Prabhupada: He Built a House in Which the Whole World Can Live

by Satsvarūpa dāsa Goswami

A man, a saint, his life and legacy

A compelling description of life of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and simultaneously the history of the creation of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, written by one of his first followers. Oral testimony and documentary material rich help us restore the truth about the events.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Biography

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami (सत्स्वरूप दास गोस्वामी)(born Stephen Guarino on December 6, 1939) is a senior disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), better known in the West as the Hare Krishna movement. Serving as a writer, poet, and artist, Satsvarupa dasa Goswami is the author of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's authorized biography, Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta. After Prabhupada's death, Satsvarupa dasa Goswami was one of the eleven disciples selected to become an initiating guru in ISKCON. Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, is one of the first few westerners ordained by Prabhupada in September 1966. He has been since established as a prolific Vaishnava writer and poet. While traveling, lecturing on Krishna consciousness, and instructing disciples worldwide, he published over hundred books including poems, memoirs, essays, novels, and studies based on the Vaishnava scriptures. In his later years he created hundreds of paintings, drawings, and sculptures that attempt to capture and express his perspective on the culture of Krishna consciousness.

Reviews

[Nikolai · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ужас! Толкова мудна книга не бях зачитал - пълна е с протяжни описания на дребни, откъснати или незначителни събития. От друга страна, не научих кой знае какво за Кришна, както очаквах. Няма никаква пропаганда на кришнарството, обясненията за светогледа на кришнарите са изключително малко.

Как се сдобих с книгата: Обещах на един мормон от Алабама, който си търсеше събеседник в една мразовита януарска нощ в Борисовата градина, да прочета Книгата на Мормон. Когато стигнах до подлеза на СУ ме спря една щастлива и шарена кришнарка. Поговорих си и с нея и тя ми подари за два лева въпросната книга, защото за двата лева, които имах не можеше да ми подари "Бхагавад Гита".

Започвах книгата, спирах, продължавах. И така почти година. Видях девойката при подлеза на НДК, усмихнах се и веднага тръгнах към нея. Щом видя, че отивам към нея се зарадва. Стана ми малко съвестно, когато и обясних, че книгата не струва, а тя тъжно отвърна "Ама тя ми е любимата".

Предложи ми да ми подари за пет лева "Бхагавад Гита". Отвърнах и че ще се върна с "Прабхупада" и три лева и може да се споразумеем :)

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read this book about 1988 and have read it 3 times since.
Gives a good overview of the rise of the Hare Krishna movement in the
west. Satsvarupa is a gifted writer.

Well written biography of a real religious leader. I am not a member of his movement but it does show that his beliefs are authentic. He is NOT a fake guru. The tradition he comes from dates back to the 1500's AD.
Worth the time if one does not wish to read the 2 volume big edition.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, I was reading this at the same time as the end of the Lilamrta vol 1. and I found that one to have better writing and lovelier language. This is a great intro to Prabhupad's life after he left India, but the pace felt soooo quick and overwhelming at times, and also, absolutely adoring (which could be a turnoff for some).

[Bala Auman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for people who are interested in a new religion or want to read about how one man journeyed from India to America, bringing with him his religion and spreading it throughout the world. In 1896, Srila Prabhupada was born with the name Abhay Charan De in Calcutta, India. He was born into the De family which was a merchant family who sold cloth. He wrote 3 books in India before traveling to America aboard the Jaladuta, an Indian trading ship. In 1965, he boarded the Jaladuta to America, but suffered from 2 heart attacks and yet still kept on his journey. When he finally arrived in America, he didn't know anyone and didn't have a place to stay, but a friend of a relative found him and provided him shelter. He suffered through many hardships, but he kept pushing forward, and eventually spread his religion (Hare Krishna) across the United States, and eventually, all around the world. This man suffered through many and arduous hardships, faced pesky bureaucrats who refused to help him, he never had any money, and any of which he acquired, he spent on publishing books for Krishna consciousness (his religion). I myself am a Hare Krishna, and I enjoyed this book very much, it's entertaining and complex, but in a way that most people can understand easily as well as have philosophers think twice. In conclusion, I would recommend this book for those who like philosophy or are possibly interested in a new religion.

[Alexander Shtang · Rating 5 out of 5]

О, вот это было интересно. Дальше буду читать про Мухаммада из религий. А в этой связи нужно попробовать Бхагават-Гиту прочесть.