New Vrindaban and H.H. Radhanatha Swami (pre-ISKCON)
BY: GARUDA DASA (Jr.)
Mar 6, USA (SUN) — A personal perspective.
I was trained in ISKCON, but left to serve with the New Vrindaban crew after meeting their graces Malati mataji and H.H. Radhanatha swami at the rainbow gatherings. At this time they were preaching under Kirtanananda prabhu. At the same time I “joined” New Vrindaban I was “pushed away” from ISKCON by hard line politics and egregious fanatical preaching tactics that were prevalent in my home town temple.
Always keeping my ties with my near and dear friends/devotees in ISKCON, I served in the New Vrindaban camp. There, I was getting many inspirations and learning of its shady history by openly talking with friends who were insiders about the reality behind the controversial personality of Kirtanananda prabhu. I had learned of the hidden things that had gone on in NV, but still for me, because of great souls living there, it as a better refuge at the time than ISKCON. Beyond the gray areas, there was a wonderful and pure light shining at New Vrindaban, that light was found in the person of H.H. Radhanatha swami. One may ask how did he get there and why did he stay?
The one person who’s life’s story I’ve heard and relished from many different people as well as from that person himself was the life story of Radhanatha swami. For some alleged accusations formulated by (what I consider) envious people with agendas, this humble soul has lately become the target of their faux cannon fire and herein, I’d like to put forth a very personal perspective and yes glorification of Radhanatha swami. My disclaimer is that what you will hear below is based on personal realizations, having lived and gathered a lot of information; that which is empathically sensed as well as that which has been inquisitively and factually known.
By Radhanatha swami’s grace I was able to go on long road trips and spend hours on end by his side doing practical service while he preached regionally, across America, as well as in India. I am not his initiated disciple, though I do consider him one of the most inspiring people (siksa) on the planet.
The actual life story of Radhanatha swami is unboundedly full of the most amazing Krishna conscious inspirations. It is impossible to touch on even a small fraction of his journey that brought him to the Lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada in this one essay. Because of knowing a small fraction of His Glory, His prevailing humility and unassuming nature I practically saw how He was rightfully coveted by ISKCON while living and serving in New Vrindaban.
To those who not personally knowing him, would try and find fault, please know this: The root of Radhanatha swami’s decisions in life always issued forth directly from the instructions that Srila Prabhupada spoke to Him. After an amazing path of searching for God and surrender that took Radhanatha swami to India at the Lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada instructed Radhanatha swami to serve Kirtanananda at New Vrindaban.
At the beginning of this service Kirtanananda instructed Radhanatha swami to worship deities at the original farmhouse, which was far away from the main complex at NV. Radhanatha swami was dutifully bound to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, and not saying a word, didn’t come down for four years. Residing in the old and very drafty farmhouse, He lived in great austerity (cold winders, hot summers, austere prasadam, poor quality and limited cloth to keep warm etc.) while studying Srila Prabhupada’s books and offering very strict, full time and regulated service to the deity of the Lord.
After four years past this way, Radhanatha swami was questioned by Kirtanananda “why aren’t you preaching to the devotees”, so having been instructed to come down and live and preach to the devotees, Radhanatha swami took to chanting with a harmonium under a tree, day in and day out for a similar long period of time. This too was a result of His loyalty to Srila Prabhupada. What desire could such a person have with politics? Indeed, then and ever since, the devotees have come to Radhanatha Swami to engage in pure chanting and pure Krishna Katha.
It is said that there were more Prabhupada disciples living at New Vrindaban than in all the temples in north American combined, this was alleged to be true even for some time after Kirtanananda was excommunicated from ISKCON. My own realization is that after Kirtanananda was hit on the head, things were shown to be going off the deep end and into gray and black areas for Kirtanananda, my strong sense and practical understanding is that H.H. Radhanatha swami was merciful to Kirtanananda for Srila Prabhupada’s sake alone. That out of a sense of duty to Srila Prabhupada, not to abandon Kirtanananda, in his battle against maya. It was described to me that Just as when a soldier on your own side gets gunned down into a ditch during warfare, one fighting the same side will try to help him if there is any hope whatsoever. From my empathic perspective and based on evidences I’ve seen and heard, Radhanatha swami’s heart saw a soul down into the dirt, and not considering politics and external circumstances (looking at the heart) for the sake of Srila Prabhupada (just as Prabhupada also did for others, what to speak of Kirtanananda) wouldn’t give up hope on this soul to whom he was instructed to serve. To devotees like Radhanatha swami, serving also means that if they are down, to try and serve the best Krishna conscious interests which includes saving them, or be around for the “long haul” if needed to offer hope that they may “come around”.
Sensing the great and humble soul in the person Radhanatha Swami, I surmise that Kirtanananda manipulated the truth, even to the shameful extent of preaching (to make up for his own shortcomings) to keep Radhanatha swami around because he didn’t want to lose his friendship and association. Radhanatha swami tried for a long to give Krishna conscious hope to Kirtanananda. After too many of Kirtanananda’s lies had brew and finally came to full light to the main body of Kirtanananda’s followers, it was then in the face to face poignant meetings with between the two, that Radhanatha swami’s dutiful service to help save Kirtanananda from his own maya was finally obliterated. In the timing of the big scheme, it seemed to be the Lord’s will that New Vrindaban come back to ISKCON, along with the exodus of souls at New Vrindaban, and it did.
At one of the last discussions, Kirtanananda finally sobbing, lowered himself to the ground to offer prostrate obeisances at the feet of Radhanatha swami desperately begging forgiveness. Only a couple of people were there, and this tender moment illustrates what I was saying above about the type of relationship Kirtanananda held over Radhanatha swami’s head and how far he used their devotional relationship for His own ends. Perhaps Radhanatha swami knew that a false perception of his own personal pride was all that Kirtanananda had left, and whatever honor that was left in that once glorious servant of Srila Prabhupada, was kept alive in the eyes of Srila Prabhupada through his dedicated servant (Radhanatha swami), the one person who had no personal considerations outside of his service to Guru.
In fact there were many of us there (including myself) who stayed in “service” alongside Kirtanananda for this singular purpose: to remind and encourage him to repair fully his service to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON. If there is a place in the universe left for such offenders and sinners it is in the compassionate heart of saintly persons, and by their grace the old cow (Kirtanananda) and others like him may somehow have a place to graze and remember Krishna. Mature devotees who think like this do so remembering the nature of Srila Prabhupada’s unlimited compassion and love for His original servants that helped Him push the movement to life during his first days in the USA.
Yes, those who were done wrong and those who are innocent should never be subject to ever have to set eyes on wrong-doers, but in the true heart of compassion we must try to see ourselves in their shoes and make a personal decision as to what is within our power to help elevate those who are the most sinful of sinners. For this is what Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada ask of us.
Gita ch.9 vs. 30: Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.
In the Purport Srila Prabhupada says: “Sometimes, however, it may be seen that a person in Krsna consciousness commits some act which may be taken as most abominable socially or politically. But such a temporary falldown does not disqualify him.” And he says: “They are a warning to the non-devotees that because of an accidental falldown a devotee should not be derided; he should still be considered saintly even if he has fallen down accidentally.” And “If one does not follow this rule, and derides a devotee for his accidental falldown, then he is disobeying the order of the Supreme Lord.”
I’m sure that Radhanatha swami, myself and many others steadily and humbly went to Kirtanananda asking him to try and become more rightly situated in the eyes of the movement and Srila Prabhupada, including requesting him to be more humble and change his ashram, even retire. From personal inquiry I found that Kirtanananda’s swami’s perception of his swami status is tied in with his strong desire to preach and Srila Prabhupada’s instruction to him to serve as a sanyassi. Perhaps by default of his brain injury or blind pride he cannot abandon this swami title. Whatever the reason he remains almost completely isolated, but not abandoned.
I visited Kirtanananda in late summer ’06. Because of the efforts of a very humble soul there are arrangements now to take care of him while he scoots about in his electric wheelchair. In this isolation he is finally wearing a dhoti and tilaka and has his current place of residence is set up like an ISKCON temple. He has not given up on preaching and writing but his lifestyle does more resemble that of an old cow put out to graze.
I ask compassionate devotees to pray to Lord Krishna to bless the soul of Kirtanananda, to bless those who’ve adopted a pure heart of mercy for the fallen, and bless the disciples if Radhanatha Swami who can clearly and easily look beyond the mud slinging amid the recent shallow alleged claims and fault finding. Whether seeing through the eyes of compassion is correct or not in this situation, compared to other options I’m sure it is the best choice for me and in the right direction for all if we are to heal as well as grow spiritually.
Your servant,
Garuda dasa (Jr. second gen. aspiring devotee)
