Attachment to Identities Based on Externals

Radhanath Swami

My first day, I sat in meditation and prayer for several hours. And then a holy man wearing robes with long gray beard and hair, came out of the forest and was walking in my direction. His robes were flapping in the breeze for Mother Ganga. He walked right up to me. I stood up to greet him, his first words, he said, “You do not know who I am. But I know you. I have been watching you. And I see your determination. Now take off your western clothes and offer them in Mother Ganga. And I will give you the robes of a sadhu.” I asked him. “What is the Sadhu? First time I heard the word.” He said “a sadhu, who is a homeless wanderer who's seeking spiritual truth.”