Monk. Spiritual Leader. Motivational Speaker.
In the small town of Utica, New York, His Holiness Romapada Swami took birth as Brian Rumbaugh on December 27th, 1948. Born into a middle-class, Christian family, Romapada Swami was the youngest of five children. Those who were close to him described Romapada Swami as a responsible, principle-centered, and high achieving young boy.
An Inquisitive Childhood
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. In his teenage years, Romapada Swami tried to understand the Great Commandment:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Romapada Swami struggled to understand how one could love others who exhibit unlovable, bad behavior? At his Sunday school, Romapada Swami tried to find out what Heaven looks like and what people do there. However, Romapada swami’s spiritual superiors at that time were unable to provide satisfactory answers to his core questions.
As a college student, when faced with the prospect of being drafted into the Vietnam War, Romapada Swami had to complete a waiver form. One of the questions on the form had a profound impact: “State the nature of your convictions.” Upon reading this question, Romapada Swami had a powerful realization: He did not know how to answer this question. Romapada Swami did not know what his convictions were.
This launched a period of self-exploration and inquiry into various spiritual traditions. It was not until he met his spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (commonly addressed as Srila Prabhupada), that he found clear and convincing answers to these questions – and many more.
Meeting Srila Prabhupada
In 1969, while attending the State University of Buffalo, Romapada Swami met his eternal spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. Romapada Swami entered a crowded auditorium, where Srila Prabhupada and the poet, Allen Ginsberg, were chanting the Hare Krishna 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, this experience left a deep impression on his heart. Shortly thereafter, he received his first Back to Godhead magazine from his dear Godbrother, His Grace Bhurijana Prabhu, who was studying at the same university. Reading an article by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was a powerful, consciousness-uplifting experience. Romapada Swami was spontaneously and intuitively attracted.
Romapada Swami had read seven different versions of the Bhagavad Gita, none of which were easy for him to understand. However, 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 order to deliver souls like himself from rampant materialism.
In gratitude to Srila Prabhupada, Romapada Swami joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and moved into a temple. Although he was admitted into medical school, Romapada Swami gave up any pursuit of the career he was planning as he realized that many persons become physicians to treat the physical body, yet few become doctors to help others on the spiritual platform. Romapada Swami’s decision for life was made.
Initially Romapada Swami’s family thought his interest in Krishna consciousness (bhakti yoga) to be a passing phase. However, as they realized that it was not going away, his parents did some research into its authenticity and felt satisfied that their son was not involved in a cult, but rather with a tradition that has its roots going back several thousands of years. Over time, Romapada Swami’s parents and siblings grew to appreciate the value-based life that he was living and felt proud of him.
Spiritual Journey
In July of 1971, Romapada Swami received his first initiation (harinama diksa) from his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. He later received his second initiation (brahmana diksa) in the summer of 1972. Romapada Swami spent many years in the New York temple and served as the temple president and congregational chanting (sankirtana) leader. For years, Romapada Swami was fully dedicated to book distribution. He would arrange to have various book distribution events, provide books and sanctified food (prasadam), acquire necessary permits, and coordinate the overall efforts.
In 1983, Romapada Swami accepted sannyasa, the renounced order of life. He traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, sharing Krishna consciousness.
Spiritual Guide
In 1985, Romapada Swami became an official initiating spiritual teacher within ISKCON. Aside from traveling extensively throughout the world teaching bhakti yoga, Romapada Swami also served 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. 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 (karma-free food distribution) at universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Illinois, Penn State, Northwestern University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of South Florida, and several others. Romapada Swami 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, practical methods through which everyone can develop their relationship with God.
For all inquiries, please feel free to contact the Office of Romapada Swami. We would be delighted to hear from you and assist you.
