By Govinda Ranjana Das
In the beloved Vaishnava prayer “samsara davanala lidha loka,” we hear of the blazing forest fire of material existence that engulfs all living beings, and of the spiritual master who, out of boundless compassion, appears to rescue us from these flames. Srila Prabhupada was such a teacher who, despite our complete lack of qualification, delivered the timeless wisdom of Krishna consciousness to the Western world. Through his disciples and grand disciples, this sacred knowledge continues to spread globally, addressing humanity’s most pressing spiritual questions. Igor Anikanov’s (Yuga Dharma Das) second volume in his Conversations about the Bhagavad-gita series, HOW TO EDIT KARMA, illuminates one of these fundamental inquiries: How much control do we truly have over our destiny?
Building upon the foundation laid in his first volume, Death is Cancelled,” this thoughtful work expands the exploration of timeless Bhagavad-gita wisdom into practical applications for contemporary life. While the first book examines the illusion of death and the eternal nature of the soul, this second instalment delves into the intricate workings of karma and how conscious choices can reshape our spiritual trajectory.
In the author’s own words, his spiritual journey with the Bhagavad-gita began decades ago: “In the distant 90s, my spiritual master, Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaja, blessed me to preach the glory of Bhagavad-gita As It Is —the immortal work of ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada—in different languages of the world. Since then, I have reread this book countless times, trying to comprehend its bottomless depth. And each time it revealed itself to me anew, as if for the first time. I have tried to carefully present fragments of my understanding and personal revelations in this work, following the instructions of my Guru Maharaja and wishing to share the light of the Gita with those who, like I once did, are seeking Truth.”
Drawing extensively from Srila Prabhupada’s authoritative translation and commentaries on the Bhagavad-gita, Yuga Dharma Das presents karma not as an inflexible system of cosmic punishment, but rather as a sophisticated mechanism through which consciousness evolves. The author skillfully navigates common misunderstandings about karma, dismantling the fatalistic view that one’s destiny is entirely predetermined while avoiding the opposite extreme that suggests complete control over all life circumstances.
What distinguishes this work from many contemporary spirituality books is its steadfast adherence to authentic Vaishnava teachings. Yuga Dharma Das, a disciple of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami (himself a prominent disciple of Srila Prabhupada), maintains the philosophical integrity of the parampara while making these profound concepts accessible to modern readers regardless of their prior exposure to Krishna consciousness.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/book-review-how-to-edit-karma/
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