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46 comments

  1. when a raw gold put in to fire it will lose all impurity inclusions & come out with its original luster….similarly When a person is put in a condition of great crisis, that is when their inner substance is revealed……

  2. Very true! It’s in difficult situations that a person’s true character is revealed!

  3. as when gold come in contact with fire & get burn it will burn its inclusions & gives its natural luster….. thank you for encouraging us to face the crisis …..

  6. Amazing quote……..! Pure Devotees always allow themselves to be tested by the world and they come out with flying colors….!

  7. True! The character and inner strength of a person is revealed when he/she is under severe stress. As the saying goes – ” When the going gets tough, the tough get going”!

  8. To be in a crisis and still be steady in mind requires practice. However it becomes easy when one recieves spiritual knowledge from a genuine guru.
    Thank you Maharaja.

  15. Great quote by Radhanath Swami which reveals a real test for understanding the greatness of a person.

  17. Very thought provoking quote by Radhanath Swami. The inner values are more important than the external showbiz.

  19. True. The true inner nature unfolds during trying situations. Radhanath Swami shows us the path on how to develop this inner consciousness with real values.

  23. very aptly put by Maharaj. So many great saints have shown that true character is revealed during crisis, take the example of Parikshit Maharaj, when he was cursed by a brahmana to die in 7 days, he did not counter curse, but simply accepted it as the will of the lord.

    1. Thank you for sharing this really striking example to substantiate this wisdom. Really useful.

        1. One’s greatness has to be estimated by one’s ability to tolerate provoking situations,

          Srila Prabhupada gives the example that a small flame can be blown out by even a slight breeze. However the greatest of all luminaries, the sun does not even slightly move from its position in the face of the most powerful cyclones, tornados or hurricanes. That is why the sun is greater than the flame. Srimad Bhagavatam on the banks of the River Sarasvati a group of great saints and saintly persons were gathered together. They were discussing the topic of greatness and they wanted to come to some understanding of who the greatest personality in the universe was. There were three opinions. Some said Lord Brahma others said Lord Visnu and others Lord Siva. Each of them had their reasons but they couldn’t come to a conclusion. So they deputed Bhrgu Muni, a son of Lord Brahma to make a test and evaluate of the three murtis, Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara who is the greatest.

          So first he went to the abode of Lord Brahma, his father and according to etiquette a son is supposed to offer respects to the father but he didn’t offer any respect at all. In fact he did not do anything. He didn’t say anything but just stood there. And Brahma welcomed him, “Oh my son. I am so happy you have come.” He just stood there. Brahma became so angry about this transgression and he was about to punish him but because Bhrgu was his son he controlled his anger and did not do anything. Bhrgu Muni could see that Brahma was visibly upset, angry.

          Then he went to the planet of Kailash were Lord Siva resides. Lord Siva is his brother. When Lord Siva was with his consort Parvati and saw that Bhrgu has come he was so happy, he was overjoyed, “My brother you have come.” He came to embrace him with a big smile welcoming him and Bhrgu Muni spoke. He said, “Don’t you touch me you filthy person. Look at you; your body is covered with ashes from the crematorium. You have snakes on your body with all bad association. You are filthy, don’t touch me!” Hare Krishna! Lord Siva became so angry he picked up his trident and was about to kill Bhrgu Muni but Parvati pacified him, “He is your brother, he is your brother, let it be!” So Lord Siva cooled down.

          The first offence was a mental offence to Lord Brahma. He did not offer proper respects. To Siva he committed a verbal offence. Then he went to Svetadvip were Lord Visnu is sitting on a flowered bed with Laxmidevi. As soon as Lord Visnu saw Bhrgu Muni come in He got up and said, “Oh My friend, O great brahmana you have come let me welcome you.” And Bhrgu Muni just ran up to Him and in a very angry disposition kicked Visnu in the chest with his foot. He wanted to see how Visnu would respond to this provoking situation. Lord Visnu sat him down and said, “Please accept this seat. I am so honored and so grateful that you have come. You have sanctified My abode by your presence. You are a brahmana. The water that washes your feet can purify even the holiest places. By you coming here you have sanctified Vaikuntha. I am very sorry. I beg forgiveness of you that I did not welcome you properly. I did not offer you proper respect so you duly punished me by kicking Me on the chest but I am feeling pain in My heart because your foot is so sacred, it is so holy, so soft and My chest is so hard that it must have caused you pain. Please let me massage your lotus feet.” And Visnu massaged the feet of Bhrgu Muni.

          Bhrugu Muni was standing there seeing the quality of Lord Visnu was paralyzed by respect, choked up. The only movement from his body was tears flowing from his eyes. He just had to leave. He went back to the bank of Sarasvati and explained to all the saints and sages there about how the three great souls responded to his various tests. They all came to the conclusion that Visnu is the supreme of all the greatest. His greatness was estimated by His ability to tolerate provoking situations. Amongst themselves they came to the conclusion that if someone is not of that transcendental stage of peace within their heart how could they give anyone else peace in a provoking situation therefore Visnu is the supremely worshipable Deity of all.

  25. That’s true. The core qualities come out during crisis times. Provocative situations are real test for true abilities of a person. Nice quote by Radhanath Swami

  27. A very vital truth is stated by HH Radhanath Swami here. Our real nature or substance is seen in action in times of crisis. I remember a doha from Ramayan which states .. Dheeraj Dharm Mitra aur Naari, Aapat kaal parakh yei chaari… Tolerance, Religion, Friends and Women, these four are to be tested in the times of crisis. This wisdom refreshed this in my memory. Many thanks for this blessing.

    1. Very nice point Piyushji! Somewhere else Radhanath Swami Maharaj says something like this “The credibility of a person is revealed during provoking situations”.

  29. Very rightly quoted by Radhanath Swami. Distress situations demand surrender to the real object one has taken shelter very deep within the core of heart.

    1. Nice point Raja! Unless one is fully surrendered to the Lord, it’s very difficult to tolerate provoking situations.

  31. Very true! People who have faith in the Supreme Lord take shelter of Krishna and that shows a person’s true character.

  32. Also once heard, “Once greatness is estimated by one’s ability to tolerate provoking situations”.

  34. v also see this in SB..when they are put in difficulties they take exclusive shelter of Krishna. Thank u maharaja hare krishna.

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