Romapada Swami
Monk. Spiritual Leader. Motivational Speaker.
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SB 1.4.1-2 – Appearance of Sri Narada Rama Tulsi Devi Dasi
Romapada Swami
An Inquisitive Childhood
His Holiness Romapada Swami took birth as Brian Rumbaugh in a middle-class, Christian family in the small town of Utica, New York. His siblings and peers noted how, as a young boy, he was responsible, principle-centered, and a high achiever. Inspired by weekly church attendance with his pious parents, Romapada Swami deeply contemplated the Bible’s messages and exhibited an attraction to God from an early age. His spiritual teachers, however, were not able to provide satisfactory answers to some of his questions. Not until he met his spiritual master did he find clear and convincing answers to these questions—and many more.
As a college student, when faced with the prospect of being drafted into the Vietnam War, Romapada Swami completed a waiver form. One question had a profound impact: “State the nature of your convictions.” Upon reading this, Romapada Swami had a powerful realization: He did not know how to answer this question, he did not know what his convictions were. This launched a period of self-exploration and inquiry into various spiritual traditions.
Meeting Srila Prabhupada
In 1969, while attending the State University of New York at Buffalo, Romapada Swami met his eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (commonly addressed as Srila Prabhupada). Romapada Swami entered a crowded auditorium where Srila Prabhupada and the poet Allen Ginsberg were chanting the Mahamantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Although Romapada Swami was unable to understand Srila Prabhupada’s lecture due to his thick and unfamiliar Bengali accent, the experience left a deep impression on his heart.
Romapada Swami had read seven different versions of the Bhagavad Gita, none of which were easy for him to understand. But upon reading Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is, he was finally able to comprehend the true essence of the sacred text. He felt an intense sense of appreciation for Srila Prabhupada and the sacrifices he made to bring bhakti yoga (the practice of devotional service) to the Western world. In gratitude to Srila Prabhupada, Romapada Swami joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and moved into a temple.
After years of serving as a temple leader in New York, immersed in kirtan (congregational chanting), the distribution of books and prasadam (sanctified food), he was awarded the order of sannyasa (renounced monk) in 1983 and became an initiating spiritual teacher in 1985.
Spiritual Guide
Romapada Swami has traveled extensively throughout the world teaching about bhakti yoga and serving as a General Body Commissioner (GBC) for many temples within ISKCON. Despite his intense travels and managerial duties, Romapada Swami has nurtured the devotional lives of receptive souls for decades. Through his careful cultivation, there are robust spiritual communities in several major American cities, Guyana, India, and China. He attracts a diverse set of individuals to the bhakti yoga practice and lifestyle.
Motivational Speaker
Romapada Swami shares bhakti yoga with a wide range of audiences. He has been a guest speaker at Fortune 500 corporations such as Intel, Microsoft, Lucent, Cisco, and Fannie Mae. He shares bhakti yoga philosophy through relevant lectures such as “Stress Management,” “Spiritual Economics,” and “Science and Spirituality.”
A testament to how he was first introduced to bhakti yoga, Romapada Swami remains dedicated to college outreach and education. He has inspired others to start Bhakti Yoga Clubs and Krishna Lunch at universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Illinois, Penn State, Northwestern University, Texas A&M, Northeastern University, University of South Florida and several others. He is also the inspiring force behind the Soul Connection youth groups in Chicago and St. Louis as well as two Gita summer camps for the youth in the Chicago area. He conducts several spiritually nourishing retreats and seminars throughout the year and also leads an annual pilgrimage to various sacred sites within India.
Romapada Swami’s focus is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn the teachings of his spiritual master and to provide meaningful and practical methods through which everyone can develop their relationship with God.
