Sometimes Spirituality Leaves us in Mid-air….
Insights — By RNS Online on October 20, 2010 at 3:36 am
Question to Radhanath Swami from a Student: When we are introduced to spirituality, we realize that what we learn in academics has little relevance from an absolute perspective. Therefore we lose passion for learning mundane things. But after a while, sometimes, we lose passion even for spirituality. So we are left nowhere. Are you getting my point?
Radhanath Swami: That is a very distinguished way of saying that you are lazy (audience laugh.) We shouldn’t be lazy. A lazy person makes no progress in any field.
Let us take Arjuna in the Mahabharath as an example. He was a solider. He studied at a college, the academy of Dronacarya. And Dronacarya was teaching him how to perform his profession, how to shoot arrows, how to organize military, how to fight with swords, etc. So many subjects he learnt for several years, and he learnt them well. In fact, whatever Dronacarya taught Arjuna, he listened so carefully that he perfected that subject par excellence by the next morning. He did his homework. When others were sleeping he was up all night, just studying, practicing…practicing… That was the kind of student he was.
On the other hand, Duryodhana in the Mahabharatha learnt the same subjects. He also learnt how to fight with swords, clubs, arrows, etc. But the difference between Arjuna and Duryodhana was that Arjuna used all that he had learnt in the service of God, while Duryodhana used it for his own false ego, for his own greed.
Yes, we should emulate the example of Arjuna. If you are in college, whatever you are studying, study well with the intention of using that in the service of God throughout your life. That intention will spiritualize your studies. And in order to have that honest intention, we should have a strong spiritual foundation. We should balance our education with our spiritual life so that we can integrate the two. If you are regularly reading the holy scriptures, if you are regularly chanting God’s names, if you are living a high moral life of integrity, if you are associating with people who are inspiring your heart with spiritual enthusiasm, and then if you study, you can study in spiritual consciousness: you can study as an offering to God, you can study with the intent of utilizing what you study for the welfare of humanity, in God’s service.
We should not be lazy in our domestic responsibilities and we should not be lazy in our spiritual pursuits. We should be dynamic, we should be enthusiastic. So many of our devotees who are excellent in their spiritual character and spiritual practice are also top students in respectable colleges in Bombay and Poona. Why? Because they have a greater motivation to study than the rest. They are studying to use their work for God like Arjuna. Others are studying because they have greed or because they want some sense of material security. There’s no higher, more powerful motivating factor than love of God. And if it’s used properly, it can be of the greatest benefit to us and to the whole world. So do not be lazy. Do not look for excuses. If you are going to be a student, be a student for God and if you are going to be a student for God, you should be the best student possible. Whatever we do for God, we should do it wholeheartedly.
By the way, I know you are not lazy. I was speaking for others who may have any lazy propensities.
Tags: arjuna, enthusiastic, lazy, motivation, radhanath swami, responsibilities, spirituality, study
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67 Comments
Nice summarization by Radhanath Swami. We tend to look for excuses for not doing our duties. By doing everything for God, we can be the best in every field.
Wow! Radhanath Swami’s replies and examples are crisp and amazing.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for exposing the garb of laziness either in spiritual life or material life of those spiritualist.
Radhanath Swami makes a very important point that whatever we do, we should channelize it for God AND we should do it wholeheartedly, not halfheartedly.
wonderful.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s wit & humour make sure that the message he wants to convey remains with the listener for a long time!
Very truly said by Radhanath Swami, he captures the essence here. Whatever we do, do for GOD and with ABSORBTION. Beautiful….
Bhakti Yoga is never Escape Yoga.
Don’t be lazy .. There’s no higher, more powerful motivating factor than love of God
Very true and convincing words from Radhanath Swami
There’s no higher, more powerful motivating factor than love of God. – Super quote!
Maharaj makes every point so clear that one will not forget it for life time. Haribol!!
Radhanath Swami wants us to use our mind & intelligence in the service of God.
awesome !
We all need reminding of this again and again!
Thank you for your wisdom.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for helping us fight lethargy
“Whatever we do for God, we should do it wholeheartedly”- very nice explanation by Radhanath Swami Ji.
inspiring article
Whatever we do for God, we should do it wholeheartedly. H.H Radhanatah Swami Maharaj has explained how we should not be lazy and be vigilent in our sadhana. Thank you Maharaj for this.
wonderful,thank you
The humour said it all. Radhanath Swami is quick to recognize the disease from the confusing symptoms – when one is lazy, one hides it by giving excuses.
What a clear understanding Radhanath Swami gives! I now understand what it means to spiritualize or integrate every aspect of our lives with god.
Wonderful teachings Radhanath Swami has given here. If we follow them in our lives, there is no doubt we will ever be frustated.
Jai very nice!! Higher the purpose we have more responsible we become.
Whoever has created this site & whoever has collected all these questions & answers, thousands sorry million times dandavats to him/her.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jaiiiii.
Hariiii Bollll… Wonderfull answer… Thank u Maharaj.. thats for me.. Lazy
Radhanath Swami gives a very clear guidance that there is need to integrate our spiritual life and material efforts
Thnk u Maharaj 4 that.
Thats 4 me cz i alws avoid my studies n gv some excuses
This actually clarifies the misconception that being a spiritual aspirant means to be lazy. Rather it means to be engaging things/talents in the service of God.thanks to Radhanath Swami for pointing this out.
very nice answer
Actually without spirituality, a person would be left high & dry, basically nowhere! Thanks Radhanath Swami for giving us the higher taste of love for God.
Radhanath Swami thank you for making the principle of yukta vairagya so clear i.e. using our skills in the service of the Lord.
Arjuna’s example is very appropriate.
What a wonderful answer to a question, I assume, many of us have when we begin our journey of spiritual quest.
A seeker of GOD understands everything in relation to GOD, and does it in the best possible way as an offereing to GOD.
We should not be lazy in our domestic responsibilities and we should not be lazy in our spiritual pursuits. We should be dynamic, we should be enthusiastic…Profound message Radhanath Swami is giving to his students..thanks
Our life can be a real success if we simly follow these simple teachings of Radhanath Swami
Thank you very much Radhanath Swami for inspiring me to continue studying with Krishna in mind.
Striking the right balance is an art so wonderfully focused by Radhanath Swami.
Wonderful explaination by Radhanath Swami.
Very nicely explained – Whatever we do for God, we should do it wholeheartedly. Thanks a lot Maharaj.
Amazing!
I liked Radhanath Swami’s sensitivity in not hurting the student
Wonderful insight given by Radhanath Swam. Thank you for sharing
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Incomplete understanding of spirituality leads us to renounce many essential aspects of life. Being a devotee of the Lord does not mean not to do anything; rather, it means to do all that we have to do, to the best of our capacity, but strictly as an offering to GOD. Thank you Radhanath Swami for clarifying the difference between laziness and a true renunciation.
Superb, thank you so much Maharaj for inspiring in all aspects.
A very nice message of how to be a student of God, by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
Its quite often that a new person on the path of Spirituality goes through this phase. Here Radhanath Swami very brilliantly puts all confusions to rest
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Wonderful explanation
Thank you very much for sharing us.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for encouraging us to be honest in our work and intentions.
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Very amazing answer Maharaj. It has cleared my doubts also..
Thank you very much for this article.
Wonderful explanation about how not to be lazy but be motivated all the time.
Thank you Radhanath swami for this wonderful reply for all of us to get motivated to do everything in the service of God.
Laziness is a big obstacle both in materila as well as spiritual life. We should avoid procrastination and be enthusiastic. Thank you for the wonderful advice.