A Second Chance : The Story of a Near-Death Experience [Paperback]

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The publisher, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, June 17, 2001

The law of karma states that we’re all responsible for our actions, and death is the crucial moment when mysterious forces acting according to this law work behind the scenes to determine our destiny.

At a time when reincarnation is quickly gaining acceptance, not only with the growing ranks of people reporting out-of-body and near-death experiences but with the public at large, “A Second Chance” is indispensable to our daily lives.

This amazing narrative is based on an ancient book of Eastern wisdom called Srimad-Bhagavatam. It shows us how we can employ the techniques of meditation and bhakti-yoga to overcome the obstacles of materialism, meet the challenge of death, and ultimately attain spiritual perfection.

Product Details

• Paperback: 121 pages
• Publisher: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892133295
• ISBN-13: 978-0892133291
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,041,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars More Tripe From Swami Know-It-All, September 20, 2000

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"gsibbery" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Second Chance : The Story of a Near-Death Experience (Paperback)

Another one of Parabhupada's propaganda pamphlets, this book gives the story of Ajaamila's "near-death experience" as reported in the Srimad Bhagavatam, one of the Puraanas. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust tries to pass this off as a record of a genuine NDE, but nothing in Ajaamila's experience corresponds to anything whatsoever in any record of any known NDE report. Ajaamila near death, calls upon his son (named Narayana, after god) and thus when the Yamadutas (demons) come to drag him a way to hell, Krishna, through his kindness, send his servants to stop the demons from carting him away to the infernal regions. Even though Ajjamila had lived a sinful life, he is saved by the chanting of god's name, even though he was not referring to god, but his son. According to Prabhupada, if one remembers Krishna at death, even if one does not remember him in anything other than hatred or indifference, one attains liberation through Krishna's grace. Prabhupada, as usual, shows himself to be a representative of all that is worst in Hinduism, defending the caste system and malighning any sort of sexual activity (even in marriage) other than for procreation. All mahavadis (the Brahmanical "imperesonalists") he uses as his whipping boys, stating that they merely corrupted the teachings of the Gita and Upanishads (which -- of course -- only Prabhupada is qualified to interpret, as he is free from any taint of personal opinion!). He refers to the attributeless nirvana of Brahman which the Upanishads hold as the ultimate reality as merely the effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Krishna, which will ultimately lead one to rebirth. And he maligns the asthanga yoga of Patanjali in favour of mindless chanting of the maha-matra in the tradition of Caitanya (whom he condsiders to be an incarnation of Krishna). One cannot read any spiritual text wothout the aid of a "self-realised" guru (i.e. Prabhupapda himself) whom one must submit to completely and obey without question. For a guy who has supposedly conquered his ego, Parabhupada is as arrogant as one can get. You are either his disciple or you are a fool and a rascal (his words, not mine). He is as dualistic as one can get and still remain a Hindoo. As an example of Hindu fanaticism and superstition, this book is excellent -- as a genuine religious text of any depth whatsoever, it is useless. Look elsewhere unless you are a blind follower without a mind.