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Krsna Consciousness: The Matchless Gift
Krishna Consciousness, the Matchless Gift is a collection of transcribed lectures by Srila Prabhupada on the philosophy and practice of bhakti-yoga—the process of reestablishing our connection with the Supreme Person.
While only 118 pages long, Matchless Gift contains an abundance of material on many facets of the science of Krishna consciousness, along with vivid examples, stories, and analogies not found elsewhere in Srila Prabhupada's writings. Readers will quickly gain an appreciation for Srila Prabhupada's agility of mind and ability to make the highest teachings of the Vedas understandable to a contemporary audience. It's a light book, packed with heavy wisdom, and best appreciated in short installments.
While only 118 pages long, Matchless Gift contains an abundance of material on many facets of the science of Krishna consciousness, along with vivid examples, stories, and analogies not found elsewhere in Srila Prabhupada's writings. Readers will quickly gain an appreciation for Srila Prabhupada's agility of mind and ability to make the highest teachings of the Vedas understandable to a contemporary audience. It's a light book, packed with heavy wisdom, and best appreciated in short installments.
124 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 1974
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169 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Bhaktivedanta
385 books719 followersHis Divine Grace Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (अभय चरणारविन्द भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामी प्रभुपाद)was born as Abhay Charan De on 1 September 1896 in Calcutta, India.
He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple.
At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine.
In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that have took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple.
At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine.
In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that have took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 6, 2017
His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada says Only those who have purified themselves in their love for Krishna can participate with him in all his activities in his association. One, therefore should not take this process of Krishna Consciousness as something cheap, but as a Matchless Gift bestowed upon everyone, simply by engaging in chanting and remembering, one can overcome all anxieties and fears.
Srila Prabhupada's books are simply enough to motivate ourselves for recognizing -> Krishna, My Krishna, My Master, The Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Prabhupada surely helps us making friends with Krishna.
Hare Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada's books are simply enough to motivate ourselves for recognizing -> Krishna, My Krishna, My Master, The Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Prabhupada surely helps us making friends with Krishna.
Hare Krishna.
September 21, 2018
Picked up this in a St. Louis Airport. I'm a fan of religions, and I love reading about them, and I love the truths and life patterns they contain.
This particular book was like reading Awake! or the Watchtower Jehovah Witnesses and other evangelical protestant liberature. Why are things so? Because Krsna says they are so. The world is rank and full of anxiety. Here are solutions to it. Why do the work? Because Krsna says so, right in this line, right there. And it all comes down to very specific devotions to Krsna.
Which, to its credit, can probably be found in this book, and nowhere in it do I see any explicit statements that one must depend on the authority of the organization providing the book, which is nice, because it reminds an empowering literature given its central claim.
This works for some people (in any faith or belief system they adopt), and if it does them well, that's awesome! But it's not my thing, I prefer something less prescriptive and less focused on specific acts.
Possibly because I'm not looking for something to explain everything away for me, I find the overall cosmology being expressed hard to follow because it's not laid out as explanation and clarification, but as justification via text and an overwhelming barrage of foreign words demanding you read them on their terms, that one can eventually piece together via the glossary. It's possible that if this was organized in a less polemic way, an an actual explanation of the concepts rather than just claim-quote couplets strung alone, it would be reasonable? The confrontational tone the book takes suggests not, however.
If you are looking for a polemic argument ritual-heavy practice steeped in Hinduism and a life model where those rituals will reveal deep truths (in a mystical way), self understanding, and free the pure aspect of you from the impure, this book mostly seems to induce shame. I guess if you need to be motivated by the need to seem enlightened. There are much more practical and actually positive books, like Chant and Be Happy, and if one wants to find the cosmology hopefully there are books more designed for explanation and clarification out there.
This particular book was like reading Awake! or the Watchtower Jehovah Witnesses and other evangelical protestant liberature. Why are things so? Because Krsna says they are so. The world is rank and full of anxiety. Here are solutions to it. Why do the work? Because Krsna says so, right in this line, right there. And it all comes down to very specific devotions to Krsna.
Which, to its credit, can probably be found in this book, and nowhere in it do I see any explicit statements that one must depend on the authority of the organization providing the book, which is nice, because it reminds an empowering literature given its central claim.
This works for some people (in any faith or belief system they adopt), and if it does them well, that's awesome! But it's not my thing, I prefer something less prescriptive and less focused on specific acts.
Possibly because I'm not looking for something to explain everything away for me, I find the overall cosmology being expressed hard to follow because it's not laid out as explanation and clarification, but as justification via text and an overwhelming barrage of foreign words demanding you read them on their terms, that one can eventually piece together via the glossary. It's possible that if this was organized in a less polemic way, an an actual explanation of the concepts rather than just claim-quote couplets strung alone, it would be reasonable? The confrontational tone the book takes suggests not, however.
If you are looking for a polemic argument ritual-heavy practice steeped in Hinduism and a life model where those rituals will reveal deep truths (in a mystical way), self understanding, and free the pure aspect of you from the impure, this book mostly seems to induce shame. I guess if you need to be motivated by the need to seem enlightened. There are much more practical and actually positive books, like Chant and Be Happy, and if one wants to find the cosmology hopefully there are books more designed for explanation and clarification out there.
August 17, 2025
Reading Matchless Gift felt less like going through a book and more like being gently guided by a compassionate teacher who wants nothing but our spiritual well-being. Prabhupada’s words carry a rare simplicity and depth—he takes the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and translates it into something I could feel and relate to in my own life.
The biggest realization I carried with me is the meaning of Krishna consciousness. It is not some distant or abstract philosophy, but a way of freeing ourselves from the endless cycle of material pursuits. Prabhupada reminds us that the material world, no matter how glittering, can never satisfy the soul. True fulfillment comes only when we connect back to Krishna, our eternal source.
One part that deeply touched me was about learning to love. Love, in the way he explains it, is not limited to fleeting emotions or attachments, but is about forming a soul-to-soul connection that rests in Krishna. That perspective made me pause and reflect on how shallow many of our worldly definitions of love are. Real love is eternal—it flows through Krishna and binds us to one another in truth and compassion.
The section on self-control through tapasya also stayed with me. It made me see that discipline is not about denying myself joy, but about remembering that everything actually belongs to Krishna. The simple shift of thought—“this is His, not mine”—brought me a sense of lightness. It quiets the restless mind and makes life feel less like a struggle to possess and more like an offering.
Another comfort I found in this book is Prabhupada’s assurance that the journey does not end with this lifetime. Even partial steps in Krishna consciousness are never lost; they carry forward, guiding the soul closer and closer to liberation. That truth felt like a deep breath of reassurance—it reminded me that sincerity matters more than perfection.
And then, the essence of the title itself: the “Matchless Gift.” I came to understand it as devotional service—this rare treasure of freedom from illusion and rediscovery of our true identity. At first, discarding the pull of materialism can feel heavy, but with practice it eases into joy. Just the belief that Krishna is supreme and that we are part of Him brings a sense of spiritual freedom that nothing else can offer.
For me, Matchless Gift is more than a book—it is an offering of grace. It gave me a way to see that the rarest and most precious gift in life is already waiting for us: the chance to love, serve, and surrender to Krishna. All we need is the willingness to accept it.
The biggest realization I carried with me is the meaning of Krishna consciousness. It is not some distant or abstract philosophy, but a way of freeing ourselves from the endless cycle of material pursuits. Prabhupada reminds us that the material world, no matter how glittering, can never satisfy the soul. True fulfillment comes only when we connect back to Krishna, our eternal source.
One part that deeply touched me was about learning to love. Love, in the way he explains it, is not limited to fleeting emotions or attachments, but is about forming a soul-to-soul connection that rests in Krishna. That perspective made me pause and reflect on how shallow many of our worldly definitions of love are. Real love is eternal—it flows through Krishna and binds us to one another in truth and compassion.
The section on self-control through tapasya also stayed with me. It made me see that discipline is not about denying myself joy, but about remembering that everything actually belongs to Krishna. The simple shift of thought—“this is His, not mine”—brought me a sense of lightness. It quiets the restless mind and makes life feel less like a struggle to possess and more like an offering.
Another comfort I found in this book is Prabhupada’s assurance that the journey does not end with this lifetime. Even partial steps in Krishna consciousness are never lost; they carry forward, guiding the soul closer and closer to liberation. That truth felt like a deep breath of reassurance—it reminded me that sincerity matters more than perfection.
And then, the essence of the title itself: the “Matchless Gift.” I came to understand it as devotional service—this rare treasure of freedom from illusion and rediscovery of our true identity. At first, discarding the pull of materialism can feel heavy, but with practice it eases into joy. Just the belief that Krishna is supreme and that we are part of Him brings a sense of spiritual freedom that nothing else can offer.
For me, Matchless Gift is more than a book—it is an offering of grace. It gave me a way to see that the rarest and most precious gift in life is already waiting for us: the chance to love, serve, and surrender to Krishna. All we need is the willingness to accept it.
August 22, 2020
A very very moving and a motivating book for me. A love the message and the teachings that this book imparts. Very inspiring words by the Iscon founder. Jai Shri Krishna!
September 30, 2021
It perfectly matches with it name....
This one is Matchless Book ....!!
This one is Matchless Book ....!!
November 15, 2021
Thank you
January 11, 2021
I really liked this one a lot better than Elevation to Krsna Consciousness. And I wanted to give this book a higher rating.. I am just still daydreaming about a linear, explicatory book for a true beginner, someone uninitiated in the odd terminology of ISKCON material:
What on earth is a 'pastime' supposed to be? Just the things Krishna did? Actions? Occurrences/events of his life?
What does being the 'Supreme Personality of Godhead' convey in reality? And what is 'Godhead' (as opposed to 'the Godhead')?
And for all of the above questions... who cares? Is there any kind of ethical point to take from all of this? Who can understand such things?
Devotion and service to Krishna are all well and good to extol, but I have yet to glean the core driving message of the concepts of this movement because of how obtuse and even unhelpful the material can be. And I'm following a semi-official recommended reading order!
The next in order (I think I inserted it here myself) involves conversation between Prabhupada and two very famous entry-level beginners from a little UK musical outfit. I hope by the time of that review I'll have understood at least as well as Lennon and hopefully as well or better than Harrison.
What on earth is a 'pastime' supposed to be? Just the things Krishna did? Actions? Occurrences/events of his life?
What does being the 'Supreme Personality of Godhead' convey in reality? And what is 'Godhead' (as opposed to 'the Godhead')?
And for all of the above questions... who cares? Is there any kind of ethical point to take from all of this? Who can understand such things?
Devotion and service to Krishna are all well and good to extol, but I have yet to glean the core driving message of the concepts of this movement because of how obtuse and even unhelpful the material can be. And I'm following a semi-official recommended reading order!
The next in order (I think I inserted it here myself) involves conversation between Prabhupada and two very famous entry-level beginners from a little UK musical outfit. I hope by the time of that review I'll have understood at least as well as Lennon and hopefully as well or better than Harrison.
September 30, 2013
This book is a brief introduction to Krishna consciousness movement. It explains the necessity of the movement, its history and mythological references and implications to modern human society. written is lucid language it's really a must read for all seeking spiritual bliss.
February 19, 2023
This is a wonderful book to take with you to read on a picnic. While you have a few minutes here and there during the day to read, each page is filled with so many ideas that will follow you and enhance your life.
September 10, 2012
A short and wonderful introduction to KC
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews