Time is so precious. Every moment is more valuable than all the wealth that we can possibly achieve in this world. If you loose wealth, you can get it back. But if you loose time, it is gone. Every moment of this human form of life is so very, very valuable. Our  success in life is how moment after moment, we make decisions that are for our real welfare. To night… can everyone hear? Everyone could hear nicely? Yes? Tonight we have been asked to speak on the subject: Failures as stepping-stones to Success”. I’ll like to begin by explaining a small incident that took place in 1969, in London, England, we were planning to have the first Ratha Yatra under European continent. There had been already Ratha Yatra in San Francisco, California. The six devotees that came to London, were very enthusiastic to perform this Ratha Yatra in London. They got a main street, downtown London for the Parade.

Shyamsundar Prabhu wrote to Srila Prabhupada before Ratha Yatra, explaining what type of promotion and propaganda they were making to attract people to come. They were expecting tens of thousands there were posters, newspaper articles, and invitations – grand scale. When the Ratha Yatra was just beginning, the wheel broke and the cart, chariot collapsed it was a disaster. There was nothing that could do to fix it… cancelled. So Gurudas Prabhu, who was one of leading managers of that project, wrote a letter to Srila Prabhupada. He was very despondent. He really felt that he’d disappointed his Guru, what to speak disappointed tens of thousands of people who had come for the Parad. Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter back. In that letter, he first explained that from the engineering point of view you must have too much weight on the chariot, without capacity of the wheel to hold it. Therefore the wheel broke. So you must learn this lesson. We have to engineer, whatever we do in Krishna Consciousness very carefully and very firmly. But besides that, Srila Prabhupada said do not be discouraged, don’t be disappointed may be Krishna has a higher reason that we cannot see for why this happened? Just be patient, be enthusiastic and we have our next Ratha Yatra next month. Do it again with all enthusiasm.  But make the cart right. Again Srila Prabhupada explained that it is a material principle that failure is a pillar of success and this same principle can be applied to our spiritual lives in our service to the Supreme Lord. Then Srila Prabhupada explains that Jagannath who is sitting at the cart is not different than Krishna. If we are sincere, if we never discouraged by the dualities of happiness-distress, honour-dishounor, pleasure-pain, success- failure.

Krishna will accept our sincerity and that is our real success. Srila Prabhupada wrote in his letter that it is a principle that failure is the pillar of a success. But it can be similarly applied to our spiritual lives. One very famous orator has said that success is going from failure to failure to failure, without loosing ones enthusiasm. We really never fail until we give up trying; trying, with determination and with enthusiasm. Vision, real vision is to see the invisible. To feel the intangible and to achieve the impossible. Actually challenges or failures can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks on the road to success. It is all a matter of how we look at it. You can see a glass is half empty, you can see a glass is half full. One will bring you enthusiasm, one will bring you discouragement. We can apply that principle to every aspect of our life. But what is of real importance is that we know we are dong the right thing. We learn from our mistakes. A mistake is only a mistake if we fail to learn from it. Real leaders make many, many mistakes, but they do not repeat them. They learn from they, they remain enthusiastic; they remain determined for the goal. Actual champions in every situation, they are always focused on their goals. They make goals; and losers make excuses. Our life is what we make of it. Failure is very a minor stumbling block on the road to success. Srila Prabhupada explained to Gurudas: “Learn from the failures and you will be better equipped to serve, in fact, do you know that a couple of months later, they had a more glorious Ratha Yatra. And from that day on for the next thirty years, all of the world; there has never been a Ratha Yatra Cart that has broken on the road. They learned the lesson and taught the lesson to the whole world. Failures build characters. Pressure is something, that only comes to one who earns it. We should respect pressures as an honour. We cannot be successful unless we have the courage to fail. And every failure contains the seed of success. To be successful in any venture of life is very difficult. To fail is very easy. It is very difficult to roll a stone to the top of a mountain; it is very easy to push it down. One may learn from our mistakes, one may learn from our failures, we become stronger, we have greater integrity.

Thomas Edison, he tried 8000 various experiments before he finally invented the battery. Later he was asked about it, his quote was: He wasn’t discouraged by all those 8000 failures. He said I at least I learned what doesn’t work  “That is success” Now in Bombay we are undergoing the monsoon rains. It is very inconvenient. Most people don’t like when it is raining and that is a universal principle all over the world. Raining is an austerity. You practically cannot do anything outside. Yes, Children cannot do their sports, adults cannot have open parties. And whatever else they do to get from one place to another, very difficult. However, the rain nourishes the earth, provides grains, foods, vegetables, flowers. Without rain there is no life. There is a song from the 1940’s from America: when ample showers come your way, they bring the flowers of blue and bay….  So when we see rains coming, mind should be focused on the flower that they would bring. When difficulties, obstacles, pressures and even failures come into our lives, we should always be seeing the invisible, feeling the intangible, so we can achieve the impossible. We may not understand exactly understand why? But if we have faith, if we have hope, we can always be looking at that flower that will grow from this rainstorm. That is the substance of a successful man. Opportunity knocks, most people complain that the noise. We should see an opportunity in every situation, we never really loose until we stop trying. It is said that in the darkness a star shines the brightest. According to the Panchatantra there are three types of persons in performing their duties. The one called the  ‘kanishta’ a person who does not begin an endeavor fearful that he may fail. The second person is one who endeavors, but turns back when obstacles and failures come on his path. That is ‘madhyami’ & Uttam, the first class man, is the person who keeps his mind fixed on the goal and he does not turn back, till he achieves it. Srila Prabhupada explained that it is a material principle that failure is the pillar of success, but it can be applied to the spiritual life. With your permission, I would  like to give some examples in the secular society of  how these principle applies.

Do I have your permission? “ Hari Bol”, There was a man, there was low grades, when he was a child his father said that he was a dog and he’ll never make a living. He wanted to attend Stanford University; he failed the admission exam two times. He also had a very severe lisp. His speech impediment and it took him years and years to overcome it. This man’s name was Winston Churchill. He became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the days when the sun never set on the British Empire. And in the secular world he is considered as one of the most famous orators of the 20th century. This was the man, who wrote a children’s book. He brought it to the publishers it was rejected 27 times. He actually came to the point when he was ready to burn the manuscript. This man’s name is Dr. Suez. The most world famous author of children’s books. He had 30 best selling children’s books in his life. And in the west every child grows up with them-even me. There was a man who got a job as a journalist. He was fired, his employer said – because he had no creativity. Then he started a cartoon company and in the first year he went bankrupt. That man’s name is Walt Disney, who practically founder of children’s films. Unbelievable success. There was a musical group, they audcioned and presented their music  to Columbia records-and were rejected. To Décor records— rejected. To pay records — rejected. The Philips records — rejected, to ‘his master’s voice’ — rejected. This was in 1962, the name of that musical band was the Beatles. The most famous musical band in the history of the Western word. Practically any record they made would be number one in the charts. And there was a man who wanted to be a singer. In his high school, he got a ‘C’ in the music class and his music teacher said-“You cannot sing, give up the idea” His name was Elvis Presley. He was the king of Rock. And he is still considered the king of rock. There was a man who ran for President in his freshening years in college, he lost. The next year, what to speak of the president, he wasn’t invited onto the student councils, because people didn’t think that he was adequate administrator. His name was John F Kennedy. One of the prominent Presidents of The United States of America. Henry Ford went bankrupt three time in the first three years he entered the automobile industry. There was man named R.H . Mercy, who tried to make store in New York City. Seven times he went out of business. For the past 40 years one the landmarks of the New York city and the store where people from all over the world go to is Mercers Departmental stores. There was a man who failed as a real estate agent, failed  as a farmer, failed as a customs agent and failed as a store clerk. His name is … S Grant. One of the greatest  military geminates in America’s history and he became the President of the United States of America.

There was a man who due to mediocre grades was not eligible to go to U.C.L.A film school where he really wanted to go. His name is Steven Spielberg. Perhaps you have heard of him. There was a man, when he was in his high school, with all his might he played he couldn’t make to the high school basketball team. His name Michael Jordan ESPN named him the greatest athlete of the 20th Century.  here was a man named Fred Smith who was going to college;. in his Project he presented an idea for a business. He got grade C, which means an average. It is not impressive. But the same founded on the same Principles actually, just by activating that project that he failed, he founded the Federal of Express company. There was a lady, she wanted to be an actress, she got for 20th Century Fox after one year she was dropped because production Chief she said was unattractive, her name Merlin Monroe. She became beauty goddess of Hollywood; even to this day. Albert Einstein was not able to speak till he, not able to actually talk till he was 9 years old. Thomas Edison, he tried 1320 times before he finally got his invention of light bulb to work. And as I said before 8000 attempts  before he got the battery. He never gave up. He kept his goal on his mind. In my own life, my father, when I was 10 years, he ran into total bankruptcy. He had nothing, he lost everything, he made a wrong decision. He struggled and tried just to keep his family from being in poverty. Today he is a millionaire and I remember when he was going through that crisis, every I heard him singing loudly in the shower, when the shower comes your way; they bring the flower that bloom in May.

According t o three modes of material nature, Bhagavad-Gita 18th  chapter describes, that people who perform their work disregarding spiritual injunctions and who perform a work that causes violence and pain to others, that is work in the mode of ignorance. Those who endeavor very hard for selfish reasons with false ego that I am the enjoyer; they are in the mode of passion. Most of the people we are talking about, in the mode of passion. But they never gave up. They didn’t care for what anyone said about them. They didn’t care how many times they fell on their faces. They were willing to get back up and keeps trying, that is the substance of success. Those who were in the mode of goodness, they worked their endeavor without false ego, free of dualities without being discouraged or over elated either success or failure. There are many examples in the Holy Scriptures of great souls who have overcome all obstacles to perform mission. Krishna explains: neha bikrama nasosti..” A spiritual principle that any advancement on the path of devotion is never lost and even if one falls down, even if one fails, still whatever progress person has made is still with him. An example of Ajamila, he strived on the path of devotion and then he totally fell. He fell completely on his face into the most painful of sinful activities, but because his work gave him spiritual credits at the greatest time of his need, Krishna was there to protect. We know Krishna induced him to name his son Narayan, and at the time of death, the sinful, … simply said the name of his son, because of his previous devotional activities, he saw the Yamadutas, Vishnudutas and he made up his mind then, I did the wrong thing, I made a big mistake. He learned from his lesson, he picked himself up and attempted ultimate perfection of life by chanting the holy names Hare …

Bhagavad Gita teaches us that we must perform our duties without attachment. We should not be attached to the fruits of our work. We should be attached to the purpose on which we are performing our work. Among the scriptures in the world, Bhagavad-Gita so deeply, systematically, scientifically, philosophically, logically explains the proper consciousness in which to perform our duties in this world. Krishna within our heart does not see the external appearance of a successful value Krishna sees our sincerity: patram pusham phalam toyam… Krishna explains, “ If you just offer me a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it if it is offered with devotion and let us see how these principles of Bhagavad-Gita, had been applied in the great spiritual teachers’ lives in our history. Christianity, it is the largest religion in the world as far as the number of people by many times over. They went through a very, very serious failure, their savior; they were only few followers of the time. Jesus Christ only had perhaps a couple of thousand of followers then. There were only few, 12, who were seriously committed. His religious movement was at the seed state and he was crucified. He was tortured and he left the world. Their guru, the master, when they were just…, had left them, and after that anyone who followed were  being persecuted. It’s a failure in one sense. But ultimately, what is the Principle because Christianity to grow all over the world, that Jesus died for our sins and at the top of every church, millions and millions of churches all over the world, it is a crucifix, which appears their failure, they lost their guru, they lost their guide. But what appeared to be a failure, they transformed the Christians into making that the greatest, the most powerful, statement to convert the people.

The prophet Mohammed, he began his preaching in Mecca. He made a few followers, most of them were killed in persecution, and he had to disguise himself to sneak out of the city without being killed. It is a failure, but later he came back. He learned things and he had faith in God. He had enthusiasm and  determination, he came back. Now Mecca is the greatest place of pilgrimage for Islamics. In Vedic scriptures, we read of Vishwamitra Muni, he was a yogi. He performed, years and years, of severe austerities and then a beautiful lady, Menaka appeared before him. He completely fell down into sinful, immoral acts. He lost all his mystic powers; he lost all of his whatever he had done. He failed, but what did he do, he got right back. He learned his lesson. He would never be seduced by a woman like that then and will not give him to lust. And even with more determination, he performed his tapasya for many years. And another heavenly lady appeared before him. And this time, he wasn’t going to give into to lust. He was so angry with her; he made her a stone by his glance. And because he gave him to anger, he for fell  down. He lost all his yogic powers and he was again just an ordinary man. He failed and what he did? He didn’t get marry and get a job, he just went right back. Now I learned two good lessons. A failure is a stepping-stone to success, if we have faith in vision. It’s a stumbling block to success, if we don’t. Vishwamitra Muni again performed his tapasya and became such a great-great devotee. The supreme personality of the Godhead, Ramachandra, became his disciple and now he has been glorified throughout the history, as one of the greatest rishis of all times. In Mahabharta, we read a story of Pandavas. The Pandavas failed, really failed. They lost everything.

Yudhistira made a serious mistake by entering into that gambling match. it is one of the regulative principles, no gambling, no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat eating. But as a Kshatriya, he has the right. Because it is also a principle of a kshtriya, if you are challenged, you cannot say, “No”. So, he was challenged, so it is a mistake, but he was willing to take the challange knowing Shakuni was at the other side. He lost his wealth, and they said, “another game?” “Yes”. He lost his kingdom. “Another game?”. “Yes”. He lost his brothers. “Another game?”. “Yes”. He lost his wife. He lost everything. The Pandavas lost everything. They failed. They were exiled into the forest for 14 years. They tried to murder into so many ways. Duryodhana tried to burn the house while they were in it and at other time tried to poison them. We can imagine when they were exiled into the forest to live like hermits, how Duryodhana, his hundred brothers, all of his associates were searching horrible propaganda against Pandavas. To justify, what they havedone, they lost everything. They were disguised dishonored, but they never gave up a hope. They never gave their sincerity to serve Krishna. And when under these circumstances, when Krishna spoke the Bhagavat-Gita, to teach them. The real success is not in the eyes of a man; real success is in the eyes of God; because that bears eternal fruit. It is said “If you are not willing to go on the limb, you will never get the fruit.” Fortune favors the brave. Those who will take risks, those who never give up, those who learn from their mistakes, learn from their failures, correct them, in a very positive state, do not get discouraged. Maintain enthusiasm and hope. That is the teaching of the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna told Arjuna: “ whether you win or loose, is not important. What is important is, you are, with all your energy, you are serving with sincerity and then if you win you will attain the kingdom of the World and if you loose, you will attain the kingdom of God. Arjuna didn’t need to hear that, we need to hear it. Therefore Arjuna took the vow on our behalf, so we can learn what is real detachment. In our own life, we worship the example of A.C Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada. Krishna could have given him an Air India Flight to New York. Krishna could have had many well-wishers waiting for him at John f Kennedy Airport with garlands and money. From Bombay, Srila Prabhupada tried so many ways to some how start this movement. And actually even before that, in 1952, Srila Prabhupada went to Jhansi. He was given a building at Bhartiya Bhavan and he founded the ‘League of Devotees’ in 1953. It was his dream – it was his conviction, that the building this building in Jhansi would be his International Head quarters for the movement that he was going to spread throughout the world. He gave his life, his soul, his blood; his swept, his tears to develop it for well over a year. His whole life, all his energy, whatever wealth he had, he put it into this project. It was taken away from him. And if he didn’t give it all, he would be under litigation, and he had no money to litigate. he had to leave it. A couple of years after putting in couple of eggs in that basket; as they say, I am sorry; using that as his quarters, He failed. He lost everything, but the didn’t give up. He didn’t even the slightest way loose enthusiasm, rather he became more determined, more enthusiastic He learnt the lesson. He was seeing the invisible. That is the power of faith.

From Vrindavan, he prepared himself and he came to Bombay and he got the tickets, free tickets, on the cargo ship – ‘Jaladuta’. When he was 70 years old. While crossing the Arabian Sea, he had three heart attacks as the age of 70. Heart failure. He arrived in the New York City. There was absolutely not one single person who could help him.  He was a stranger. He had fourty rupees.  In those days America had nothing  to do with Indian rupees, the whole time he was in America, he could never change them. When he returned to India he still had that fourty rupees; which means he arrived with nothing, no support, no money. He went to Butler Pennsylvania where some  people were kind enough to allow him to stay in an apartment. There was no trace of success whatsoever. By material standards ha failed a Butler Pennsylvania. He did not get any following, any support, nothing. But he did not see it as a failure. He saw this it as an opportunity in that time. Although he was trying, trying, trying to preach, trying to meet people, trying to establish something. Nothing happened. But, in the mean while he was observing  the American people and he was learning what is their consciousness, what is the values? What is the life style? He learned from that failure therefore it wasn’t a failure at all. That was the stepping-stone. And then he went to New York City. And no one was there, one man, from Yoga studio, was sympathetic to help him, but without allowing him to speak. He met one boy who actually became interested. Let him use his flat, his studio, his apartment to start a ceremony. Srila Prabhupada became so happy, wrote to his god brothers – “everyone send somebody to help me, it is our guru’s mission, he wanted Krishna Consciousness all over the world. “Send somebody”. Nobody sent him one person. Nobody sent him one paise. He failed in all of his attempts to get Indian people to assist him there. His hope was that flat; but one day the boy under LSD intoxication and actually attacked Srila Prabhupada. 70 years old man. That boy actually attacked to kill him. Srila Prabhupada had to leave that place. He was out on the streets with nothing. It’s failure-apparently. Again he learned a lesson. He saw that the monsoon is going to bring very, very prosperous crops. Srila Prabhupada said on many occasions, “When I came to the west, I was trying to do that was impossible.” He was thinking, he said, “ I didn’t know whether it was possible for me to succeed,  but that at least I knew that my guru and Krishna will be pleased, if I tried and I do not give up.  He tried, never gave up.  A couple of years later he had a worldwide movement. In hardly 16 years from the time he had left for America, he had over 100 temples, tens and thousands of devotees, 100 temples all over the world. His book publishing company – “Bhakti Vedanta book Trust.” became the largest publisher and distributor of Vedic literatures in history. Ten and millions and now hundreds of millions of books have been published and distributed. Once he was in Bombay and he was speaking with a room full of very big industrialists.

And Srila Prabhupada was explaining the secret of success. The secret of success is to do what we are doing for Krishna. To do what we are doing for Krishna’s pleasure, with faith. He explained his heart attacks, his relatisms, hid stroke, his diabetes. He started the movement at 70 with all these diseases within the first year. But the never gave up. He said I went from India with 40 Indian rupees and he said now our  temples are worth crores and crores of rupees. He said that the expenditure of our society and explained how many lakhs they were, everyday. He wasn’t boasting, he was humble, he was simply trying to explain to them the mystical hand of Krishna. If we just put our life in the hands, miracles are done. Never give up. Srila Prabhupada strived to start this project in Juhu beach. He got some land. He fought, he fought for years to get title for that land. Fought for years, and when some of his disciples were convinced by the opposition to legally sign over the land back to the owner, he did it. It was a total failure. But Srila Prabhupada had his goal. There was no impediment that was  going to stop him. Miraculously, in the most inconceivable way, Srila Prabhupada actually tricked the owner to sing it back. That was impossible, but he did it. Every time you see Radha Rasbihari Temple, every time you see Radha Gopinath Temple, you should understand that it is a miracle that Krishna performed because the devotee had such faith, such compassion, that he wouldn’t give up. We never loose until we stop trying. I repeat, Srila Prabhupada said, “Many times I was thinking, it may be impossible to succeed, but just in my endeavor my Guru and Krishna will be pleased. That is success.” He wrote in his prayer – Will they be able to understand my language? For I have no qualification. Just make me puppet at your hands Kirshna. Krishna is the husband of the goddess of fortune.

That our Radha Gopinath Temple –when first came here we were welcomed by one little, tiny, rat infested room. That was it. We had no more facility. Not much help, very difficult. We had little deities. Krishna had a broken arm, which would come out when we dressed him. We had nothing else. That’s how it started. Why has all this come? because devotees never gave up. Our Radhyeshyam Prabhu, I remember, years ago he told me, all the people he was preaching at IIT graduated, there was no one coming for the programs. He said “I think we should give up this project.” We explained — Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati; he would not take “ No” for an answer. He never gave up. This is how he trained Prabhupada, and this is how Prabhupada trained us. Disciples of Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati arranged a very big program and one or two people came in a big hall of few thousands. They were discouraged, disappointed. They came back and told their guru in shame. He said, “ One person came, that is great success.” He said–  “If no one comes, with full enthusiasm you preach to the four walls and Krishna will be pleased.” Ultimately Krishna is the source of success and failure. Our success is if we simply please Krishna. And now IIT, because Radhyeshyam Prabhu, later Gauranga Prabhu, despite all obstacles, difficulties, failures, they just kept going with great enthusiasm, it is a great centre for Krishna Consciousness. I remember, in my own life, we started one weekly class at one college. We were getting about 20 people. One day, I went to get the class and the room was locked. There was a notice that the Dean of the students of the Western Verginia University had cancelled this class permanently. We had no other access to the campus. So those 20 to 30 students came and I was just meditating on Srila Prabhupada  and Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati      “ should I go to another college? How can I compete with the Dean of the students of a college with 40,000 students?” So I just, quickly wrote a petition and showed it to the students and said, “ They are canceling us, you have a right as students to have this class, that is you constitutional right in America. We are not making an …, they are simply canceling because we are a minority religion. So they all signed that petition and those  students went to the Dean’s office and they got so many other signatures from, from so many— they got hundreds of signatures from other students who didn’t even come into the class just because they were late to cancel it. And the Dean started it again; and because of the publicity the next class, we never got more than 20 before, next class we had 80 students. Hari bol !!!!

 

Failures as stepping-stones to success, or it can be a stumbling block. It is all matter of how you perceive it. In the Bible it says that:  if you have enough faith, the size of a mustard seed, you can tell the mountains to move into the ocean and the mountains must move.”  Faith can move mountains. It has been demonstrated, again and again by great personalities – whenever you are looser-don’t  give up. Try to follow the spirit of the people who have won. Failure cultivates wisdom, character, if we have faith. The Vedic scriptures explain that we gain faith by associating with devotees. When we associate with people who have faith our faith naturally develops. If we associate with people who have no faith, then our faith dwindles. Historically, the greatest success stories, in both material life and spiritual life have often been of those who failed – lost everything, have no support. People are telling that “ You cannot succeed” that’s a good excuse, but successful people don’t make excuses, they make goals. Vyava sayat mika buddhir…  Krishna tells the secret of success, those who are in this path, they are resolute in purpose and their aim is one. And they never give up. Ultimately according to the Bhagavad Gita, the real success of life is if we remember God at the time of death. Deaths is the final exam. Gentlemen, I know many of you are students, but the challenge is to prepare for exam. In one sense, it is a desperate situation; because your passing or failure of this exam may make your career, Yes, so you work really hard, your endeavor, your determination. But these exam come and go. But even if you gain all the wealth of this whole world, if you don’t remember Krishna at the time of death, you loose everything materially and you have nothing spiritually. The devotee is not concerned with success and failure; he is concerned simply with endeavoring to please his spiritual master and Krishna. That in itself is success. “ anta kalecha mam eva…”

Krishna says “if you remember Me at the time of death, you will come to me without fail. I promise this.” That is the fact. So we may succeed in so many of the temporary endeavors of this material world; but we should be very careful to make sure that our human life is a success, and a failure. If we are not God conscious at the time of death, our human form is failed.

 

How to prepare ourselves to always remember Krishna? To always think of Krishna?  The Lord Himself has descended as Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to teach us the simple process:

1) Associate with faithful people,

2) Hear the philosophy of life from the Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and other    such scriptures,

3) And remember Krishna

 

The most easy and successful way to do that is to chant the Holy Names:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare ram Hare Ram  Ram Ram Hare Hare.

 

It doesn’t matter, how rich we are, how famous we are, how skilled we are, what really matters is our sincerity, our dedication — that is the real success in life. One of my god sisters, she was a very sincere devotee, who did incredible service in devotional service. But due to previous conditionings, and very, very difficult circumstances, she fell down. She was engaged in sinful activities, all kinds of them. But then something happened in her life by Krishna’s grace that just slapped her in the face and made her sober and she came back. She took the whole experience of years of being fallen, as a blessing. Now she is one of the most influential, powerful leaders in her society. She is encouraging, training, preaching to so many people. Now she couldn’t think that all horrible things I’ve done, it was a mistake – she learned form it. She picked herself up and she walked forward. And what lesson she learned in that mistake? Because the same weaknesses, the problems that cause other people to fall down from; she has full experience and wisdom, of how it happens and what it means? She has such compassion to people who are in that condition, which is almost everybody in the world, because she suffered, she has taken her failure as one of her greatest assets, wealth to help others. We must learn from our mistakes. A mistake is only a mistake if we do not learn a good lesson from it, and follow that wisdom. So, please there is no impediment in all of creation that can come in your way of success, if you never give up. If you have hope, if you have faith. If you maintain enthusiasm and determination, it is a blessing when we fail, it is not a curse, if we see the hand of God teaching us a good lesson, and that is applicable to every venture in life.

We have give examples of material people who in their materialistic pursuits, they failed, they were discouraged, but that’s what great people are made out of — enthusiasm, determination, Faith; and we have heard of some of the great spiritual personality throughout the world, how they and their followers dealt with failure. To conquer without risk is to triumph without glory. People go to Christianity because Jesus died for their sins. And in our lives, in Krishna Consciousness movement one of our greatest inspirations was the trials and tribulations, and the determination of Srila Prabhupada. This is because he was never discouraged, never disappointed. He pursued with faith that we are here today. You are young; the best years of your life are before you  — don’t waste them.  Have your spiritual goals and orchestrate all your duties and material obligations in harmony with that spiritual goal and you will be successful.

Thank you very much.

Written by

Radhanath Swami

H.H Radhanath Swami is one of today’s most beloved and respected spiritual teachers. A Bhakti Yoga practitioner for 40 years, he is a guide, community builder, philanthropist, and acclaimed author.Born and raised in Chicago,at the age of 19 he discovered India's Mystical devotional tradition and now spread his message of compassion and love around the world.

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About Me

Radhanath Swami

H.H Radhanath Swami is one of today’s most beloved and respected spiritual teachers. A Bhakti Yoga practitioner for 40 years, he is a guide, community builder, philanthropist, and acclaimed author.Born and raised in Chicago,at the age of 19 he discovered India's Mystical devotional tradition and now spread his message of compassion and love around the world.