Renunciation through wisdom

by A.C. Bhaktivedanta

Book by A.C. Haktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

His 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.

Reviews

[Jacob Senholt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book by Srila Prabhupada. Translations of texts written BEFORE he founded ISKCON, back in India. It gives you some good insights into his determination and fervor for his cause already then, and illustrates how people with great ideas can 'make it' if they have enough zeal for their cause.

[Rodeweeks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Throughout the book I've been surprised at just how similar ISKCON theology is compared to the most conservative Christian theologies you can think of. I've always joked saying that ISKCON is the Christians of the Hindu world, but didn't realize the extend. Everyone who does not believe exactly as Prabhupada does is obviously wrong and absurd. Even things I've understood in Hinduism for years, such as "tat tvam asi" is said to be wrong and that those who believe it does not worship God (Krishna) as they are supposed to. I finally got annoyed enough by the middle of the third chapter and stopped reading. Despite this there were some interesting lines of thought that I've enjoyed. One such is the idea that we should not be affected by anything happening, good or bad, if only we remember that God is the original and actual experiencer, our only focus and purpose should be to offer loving devotion to Him.