What do you think?
Rate this book
The Path Of Perfection
A chronicle of an historic series of talks by srila prabhupada, who has been acclaimed by scholars as the greatest exponent of vedic spiritual tradition, this book probes deeply into the nature of consciousness, meditation, karma, death and reincarnation. He prescribes a simple process to purify the mind and elevate the consciousness, which not only assures readers inner peace, but the power to change the chaotic trend of modern society within their own daily lives.
166 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
26 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Bhaktivedanta
814 books710 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 15, 2024
THE FOUNDER OF THE "HARE KRISHNA" MOVEMENT COMMENTS ON THE BHAGAVAD-GITA
Abhay Charanaravinda (A.C.) Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) was the Founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON; the "Hare Krishna Movement"). He wrote many books/booklets, such as 'Krsna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead,' 'The Nectar of Devotion: The Complete Science of Bhakti-Yoga,' 'The scientific basis of Krsna consciousness,' 'The Perfection of Yoga,' 'Perfect Questions Perfect Answers,' 'Beyond Birth and Death,' etc., and translated many East Indian scriptures, such as 'Bhagavad-Gita As It Is,' 'Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto,' etc. His "authorized" biography is: 'Prabhupada: He Built a House in Which the Whole World Can Live.'
The publishers noted in the Introduction to this 1979 book, "what is yoga? The Sanskrit word 'yoga' literally means 'union,' and refers to the union, in love, between the individual consciousness and the Supreme Consciousness, the self and the Superself, the soul and God. Yoga is, indeed, 'the path of perfection,' because it aims toward this most exalted human attainment." (Pg. viii)
Prabhupada explains, "No one really wants to sit down and meditate. Why should we? We're meant for positive activity, for recreation, for pleasure. In Krsna consciousness, our recreation is dancing and chanting, and when we get tired, we take prasada... It is natural to enjoy music and dancing and palatable foods. These are our recreations, and this is our method of meditation. So this yoga system is not at all laborious. It is simply recreation... It is natural, automatic, and spontaneous. It is our real life in the spiritual world." (Pg. 8-9)
He points out, "In this Sixth Chapter... the Lord... states from the very beginning that one cannot become a yogi unless one renounces the desire for sense gratification. Therefore, if one indulges his senses, he cannot be accepted as a yogi. Yoga demands strict celibacy. In the yoga system, there is no sex life. If one indulges in sex, he cannot be a yogi. Many so-called yogis come from India to America and say, 'Yes, you can do whatever you like. You can have as much sex as you like. Just meditate. I will give you some mantra, and you will give me some money.'
"This is all nonsense. According to the authoritative statements of Sri Krsna, one cannot become a yogi unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification." (Pg. 14) Later, he clarifies, "If one indulges in sex, one's determination will be flickering. Therefore sex life should be controlled according to the rules and regulations... or sex should be given up altogether... but if this is not possible, it should be controlled." (Pg. 67)
He asserts, "This Bhagavad-gita is the science of Krsna consciousness, and in order to understand Krsna, we must be fortunate enough to associate with a person who is in pure Krsna consciousness. We cannot understand Bhagavad-gita simply by acquiring an M.A., Ph.D., or whatever. Bhagavad-gita is a transcendental science, and it requires different senses in order to be understood. Our senses must be purified by the rendering of service, not by the acquiring of academic degrees. There are many Ph.D.'s, many scholars, who cannot understand Krsna." (Pg. 32)
He states, "In the United States and other Western countries, there are many so-called yoga societies, but they do not practice yoga according to these prescriptions. 'A sacred place' refers to a place of pilgrimage... In order to earn one's livelihood, one has to live in a congested city. There is no question of finding a sacred place, but for the practice of yoga, that is the first prerequisite. Therefore in the bhakti-yoga system, the temple is considered the sacred place...
"[T]he temple of Krsna is the only secluded place for this age... nor is it useful to make a show of practicing yoga in so-called yoga societies and at the same time engage in nonsense." (Pg. 38) Later, he adds, "pseudomeditation on the impersonal void is simply a waste of time. Such a show of yoga practice may be materially lucrative, but useless as far as spiritual realization is concerned... if my students do not attain the real goal of yoga practice, they have wasted their time and money, and I have cheated them." (Pg. 96)
He observes, "One modern example of such determination is that of Mahatma Gandhi, who was determined to resist the powerful British empire by means of non-violence... Such a policy required a great amount of determination, and Gandhi's determination was very strong because he was a brahmacari. Although he had children and a wife, he renounced sex at the age of thirty-six. It was this sexual renunciation that enabled him to be so determined that he was able to lead his country and drive the British from India." (Pg. 46-47)
He suggests, "Lord Jesus Christ ... was God conscious, Krsna conscious, but he was not satisfied in keeping this knowledge within himself. Had he continued to live alone in God consciousness, he would not have met crucifixion. But no. Being a devotee and naturally compassionate, he also wanted to take care of others by making them God conscious... he continued to do so at the risk of his own life. This is the nature of a devotee." (Pg. 70)
Later, he adds, "in Buddhism... there is no bhakti-yoga, because they do not recognize the Supreme Lord existing as the supreme objective. Christians, however, practice bhakti-yoga when they worship Jesus Christ, because they are accepting him as the son of God and are therefore accepting God." (Pg. 117)
He says, "When a devotee sees a cat or a dog, he sees Krsna in him. He knows that a cat, for instance, is a living being, and that due to his past deeds he has received the body of a cat... The devotee helps the cat by giving it some krsna-prasada so that someday the cat will come to Krsna consciousness. This is seeing Krsna in the cat." (Pg. 79)
He critiques "theosophists and philosophers who are trying year after year and life after life to understand God... Their attempts are like those of a frog in a well trying to comprehend that vastness of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans." (Pg. 129)
Later, he adds, "we should not try to understand God and His kingdom by experimental knowledge...in order to understand who God is and what His nature is, we have to accept the information given in Bhagavad-gita." (Pg. 140)
Prabhupada's books will be of great interest to anyone interested in the Krishna movement.
Abhay Charanaravinda (A.C.) Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) was the Founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON; the "Hare Krishna Movement"). He wrote many books/booklets, such as 'Krsna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead,' 'The Nectar of Devotion: The Complete Science of Bhakti-Yoga,' 'The scientific basis of Krsna consciousness,' 'The Perfection of Yoga,' 'Perfect Questions Perfect Answers,' 'Beyond Birth and Death,' etc., and translated many East Indian scriptures, such as 'Bhagavad-Gita As It Is,' 'Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto,' etc. His "authorized" biography is: 'Prabhupada: He Built a House in Which the Whole World Can Live.'
The publishers noted in the Introduction to this 1979 book, "what is yoga? The Sanskrit word 'yoga' literally means 'union,' and refers to the union, in love, between the individual consciousness and the Supreme Consciousness, the self and the Superself, the soul and God. Yoga is, indeed, 'the path of perfection,' because it aims toward this most exalted human attainment." (Pg. viii)
Prabhupada explains, "No one really wants to sit down and meditate. Why should we? We're meant for positive activity, for recreation, for pleasure. In Krsna consciousness, our recreation is dancing and chanting, and when we get tired, we take prasada... It is natural to enjoy music and dancing and palatable foods. These are our recreations, and this is our method of meditation. So this yoga system is not at all laborious. It is simply recreation... It is natural, automatic, and spontaneous. It is our real life in the spiritual world." (Pg. 8-9)
He points out, "In this Sixth Chapter... the Lord... states from the very beginning that one cannot become a yogi unless one renounces the desire for sense gratification. Therefore, if one indulges his senses, he cannot be accepted as a yogi. Yoga demands strict celibacy. In the yoga system, there is no sex life. If one indulges in sex, he cannot be a yogi. Many so-called yogis come from India to America and say, 'Yes, you can do whatever you like. You can have as much sex as you like. Just meditate. I will give you some mantra, and you will give me some money.'
"This is all nonsense. According to the authoritative statements of Sri Krsna, one cannot become a yogi unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification." (Pg. 14) Later, he clarifies, "If one indulges in sex, one's determination will be flickering. Therefore sex life should be controlled according to the rules and regulations... or sex should be given up altogether... but if this is not possible, it should be controlled." (Pg. 67)
He asserts, "This Bhagavad-gita is the science of Krsna consciousness, and in order to understand Krsna, we must be fortunate enough to associate with a person who is in pure Krsna consciousness. We cannot understand Bhagavad-gita simply by acquiring an M.A., Ph.D., or whatever. Bhagavad-gita is a transcendental science, and it requires different senses in order to be understood. Our senses must be purified by the rendering of service, not by the acquiring of academic degrees. There are many Ph.D.'s, many scholars, who cannot understand Krsna." (Pg. 32)
He states, "In the United States and other Western countries, there are many so-called yoga societies, but they do not practice yoga according to these prescriptions. 'A sacred place' refers to a place of pilgrimage... In order to earn one's livelihood, one has to live in a congested city. There is no question of finding a sacred place, but for the practice of yoga, that is the first prerequisite. Therefore in the bhakti-yoga system, the temple is considered the sacred place...
"[T]he temple of Krsna is the only secluded place for this age... nor is it useful to make a show of practicing yoga in so-called yoga societies and at the same time engage in nonsense." (Pg. 38) Later, he adds, "pseudomeditation on the impersonal void is simply a waste of time. Such a show of yoga practice may be materially lucrative, but useless as far as spiritual realization is concerned... if my students do not attain the real goal of yoga practice, they have wasted their time and money, and I have cheated them." (Pg. 96)
He observes, "One modern example of such determination is that of Mahatma Gandhi, who was determined to resist the powerful British empire by means of non-violence... Such a policy required a great amount of determination, and Gandhi's determination was very strong because he was a brahmacari. Although he had children and a wife, he renounced sex at the age of thirty-six. It was this sexual renunciation that enabled him to be so determined that he was able to lead his country and drive the British from India." (Pg. 46-47)
He suggests, "Lord Jesus Christ ... was God conscious, Krsna conscious, but he was not satisfied in keeping this knowledge within himself. Had he continued to live alone in God consciousness, he would not have met crucifixion. But no. Being a devotee and naturally compassionate, he also wanted to take care of others by making them God conscious... he continued to do so at the risk of his own life. This is the nature of a devotee." (Pg. 70)
Later, he adds, "in Buddhism... there is no bhakti-yoga, because they do not recognize the Supreme Lord existing as the supreme objective. Christians, however, practice bhakti-yoga when they worship Jesus Christ, because they are accepting him as the son of God and are therefore accepting God." (Pg. 117)
He says, "When a devotee sees a cat or a dog, he sees Krsna in him. He knows that a cat, for instance, is a living being, and that due to his past deeds he has received the body of a cat... The devotee helps the cat by giving it some krsna-prasada so that someday the cat will come to Krsna consciousness. This is seeing Krsna in the cat." (Pg. 79)
He critiques "theosophists and philosophers who are trying year after year and life after life to understand God... Their attempts are like those of a frog in a well trying to comprehend that vastness of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans." (Pg. 129)
Later, he adds, "we should not try to understand God and His kingdom by experimental knowledge...in order to understand who God is and what His nature is, we have to accept the information given in Bhagavad-gita." (Pg. 140)
Prabhupada's books will be of great interest to anyone interested in the Krishna movement.
December 22, 2020
This book is simply about sex being wrong.
September 24, 2021
Finished this among a candlelit early morning watching the sunrise. Had some coffee though, not allowed by the rules articulated in this one.
June 13, 2025
The Path of Perfection offers a deep yet accessible guide to spiritual self-realization through the practice of bhakti-yoga—the yoga of devotion. Based on teachings from the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, this book explains how controlling the mind and senses leads to inner peace and a higher consciousness. Swami Prabhupada emphasizes that real perfection lies not in material achievement but in reconnecting with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The text blends timeless Vedic wisdom with modern relevance, guiding readers through topics like karma, meditation, reincarnation, and divine love. Clear, compassionate, and rooted in spiritual truth, this book is ideal for anyone seeking clarity on life’s ultimate purpose.
March 19, 2019
You will find numerous books in the market on the similar topic but after reading this book, you will not feel like reading the others as you will find the perfect solution in this. Everyone should read this once.
July 1, 2020
Great book and all about Fulfillment in Krishna Consciousness & best way to move forward in Krishna Consciousness, bhakti yoga.
Want to read
July 13, 2020nice
June 30, 2009
Para entender un poco sobre el Bhagavad Gita. Los capítulos finales no me encantan, el resto es genial.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews