Radhanath Swami tells a true story

97 True story

I want to tell the story of a lady Kuntidevi, also a disciple of my guru Srila Prabhupad. She was never a big leader; she was never a person that people honored and respected as being a person of high position. She was a simple mother and a very, very dedicated devotee of Lord Krishna. Those who knew her well honored her, but there weren’t so many people who knew her well.

When she got cancer of the breast, that cancer spread viciously, and entered into her spine and into her organs and just crippled her. It was such a ferocious case of cancer that the doctors said, “There is absolutely nothing that anyone can do. You have six months to live, maximum.” She was practically paralyzed from the waist down. She was in a wheel chair. According to the medical analysis, she was racked with pain. Yet, she was always smiling, always encouraging and making everyone happy. It was so phenomenal. How blissful she was! How positive she was! The local television station heard about it. They met her and they never had seen anything like this in their life.
I saw that television show too. It was a half hour program and it was incredible. The hostess was just praising her. Kuntidevi was talking to people and giving lectures about the beauty of life, the beauty of bhakti, and the good fortune of anyone who has Krishna. The hostess asked her, “How could you be so happy when you are in such a condition?” She replied, “Because I know I am the soul, I am eternal, this body is just a temporary situation and this situation is bringing my soul closer to God. Therefore I am rejoicing and I am happy.”

According to the doctor’s diagnosis, her physical symptoms and everything else was utterly hopeless and miserable except one thing—her consciousness.
I happened to have the fortune of being at her bedside when she left the world. She was surrounded by loving devotees chanting the holy names and she just lovingly gave her heart and her life to Krishna in a totally positive, grateful and happy state. Now, you cannot get that consciousness even from the best psychologist or psychiatric. They can do good to a certain extent, but a really true and deep positive attitude in life comes by knowledge and realization of the eternal blissful nature of the soul, the all attractive, all merciful, beautiful nature of God, our relationship with God and the beautiful and wonderful opportunities to serve God that we have at every moment.

By Radhanath Swami

By RNS Articles

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128 comments

  2. This is such an inspiring story. Thank you so much HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj for narrating it to us!

  4. Thank u so much HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj Ji for such inspirational story .

  5. To understand we are not this body and soul – theoretically sound very good but when the real situation comes to prove this- we fail to analyze..Being with Cancer pain and smiling- having faith in krishna is really shows being a Great devotee and prabhupada mercy on her..

  6. All glories to HHRNSM .A very good example how we can serve Krishna at every point of life by being positive

  8. “Because I know I am the soul, I am eternal, this body is just a temporary situation and this situation is bringing my soul closer to God. Therefore I am rejoicing and I am happy.”
    This is a good lesson that can be taken from this article.

  9. very, inspiring story!!!prooves how the real bliss in life does not depends on material conditionings, but purely on the consciousness…
    hari bol

  10. A really inspiring story. Thankyou Guru Maharaj for sharing this story with us.

  12. Beautiful n touching ,teaches us to cultivate a positive attitude .Grateful to you MAHARAJ .

  15. Thanks Maharaj for sharing about Kuntidevi and the consciousness… separate from Body… Very difficult to practice

  16. Very wonderful and inspiring article.

    Thank you so much Maharaj for enlighten us.

  17. Yes Maharaj tell how should we take shelter of lord.

    Thank you Maharaj for sharing this inspirational story

  24. very inspiring.Even in the last stages of cancer H.G Kuntidevi had so much service attitude.

  25. Thank you for sharing this inspiring story. All glories to Kunti mataji, all glories to Radhanath swami.

  26. Thank you for sharing this wonderful real life story. Our problems are nothing compared to problems of Kuntidevi mataji. I need to aspire to learn to develop such GOD consciousness.

  31. Very inspiring story Maharaj! this story tells one about the right consciousness one should develop in during our journey in this material world.

  33. Thank you for sharing this amazing account of a devotees courage and determination in the face of odds.

  34. Thank you for sharing this wonderful real life story. Our problems are nothing compared to problems of Kuntidevi mataji. I need to aspire to learn to developp such GOD consciousness. Maharaj, thank you again for teaching us the real way of life & how to be positive in all such turmoils of life.

  36. Living as an exemplary for the rest of the world is the real way of living which pleases Krishna the most. All glories to Radhanath Swami.

  38. Thank you Radhanath Swami, for sharing this experience of Kunti Devi. its very inspring and hope giving

  39. As true as the sun, the moon and the stars in this world in the same way the story narrated by H. H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj are true and touched very hearts. This narration tells us the true beauty of this world.

  41. This is one of the tests , which shows real practice of a devote. Thank you swamiji for sharing such inspirational incident that path of bhakti actually works. HG kuntiedevi please bless us with sincerity of of your devotion to the Lord.

  42. Thank you very much maharaj.
    Radhanath maharaj is not only telling a story but pointing out essence of spiritual life…ante narayan smriti….

  43. “True and deep positive attitude in life comes by knowledge and realization of the eternal blissful nature of the soul,
    the all attractive,all merciful,
    beautiful nature of God,
    our relationship with God and the beautiful
    and wonderful opportunities to serve God that we have at every moment.”
    Thank you very much Radhanath Swami, for sharing with us, the mature fruit of your deep spiritual understanding.

  45. Radhanath Swami brings out the critical importance of nourishing our consciousness on which depends our thoughts, words and actions.

  50. This story is so touching. When I specially hear the lecture given by Radhanath Swami Maharaj about Kuntidevi, tears pour from my eyes & reminds the important of Krishna Consciousness.

    this story is very very inspiring.

    HG Kunti mataji ki jaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

  51. The glories to Srila Prabhupada and his disciples like Kunti Devi Mataji are unlimited. Thank you Radhanath Swami for sharing such an inspiring story with us.

  52. From such shining examples we learn the practical side of Krsna consciousness – thank you Maharaj for sharing this pastime with us.

  53. The example of Kunti Devi shows us that we have to take full surrender of Krishna. Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai.

  55. Simplicity & enthusiaum in KC attracts Krishna more that doing big big services but not remembering Krishna. Kunti Mtj’s wonderful qualities attracted Krishna & therefore she went Back to Krishna.

  56. Its so wonderful to see examples of devotees who have realized the spiritual knowledge, reached the perfection of their spiritual practise – very inspiring…

  58. Very inspirational story – Thank you so much Maharaj for the wonderful instructions through this real life story.

  61. Such great devotees undertake great pains only to teach us through their example how we can transcend the bodily identification by connecting to God

  62. What a touching story given by Radhanath Maharaj. The moral is considering our condition we should dedicate more to the Lord.

  64. Requires tremendous mercy to be in such a state of consciousness while leaving the body. Maharaj, your mercy alone can help us transcend to such a state.

  68. Amazing one. So inspiring to develop more dependency on Krishna than worrying about the temporary bodily comforts/discomforts. Requires lot of sincerity. Hope by the mercy of Guru and Gauranga we will also reach to same consciousness.

  69. Thank you for posting this very inspiring story. It is a BIG surprize as to how a person in such a state of health can be blissful…

  70. Only a realized soul can happily go through this suffering, for most of us it is a concept only.

  71. Th example of Kuntidevi shows that we have to take full surrender of Krishna & his devotees without false ego…….thanks

  72. The reality of spiritual like can be experienced by being with spiritualists not by denying it condescendingly.

  73. Pain is inevitable suffering is optional. This line is often referred to in many contexts of life itself.
    Radhanath Swamis teachings through his informative articles guide us through exemplary lives of devotees, who won’t let anything come between themselves and service unto the supreme Lord.

  81. Just being convinced of the reality that we are the eternal soul changes life amazingly.

  83. I most of the cases success of spiritual life depends upon its practicable applicability. Kuntidevi mataji is a real life example of this.

    Thankyou Radhanath Swami for sharing this pastime of hers.

  84. Thank you Maharajah for inspiring story. Kunti Mata ji understood philosophy and lived her life till death according to that philosophy.

  85. Thank you Maharaj for sharing this inspiring story of Prabhupada’s magical disciple.

  88. What a amazing story.Simplicity and humbleness of pure devotee attracts the hearts.

  89. Very inspiring, a self realized person can only lead life like that. Actually for a devotee, the end of body is not the end of life but start of a new eternal life.

  90. Thank you very much for sharing. We should prepare in this whole life to have that consciousness at that moment of death.

  91. I know one thing that consciousness at the time of death only depends on how your whole life you have centered around either around material things or spiritual things. It is impossible to remember god otherwise.

  93. Amazing & very heart touching story of such a genuine devotee of Lord.

    Thank you so much Maharaj.

  97. Very inspiring story of Kuntidevi mataji. It is indeed very difficult to maintain such pure consciousness when the physical body is devastated. It is a true test of our Krishna consciousness.

  99. This is really an inspiring story and an amazing realization of this lady. This brings lot of faith and inspiration in the path of Krishna Consciousness. Thank you very much for sharing.

  101. This shows that it is Total Absorption and attachment to the loving service of our beloved Gurudeva is the ultimate form of enjoyment, even amidst a materially hopeless health condition

  103. It is amazingly fortunate to read such a devotee with a clear understanding of the self and the soul. Thank you for posting.

  104. Thank you Maharaj for this story. We see so many devotees who have attracted the deadly disease of Cancer, yet their consciousness is so transcendental that they are similing all the way back to Godhead.

  105. Wondrful heart touching story Radhanath Swami has narrated here. Stories like these surely increase our faith on the Holyname. Thank you very much Radhanath Swami for sharing this story.

  107. A truly inspiring account of an amazing devotee. Such will-power and courage can come only from the Supreme Lord to a truly humble and sincere soul. By the mercy of Guru Maharaj we have every opportunity to develop such consciousness. I pray to the Lord that ‘may each one of us attain such devotional perfection’.

  108. “A really true and deep positive attitude in life comes by knowledge and realization of the eternal blissful nature of the soul, the all attractive,all merciful, beautiful nature of God, our relationship with God and the beautiful and wonderful opportunities to serve God that we have at every moment.” These are very inspiring words by Maharaj. I do pray that one day I too may have such attitude.

  110. This incident narrated by HH Radhanath Swami is very much touching. Its very difficult to understand that we are souls and not undergo sufferings of pains. As HH Radhanath Swami said, Kuntidevi mataji is one of those rarest fortunate souls who realsied the difference between body and soul and left this world blissfully leaving behind a great example for us to practice the devotional service in that mood.

  111. One of my karmi friends once remarked, “It is how gracefully you die determines the quality of life you have led”. Though this statement came from a karmi, I suddenly remembered that after reading this story. I have seen and heard about people dying out of a terminal ailment. Their situation is really pitiable. They are unfortunately in a terrible mental turmoil unable to cope up with the situation. In one word, they are simply devastated. It is so inspiring to see how Kunti Devi Mataji left her body in a blissful state of mind. This story only reinforces my faith in the wonderful process of devotional service given to us by Srila Prabhupada.

  112. All Glories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj

    Thank you for sharing this beautiful and inspiring story.

    Beautifully explained about the relation between soul and Krishna

    A very good example how we can serve Krishna at every point of life by being positive

    Hare Krishna

  116. Very inspiring story indeed. Thank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj for sharing this & preparing us to meet any eventuality with a loving & grateful heart.

  117. A Blissful State of Consciousness. As Radhanath Swami Maharaj said, it is impossible to attain such real consciousness with out Krishna, without His devotees.

  118. What a story! Radhanath Swami’s is so rich with so many divine experiences.

  120. All Glories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj.

    An story of incredible grit, is just credible because the basis and source of this grit is love for Krishna, and knowledge of the self. An beautiful unforgettable narrative.

    Hare Krishna

  123. This is what really mean to be living above the bodily platform. Once we are really at the level of soul, nothing of this material world can distract us from remembering and serving Krishna. Thank you Radhanath Swami.

  126. Spirituality and devotion teaches the practitioner to be oblivious to external circumstances and be in a blisful pleasurable state internally through constant association with Lord and his devotees

  127. Very inspiring realy story. It teaches us to be more attached to Krishna and his pasttimes rather keeping our mind in this temporary body or material life. We are eternal soul and part and parcel of God. Thank you Maharaj for your teachings through such a real story..

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