More Tripe From Swami Know-It-All
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.
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