More often than always, I've pondered over two questions, Where did we come from? Where are we going? I didn't find a satisfactory answer up until I read something very recently. A book called The Science of Self-realization by his divine grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, founder- Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness - ISKCON.
Humans are considered to be higher-order beings. We're placed on earth to do much more than simply eating, sleeping, reproducing, and dying. But, how often have we even thought out of this box? Never. However, It's never too late to begin, is it?
Let me take you through...
The Science of Self-realization
Through this book, you will discover the timeless knowledge, the Science that the greatest gurus have preached for millennia. It is indeed a science that leads you to self-realization.
It opens up the doors to the secret chambers of the self within and speaks about the nature of the universe and that of the supreme self within and without.
This is the knowledge that comes raw and uncut from Vedas, translated and simplified by his divine grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, lovingly called Swamiji.
In this book on the science of self-realization, he talks about the power of meditation and practicing yoga in modern times. He also touches the depths of the laws of karma and about gaining liberation from the karmic chakra.
This is a book that can provide you with the inertia to drive on the road to achieving super consciousness. Speaking of which brings us to the next phase…
What is ISKCON?
ISKCON is an acronym for International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness. It was started by Swamiji to preach the Science of Self-realization to the western world. It is an attempt at saving humanity from dying a spiritual death.
The world has been a miserable place, then and now. Every day the newspaper headlines are downright unsettling, upsetting, negative, and cruel. Look at the situation we’re in now; wars, diplomacy, and declining value for life.
Do you think this is what we the higher-order beings - humans were supposed to do? How are we then different from the animals that kill? Humans have become sorceresses, feeding on the plight of the underprivileged.
At present this globe is misled turning all of us blind to our true potential. We’ve diverged multifold from the objective of a human life, which is the science of self-realization and re-establishing our lost association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead- Shree Kṛṣṇa.
Thus ISKCON aims to fill this missing piece in human life by enlightening society in this important aspect. The real success of human life is not a ten-figure salary nor it is any other kind of material possession but service to God. Thus we need to understand our constitutional position with Shree Kṛṣṇa and to act accordingly.
It is not a sectarian movement but the science of self-realization simplified from Vedic scriptures. The Bhagavad-gītā, which is considered as the root of transcendental science edifies, every life in existence is a part of God and we’re dutybound to serve him. Kṛṣṇa Consciousness thus enables us to attain the highest possible perfection achievable in human life via service.
Who is His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda?
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda appeared in 1896 in Calcutta, India. He was a disciple of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmi, a prominent religious scholar who also laid the foundation of 64 Vedic institutes across India. It was on his words, Swami Prabhupāda set out to preach the science of self-realization to the western world.
In his early years as a disciple of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmi, he wrote several pieces of literature on the subject of spirituality under the guidance of his guru. Later when he retired from married life he took the responsibility given by his guru on his shoulders and set out to the western world.
He then left for Boston carrying Rupees worth 7 Dollars, a few clothes, and a trunk full of books. He lived in a humble abode and preached the science of self-realization from those Vedic scriptures he carried.
The people who listened to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda define the experience as transcendental and full of positive energy. He would recite the Bhagavad-gītā from memory and occasionally look at it to quote.
With this humble beginning, he lit the flame of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness in the hearts of the world. Today the world is the witness of growth and vastness of the International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness or as we lovingly call it ISKCON.
From the Perspective of a Youngster
As a spiritual Indian, I have always been looking at Vedas as the fundamental source of transcendental knowledge. But often even in the land of origin of this humongous knowledge, we’ve been conditioned into believing that Bhakti is for the old.
Unfortunately, not just the west but even a country like India is far from attaining Kṛṣṇa Consciousness. I was one of them too until I came across this piece of literature.
I still consider myself a naive human when it comes to understanding the essence of this vast Vedic Science or the science of self-realization but by the mercy of Shree Kṛṣṇa and efforts of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, I am on the path of learning.
Though Swamiji has passed away from this world according to material vision the world is still savoring the fruit of his efforts and attaining Kṛṣṇa Consciousness. Thus, he is still with us in the form of his instructions preaching the science of self-realization.
Written by - Akanksha Sharma
.jpeg)
0 Comments