Radhanath Swami speaks of the responsibilities of doctors

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“There is a saying in English, ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’ Disease is a time of great need.”- Radhanath Swami.

Generally, a person comes to a doctor when they are helpless. Otherwise, why go to a doctor, if you can fix yourself? Why pay money? Why do all the traveling? Why take the medicines? People go to a doctor when they feel themselves helpless, when they cannot help themselves anymore, when their family cannot help them anymore, when even their money cannot help them anymore. They need somebody else. And they turn to a doctor in that spirit.

And in that setting, a doctor is like a god to them. People go to church to pray when they are in need, and they go to a doctor to kind-of pray, when they are in need – “Please help me.” From a moral ethical perspective, when people approach you that way, you have an incredible, immense responsibility. If they are approaching you like you were god, you have the responsibility to be a proper representative of the God who is giving you your power. And we are responsible to that person to give them the very, very best. We’re dutifully responsible and spiritually responsible.

“When we think, ‘I’m the friend of this person,’ according to the Gita, that is an illusion that disrupts your whole life. There can be no peace in that state, as long as you think that you are the doer.” – Radhanath Swami

The basic principle of any religion is to understand that we are not the doers, that there is a power beyond our own that is working through us. But I’ve the free will, who I want to work through me. Is it going to be my own selfish ego? Or is it going to be the grace of God? So, firstly we should recognize that Krishna is the dear intimate friend, father and mother of all living beings. And then when we take a position of leadership, we are like an elder brother or an elder sister, who is meant to help that person on behalf of the mother and father.

These three principles the Gita tells we should understand: Krishna, Isvara, or God, whatever name we may have, is the proprietor of all that exists, including my abilities, my intelligence and all my wealth; everything is ultimately meant to be used in harmony with his will, which is for the compassion and the well-being of all living beings; and that ultimately he is the supreme friend, and I’m meant to be the instrument of the love of that friend.

Radhanath Swami

By RNS Articles

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34 comments

  1. Very true! We are not the doers but our ego leads us to believe that we are the doers as well as controllers. The sooner we realize that whatever abilities we have and whoever we are is due to the grace of the Lord, the better it is for us to pursue our spiritual life.

  2. Very nice article. We are not the doers. We have to act responsibly and with knowledge that we are mere instruments of love and compassion in the hands of the Lord.

  3. Reading through this article reminded me the experience of how i felt when i first got introduced to this aspect of my own being that – “I am not the doer”.

    I immediately felt like a helpless being. But as and how i dived deeper into the truths of Vedic scriptures especially Bhagawad Gita, i started to realize that much of the waste burden had been removed because now i understood that i just have to act responsibly in this world as an expression of Love for my eternal Father and he is taking care of the rest.

    And now this brings great joy to my heart.

  4. We have to use all our mind, intelligence, etc. which have been bestowed by Krishna, for the welfare of other living entities who are parts and parcels of of Krishna. That is the true friendship. Nice article by HH Radhanath Swami.

  5. Very true! We should help others discover the true goal of life and connect them to Krsna.

  9. “I’m the friend of this person,” according to the Gita, that is an illusion that disrupts your whole life. There can be no peace in that state, as long as you think that you are the doer

  10. Like a real doctor, HH Radhanath Swami removes the material diseases of people by distributing the message of Krishna to the world.

  14. A doctor is indeed like a God for the Body and the Spiritual Master is indeed God representative for the soul. All glories to HH Radhanatha Svami Maharaja.

  15. HH Radhanath Swami like a true spiritual doctor helps all the living entities by enlightening them about true path of religion and bring them close to Krishna.

  17. A doctor, though externally and temporarily gives pain through medicines and regulations has pure intentions to cure the disease. Similarly, a great saint like HH Radhanath Swami always work for the real welfare of the soul.

  19. HH Radhanath Swami, like a true doctor deals with every one with equal vision and helps them to know and achieve their true father, Krishna.

  20. There can be no peace in that state, as long as you think that you are the doer.

    This explains why there is no peace.. thank you Radhanath Swami.

  21. Nice analogy by HH Radhanath Swami to make us understand how we should be friend to every one.

  24. Also , another things is that when we accept the Supremacy all confusions /contradictions get automatically resolved and we can live in better harmony

  27. When we think, I’m the friend of this person,” according to the Gita, that is an illusion that disrupts your whole life….

    This is a striking statement by Radhanath Swami, thank you for it..

  29. True! We are not the doers! We should understand the Supreme lord to be the supreme doer and we have to work in Harmony of each of His desires

  32. HH Radhanath Swami, through this article opens our eyes to the true doer, Krishna and we are only the instruments in His hands.

  34. thank you Radhanath Swami for explaining us the responsibility when somebody asks us for the help..

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