Customer Reviews

The Science of Self-Realization

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wow! What a book! This was the first Prabhupada book that I ever read. IT ROCKED MY WORLD! The topics it covered changed my life.

I almost underestimated the book because of it's easy read style, but it holds some of the most sublime topics and answers I have ever found in a piece of literature. It also pulled no punches. Topics like evolution, god has a personality, and Christ and Krishna really made me think and question my own life.

I will always be eternally greatful for this book.

When one grows up an American, certain messages are repeated again and again. "Work hard and you'll go far," they say. "Money makes the world go 'round!" A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (ki jaya!), however, came along to challenge those empty ideas and toss them, flaming, to the ground. The Science of Self Realization focuses on Prabhupada's message of practical love of God and how he presented and defended the message over the course of his proselytization crusade throughout the sixties and seventies. In one transcribed discourse after another he gently defeats materialists, dualists, and impersonalists from every angle. This is the book that changed my views on man, God, and religion forever. I recommend it highly! -----All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and his Transcendental ISKCON!

This here is a wonderful collection of assembled essays, exegeses, interviews, and letters to serve as a guide on the path of realization of the Supreme Personality of the Godhead. We need to realize that our sole devotion should be our return to Krishna, and we should fully serve God. This world's political leaders are lost without Realization, and by serving them we shall never have satisfaction. The process of Krishna consciousness is not a story of secondhand religion- no no, it is a science. In the material world we inquire about illusory irrelevant things, rather than Brahman. He discusses how we are mediated by a guru, and warns us of the charlatans people have been fooled by. 'Pay me and in six months you can be God!' A guru need not be affiliated with any religion, he only teaches people to love God and focus on Him. Indeed, as one of the chapters is titled, Jesus Christ was a guru. But how many people sincerely follow his message nowadays? It's extremely scarce.

He does not like to be identified as a Hindu. He is not preaching any sect's truth over the others, instead a universal spiritual Unity that anyone who wants to love God can experience. The distinction of "Hindu" "Muslim" or "Christian" is a rubber stamp that was later added on to God consciousness.

We cannot follow a religion or love God until we know the meaning of what these 2 things refer to.

This book, by the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, gives an accurate an authoritative view on the opinions and ideas held by that sect. Prabhupada tries to identify Krsna with Christ and tries to come across as being the foremost proponent of 'the science of self realization' rather than a member of some sectarian cult. He denies that the labels of 'Hindu', 'Christian' or 'Muslim' are of any use to those who are not devoted to god. But he over and over again seems to emphasize the Hindu scriptures and holds that they must be taken literally. His basic theological arguments is basically the same as that of all other fundamentalists: 'if you disagree with my interpretation of the books that I consider holy and divinely-inspired, then you are a fool and a heathen'. Even so, some of his conversations with Christian leaders is thought-provoking. The emphasis that ISKCON places on vegetarianism, celibacy and chanting is gone over in detail, but the outsider is more likely to feel that he or she has been wise to keep away from the movement. Prabhupada doesn't tend to listen to anyone who disagrees with him even when his logic is poor -- he will often not allow them to finish their train of thought and refers to his opponents over and over again as 'fools', even going as far as to deny that Sancarya believed in god and to say that all non-Bhakti yogis will not receive salvation despite the position of the advaita school of the Vedanta. But he does say something in some of the interviews about his background as a husband, father, and profession as a chemist before becoming a sanyasi, which idealises the idea of non-attached work encouraged in the Bhagavad-Gita.

I bought this book off a "monk" on the street, and assumed it was some sort of scam. I however, bearing an open mind, decided to go with it so I might learn something new about this culture. And since the back cover said it was ten dollars, I made a good deal. I read this book, and like many reviews before this, it seems repetitive, and not to do with science as we know it today. Science is driven by facts and experiments to pull those facts from the natural laws of the universe. this man, Prabhupada, does a good job of creating an easy to understand version of his religion, which I can totally respect. I learned some new things about his movement and the philosophy behind it. However, I feel that much of the message was non-sensicle and was trying to promote the reader to join this religion, so as to attain self realization and a good rebirth. Like much religious messages it was implied that this is the only true religion and one must follow it unquestioningly to get the end result of happiness, or whatever it is that you are seeking. If you are looking for a message to give you guidance and you don't mind being told what to believe, this is a great message. If you are looking for an unbiased explanation of finding the true potential of you life, look elsewhere. I'm disappointed I wasted five dollars on this book because I'm not religious at all, but I'm glad for the information on another culture. Personally, I did not find it enlightening at all.

I am a big lover of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, but one can't tell from my reviews. I have written 2 other reviews on his books and they come out the same as this one (3 out of 5). Let me explain.

His message is great. Love, compassion, end of materialism, etc. His metaphors are great and his arguments are even greater. The problem I have, to which this book absolutely plunders with, is the fact that if you have read one of his books, you have virtually read them all. Maybe that is a bit fast of an accusation, but I read this book and most of what I read here was just a rehash from the other books of his that I have read. By page 300 I could tell what he was going to say before reading it because he has said everything at least 10 times each. Now, the drilling into our heads via repetition of the message is alright, but I am looking for new stuff in each chapter, not what I just read in the last chapter.

The 3 stars are for the metaphors and examples. The lost 2 stars are for the 200 pages of repetition. Either way, even though it is 3 out of 5 stars, I still highly recommend this book. Of course it wants to convert you to Hinduism (as much as Prabhupada would like to deny it), but the reason why and the means of doing it are extremely innocent.

3/5
John McAdam:
Enoch and the Extraterrestrials
The Vampire Pill
Areoth

This book, is nothing more than a compilation of ramblings of a man, who clearly had no idea about science or established scientific precepts, yet had no reservation in condemning it as wholly "nonsense". In a classic straw-man debate with so-called scientists in his epic 1973 walk in Venice Beach, the chapter begins with this:

"Science is based on an incorrect theory; therefore all its calculations and conclusions are wrong, and people are suffering because of this."

While Prabhupada had no problem using advances in Western science to get to Venice Beach in the first place, he offers nothing of substance when it comes to rebutting them. The whole "because a spiritual precept cannot be disproved, it must be true" - type of thinking is rampant throughout this book. By calling scientists 'Rascals' and 'Fools', he promotes the same kind of divisiveness that's rampant in the USA today.

His condemnation of evolution, much like Creationists manifests itself in ludicrous phrases such as:

"He (Darwin) claims that man has evolved from monkeys, but we can see that the monkey is not extinct. If the monkey is the immediate forefather of man, why is the monkey still existing?"

This is the type of thinking that Christine O'Donnell or Sarah Palin would exhibit - let alone a spiritual master with millions of disciples world-wide.

In conclusion, this book may be fine if you're looking to make yourself feel better though the comfort of religious dogma - but it is not scientific in any way. Sorry.

challege to change your life .. 101 % gauranted

I have found this book to be an amazing fountain of wisdom and would recommend anyone who wants to know more about life and how to live happily to read it. This book has scientifically explained the crux of human life and is applicable people of all religions.

I can only say that you would be doing yourself a disfavor by not reading this excellent literary masterpiece. So try to get your hands on one and read it all the way through. You will love it!

I've read numerous books on Psychology, Philosophy, Leadership, Self help/development and other all-time best sellers. Somehow, I was not satisfied. While searching for ultimate knowledge, I happened to read this book and was moved by the level of depth and clarity of this book's knowledge. This book is a must-read if you are interested in the ultimate knowledge. I'm sure you will agree that this book will bring a very positive perspective about life and will benefit you much. For me, It's been a life changing experience. I'm still immerested in the greatness of this book. I'm glad I read this book.

IMHO, The Journey of Self-Discovery (by the same author) is better than ths book. It's a section on western philosopheres (Freud, Greek philosopher) which is very good.

If you are intersted more in philosphy, Beyond Illusion & Doubt (by the same author) is good. I've posted my review there.