality of humility.However we should not expect any glorification.If anybody glorifies us we should pass it on to our spirtual master and the Lord.
Such a nice explanation for both giving and receiving appreciation.
Radhanath swami very beautifully explains “Mutual Glorification.
Very nice. Thanks for enlightening us Maharaj. Hari Bol!!
Sometimes this glorification results in pride, and Maharaj has very carefully explained this. Jai Maharaj!
The philosophy of the Hare Krishnas is so deep…. even mutual glorification behind it……
Very important instructions of Maharajah. Devotee glorifies other devotee,because of their simple heart and non -envious nature. When we recite All Glories to Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupad, there is no room left for our glorification.
Thanks Radhanath Swami Maharaj for giving such lucid explanation.
Offering sincere praise to devotees is one of the greatest joys of the heart.
nice one…
And once Radhanath Swami Maharaj said that we must be careful not to be proud of our humility. High standards aren’t got so easily.
marvelous understanding of the devotees’ glorification in the spiritual circles by Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
wonderful,thank you
Radhanath Swami truly cares for us. He warns us of the dangers of becoming proud while we are practicing spirituality.
Thank you for making us understand this point.
Very nice reply…..Swamiji himself follows this principle sincerely in his life & teaches the same to his followers…….
Radhanath Swami Maharaj explains how to protect ourselves from flattering & flattery!
Very nice and lucid reply
Beautiful Article!
Offering praise and forwarding the praise we receive to our senior and Guru is one of the key aspect to remain stable in our devotional practice. Thank you for teaching us this principle Maharaj.
Very loving Article !!!
Thank you Maharaj
Maharaj nicely explained diference between non-devotee praising (flattering) and devotee praising.
Thank you so much Maharaj
A wonderful message on what consciousness a praiser and a receiver should be, by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!
Profoundly Explained.
Wonderful site. A lot of useful info here. I’m sending it to some friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your effort!
Radhanath Swami practice what he preach
Such a wonderful and simple explanation about genuine glorification and the mood of the devotee glorigying and the one being glorified. I was just looking for this.
http://www.radhanath.com
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So wonderfully explained. Thank you
Thank you Radhanath swami for explaining the mood with which we should accept glorification and the mood with which we should glorify others.
important principle to learn and practice
Hare Krsna.
thank you very much Maharaj.
A perfect explanation of how we should glorify & what consciousness we should have when someone praises us !
Its so true without the mercy of Srila Prabhupada & his followers, without association of devotees we would not even understand what is spiritual life, what to speak of following it !
Thank you very much Radhanath Swami Maharaj for such lucid explanation !
Hare Krishna !
Thank you for this question and answer.