Vaisnavas writing autobiographies
Social · asked by user [] · 2009-01-08 · 5 answers
Im wondering what you think about devotees publishing their autobiographies. How was this historically in vaisnavism?
From my logic, Id say that vaisnavas would avoid writing about themselves, and rather write about Krsna and great vaisnavas. On the other hand, successful materialists like to write autobiographies.
In ISKCON some write autobiographies, as books, or as public diaries. Some encourage their disciples and others to write biographies about them, and some even financially sponsor writing of their biography. Sometimes after death, but sometimes even while still alive.
I cannot help myself but wonder about the purpose of such biographies and autobiographies.
Srila Prabhupada said:
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Just like autobiography of life. Nobody used to write autobiography. But the life of great kings, sages, saintly persons, they were recorded in the...,
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.5-6 -- London, August 23, 1971
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So Im wondering about (auto)biographies of some ISKCON gurus. I suspect soon there will be plenty. How to relate to this?
From my logic, Id say that vaisnavas would avoid writing about themselves, and rather write about Krsna and great vaisnavas. On the other hand, successful materialists like to write autobiographies.
In ISKCON some write autobiographies, as books, or as public diaries. Some encourage their disciples and others to write biographies about them, and some even financially sponsor writing of their biography. Sometimes after death, but sometimes even while still alive.
I cannot help myself but wonder about the purpose of such biographies and autobiographies.
Srila Prabhupada said:
=============
Just like autobiography of life. Nobody used to write autobiography. But the life of great kings, sages, saintly persons, they were recorded in the...,
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.5-6 -- London, August 23, 1971
=============
So Im wondering about (auto)biographies of some ISKCON gurus. I suspect soon there will be plenty. How to relate to this?
user [38] · 2009-01-08
BVT wrote Svalikhita jivani.Imho, any info about Prabhupada from eyewitnesses is precious, esp. for future generations.
user [313] · 2009-01-08
Veda, maybe I wasnt clear enough, I didnt mean biographies about Srila Prabhupada.I meant biographies, which are not about Srila Prabhupada, but about present ISKCON gurus and other ISKCON devotees. And ISKCON devotees/gurus writing about their own lives and accomplishments.
user [38] · 2009-01-08
I understand. What I wanted to say is that biographies of present gurus often include a lot about SP. Thus they are precious historical documents.Once Ive suggested to Archives that some coordination and central archiving of tape ministries should be done. The reply was that ISKCON Archive was established in Oxford and one of its project is:
"...ISKCON Oral History Project (IOHP). This is something that Ambarisa Prabhu wants to help fund and will involve interviewing Prabhupada disciples and devotees who were around when Prabhupada was here, but not initiated by him. The idea is to record their memories, reminiscences and experiences, as more and more of them are passing away."
user [154] · 2009-01-08
One of the nice books - "How I came to Krishna Consciousness" - written by a russian devotee - lists stories of many devotees who came to Krishna - all in suspiciously wonderful settings and with wonderful flair. I think everyone should write down this part of the autobiography - great inspiration to all others. In fact I am going to start the new question: How did you came to Krishna consciousness - (autobio)?http://www.krishna.org.ua/world/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=124&func=fileinfo&filecatid=23&parent=category
http://www.krishna.org.ua/world/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=124&func=download&filecatid=23&chk=af8df673a0713323717bffc0eb1cae75
user [166] · 2009-01-09
Not so sure about autobiographies, but its certainly nice to hear about how devotees came to Krsna...how the Lord made arrangements for them surrendering their lives to devotional service. Shame the book is in Russian...is there an English version?