Five Years, Eleven Months and a Lifetime of Unexpected Love: A Memoir

by Visakha Dasi

"Brilliant photographs ... a talented writer ... her descriptions are lyrical and evocative." — Kirkus Reviews
An American photojournalist, disillusioned by the pressures and mindlessness of Western education and consumerism, journeys with a friend to the East looking for fun and adventure. In India she unexpectedly finds truth and knowledge beyond the intellect, beauty and hope beyond the mundane. Slowly, unexpected love softens her skepticism. Her life is never the same.

Genres: Spirituality, Memoir

290 pages, Paperback

Published October 3, 2016

About the author

Since her first trip to the East in 1971 (when she was 20), Visakha's life has never been the same. She's tried to explain what happened to her -- and what's continuing to happen -- in numerous magazine articles as well as four books, most recently Five Years, Eleven Months and a lifetime of unexpected love, a memoir.

Besides writing articles and books, Visakha also assists her husband, John Griesser, in making documentary films. In 2017, the couple released the 90-minute biopic, "Hare Krishna, the Mantra, the Movement, and the Swami who started it all," which was awarded the Jury Prize for best picture at the Illuminate Film Festival in Sedona, Arizona.

They have two beautiful daughters and are based in both British Columbia and Florida, but mostly Florida.

Reviews

[Pranada Comtois]

I enjoyed watching Visakha, a successful young photographer with grand horizons, trained in the ways of skepticism and atheism, travel to India to be with her first love. There the boyfriend and girlfriend travel to exotic destinations. But instead of being taken in by the sights and sounds, which Visakha writes eloquently about, the two fall in love with an exceptional saint, surrender to him, and the Bhakti path. Young Visakha, however, does not enter as easily and seamlessly as her boyfriend. Indeed, I kept wondering when Visakha would leave him, India, and the saint. But this author's honest, rigorous self-examination leads her in surprising ways. Her brave movement toward her calling is both frightening and wonderful. I am moved and grateful to have read this person's inner exploration of the self.

[Jayadvaita Swami]

Literate and introspective, Visakha 's memoir is a joy to read. Especially engaging is her running account of the tension within herself between her spiritual path and, on the other side, her persistent doubts, her skepticism, and a rational mind always on guard against being spiritually duped. And hers is an extraordinary story. As a young photojournalist, still in college, she journeys first to Nepal and then to India, where she meets a spiritual teacher who shows her much more than she expected to see in her viewfinder and changes the course of her life. Now, nearly fifty years later, she shares with us her adventures, her insights, her reflections, her wisdom. A splendid book!

[Kosa Ely]

Such a wonderful journey to undertake with this incredible author. Truly one of the best books I have ever read! Visakha's writing is so engaging. Her detailed descriptions transported me into her world, where I shadowed her quest, echoed her doubts, and experienced her bliss. Her dry humor and wit made me laugh with her, and her honesty made me love her.
I read this book in three days, and have reread it twice.

[Anand Arora]

Great Must Read

It is almost an autobiography of Vishka journey with her Guru, her seeker's pang to understand and know her equation with her Guru / Krishna.

[Nityananda Chandra]

Fantastic memoir of Śrīla Prabhupāda a modern saint

This memoir brings one along the journey from faithlessness to full dedication of a life of service. The axle of this life of service is a beautiful teachings and interactions with the great teacher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, affectionately known as Śrīla Prabhupāda. Bhakti is caught more than it’s taught, and I feel that the infectious nature of devotion is caught in tangled in this book. I definitely recommend it, especially for those who are newer to Bhakti Yoga / Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

[Bob Cohen]

I was mesmerized by the candor, picturesque detail and superb writing style of Visakha’s autobiographical adventure of her almost six years with A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (aka Prabhupada). Visakha is multi-talented (I had used her book on macrophotography as a reference during my graduate school days in the 1970s). She applies her photo skills to the written word, composing a complex mosaic of her time with Prabhupada and her personal struggle with her latent atheism, encounters with misogyny, austerities of India in the '70s and difficulty of opening of her heart and trusting. I knew Visakha during those fascinating and exciting years. Her memoir preserves the actual tensions, exhilaration, doubting and heart-wrenching of the times. Five Years Eleven Months is required reading for those who want to understand the source of her awakening, the tumult of the times and the open-hearted love she felt for Prabhupada (and Prabhupada for her). The book is a page-turner.

[Aman Sharma]

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Prabhupada and his institution, Iskcon, from the perspective of one of his intimate devotee.
The book is written very honestly, describing the shortcoming of an ordinary human on the spiritual path and that makes the book more interesting as the reader could relate to his or her own delusions while trying to make progress in spiritual life.

[Cherie]

It took me a while to get through this one, though I started it with great enthusiasm. Dasi is a bit suspicious of Srla. Prabhupada, but she ultimately finds her devotion to bhakti. There were some moments where I didn't love what had happened (I consider myself a devotee...sometimes....and sometimes, I'm like, no, I can't). A fascinating tale of her devotion and her journey on bhakti, following Srla Prabhupada. Very interesting.

[David Moorad]

Fantastic

I have read several of Visakha’s writings and this one blew me away. Perhaps it’s because I am recently retired and facing the next chapter of my life knowing I have more time behind me than ahead of me or perhaps it’s the power of teachings of the Gita and Krishna I cannot say but I am so glad I read this story,

[Austin Farber]

A wonderful testimony of a woman’s journey from uncertainty to theism. I had occasion to meet the author, vishaka dasi, and the loving grace in which her spiritual master infused into her she freely expresses to any and all. A true saintly woman of god.

[Lisa]

Interesting at first

But I began skimming to bypass the theology to get to the human journey. This memoir brought back memories of my childhood and LAX airport.

[Viktorija]

Amazing memoir about photography student traveling to India and finding her spiritual path ❤️

[Citra]

Beautifully written, I loved this memoir!