The Quest for Enlightenment

by A.C. Bhaktivedanta

At the dawn of time Brahma sat in trance, seeking inspiration to create the universe. "Who am I?" he wondered. "Where have I come from? What should I do?" Then the Supreme Being, Krishna, revealed Himself, flooding Brahma's heart with transcendental knowledge. Passed down since Brahma's time through an unbroken chain of gurus and disciples, that same profound knowledge is ours in "The Quest for Enlightenment." The author of "Quest" is His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, whom scholars and spiritual leaders worldwide recognize as the most distinguished teacher of Indian culture and philosophy of the modern age. With his spiritual lineage reaching back through Brahma to Sri Krishna, Srila Prabhupada is uniquely qualified to present the timeless Vedic teachings on yoga, meditation, reincarnation, and self-realization that have helped countless seekers in their search for ultimate peace and happiness. A special feature of "Quest" is a series of conversations in which the author gives the Vedic view of such Western philosophers as Socrates, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Carl Jung. "In my darkness I could have wished for nothing better than a guru," wrote Dr. Jung, "Someone possessing superior knowledge and ability." Srila Prabhupada and the teachings he presents in "The Quest for Enlightenment" are what Jung -- and we -- are looking for.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Spirituality, Hinduism, Zen, Religion

272 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1997

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

[Johnaomi72 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Religious- Hare Karishna

[Eric Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

tell them I know now.