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EDITORIAL  About the AuthorOther Stories by this Author Review Of Jaiva-Dharma BY BHAKTISIDDHARTHA DASANUDAS EDITORIAL, May 21 (VNN) — The release of the first complete English edition of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Jaiva Dharma by Gaudiya Vedanta Publications is a momentous spiritual and literary event. Its effect can only be compared with the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust's publishing Bhagavad-gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Both works herald revolutionary epochs in global spiritual advancement, and both close the door on narrow misinterpretation of the most recondite heights of Vedic and Vaisnava philosophy. These works will long be remembered by literary analysts and religious historians for the power and influence of their positive and negative effects. Just as Bhagavad-gita As It Is opened the gates of authentic Vaisnava bhakti to the West for the first time, Jaiva Dharma reveals the ultimate development of the path of pure devotion to the
This enormous conceptual feat is the work of awesome spiritual genius. To span the complete range of Vedic philosophical concepts, from the basic distinction between illusion and reality, matter and spirit, temporality and eternality, to the most profound and exalted truths of bhakti-rasa, pure love of Godhead, is an enormous task. The reader's head spins at times with the effort of merely grasping what, in fact, the author has accomplished. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has distilled the potent essence of a lifetime of research in a substantial Vedic scriptural library, and condensed it into a volume the size of a college dictionary. And he has explained it all step-by-step based on his personal realization, in such a way that it seems completely natural. This, my dear friends, is the work of an esoteric literary genius unmatched in scope and power in the modern world. In the great spiritual literary tradition of the Puranas, Jaiva Dharma narrates a deceptively simple story of spiritual friendship among devotees in Medieval India. But thoroughly mixed with this series of tales set in Bengal and Orissa in the 1600s is a large dose of potent Vaisnava philosophy. In fact, Jaiva Dharma does no less than summarize and expound the entire range of doctrines comprising the Gaudiya siddhanta, or philosophical conclusion, in a single volume. Amazingly, it also painlessly educates the reader in the most abstruse spiritual subjects without breaking the sweet flow of its very human and personal narrative. Thus, this tour de force of transcendental mastery manages to please the heart as it penetrates to the depth of our spiritual problems and misconceptions, and then lifts us to the very height of devotional ecstasy! With all its profound visions of the most difficult concepts of Vedic lore, Jaiva Dharma is not at all heavy. In fact, it's a real page-turner in the best novelistic style. We grow fondly attached to the characters, and can hardly wait to see how the story turns out. In fact we are sorry when the book is done, and want to start in all over again and re-read it. The current edition is actually an English translation of the Hindi translation of the Bengali original by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, performed by his disciples under his careful direction. The extreme fidelity to the original text and the devoted care lavished by the translators and editors of this project is evident in the smooth and natural style, with its easy grasp of such weighty subjects. The greatest art is effortless and invisible, and this edition carries the burden of its enormous scope with almost deceptive grace and ease. It is as if we are being given an elevator ride to the top of Mount Everest, but one so smooth that we hardly realize the tremendous acceleration we must undergo to reach such a height. By the last section of the book we arrive at the gateway to the unlimited spiritual sky, a bit dizzy but really none the worse for wear. This is the work of a spiritual technology every bit as sophisticated as the best of modern astronomy or quantum physics. In all fairness to the intentions of the author and translators, Jaiva Dharma is not for everyone. It is certainly not designed to be distributed broadly to the public. The neophyte Western student of Gaudiya Vaisnavism can hardly appreciate its value, what to speak of the general reader. The final section on conjugal love of Krsna in Goloka Vrndavana is certainly to be approached with respect, caution and discrimination, and requires substantial study and personal guidance from an advanced Vaisnava. But for those who have the requisite experience in the authentic Gaudiya Vaisnava practices of spiritual life, here is a precious treasure to be relished down through the years. 1077 pages, hardbound, First Edition 5,000 copies. Printed in India. Your servant, Bhaktisiddhartha Dasanudas Read more interesting articles by Bhaktisiddhartha Dasanudas at http://www.esoteric-teaching.org/ About the Author Other Stories by this AuthorRelated VNN StoriesContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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