A Journey with Saints

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Welcome & Namaste.

My name is Acharya das. This name was given to me by my initiating spiritual master, the world-renowned transcendentalist, Vedic scholar and genuine saint, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on the 10th May 1971.

The principal meaning of the word Acharya is "a topmost spiritual preceptor/guru who teaches by his own perfect example". The word dasa means "one who serves". Acharya das therefore means "one who serves a perfect spiritual master who is a teacher by example". Acharya das therefore is not just a name but it speaks to a dynamic spiritual process - a spiritual journey - which all sincere seekers of the Truth must embrace in order to attain complete and perfect self-realization and God-realization. This process entails the search for an enlightened spiritual master and having found such a saintly person, the process of submissive inquiry from him, along with the rendering of service to him in the mood of humility. The Bhagavad-gita states:

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” - Bhagavad-gita 4.34

This ancient and authentic spiritual process is nothing short of a lifelong commitment to a spiritual journey which is described as "following in the footsteps of the Acharyas". This "following in the footsteps” is an incredible inward journey, a journey from darkness into the light of self-realization and happiness.

असतोमासद्गमय तमसोमज्योतिर्गमय मृत्योर्ममृतंगमय

asato mā sad gamaya
tamaso mā jyotir gamaya
mṛtyor māmṛtaṁ gamaya

Do not stay in illusion; go to the eternal reality. Do not stay in darkness; go to the light. Do not remain in the realm of death; become immortal! - Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28

"Following in the footsteps" does not imply a blind following or just stumbling along behind someone. Rather it is the undertaking of an inward journey that both requires and results in tremendous internal change, where the student/disciple aspires to actually experience a transformative change of the heart.

It means to undergo what the great saints have previously undergone and to experience what they have experienced on their own journey along this path. It has nothing to do with "joining" something or participating in a group or "team" activity. This is an intensely personal undertaking that each of us must embrace in order to actually know God, regardless of our affiliation or affinity for any specific faith tradition.

This is an intensely personal undertaking that each of us must embrace in order to actually know God, regardless of our affiliation with, or affinity for, any specific faith tradition.

I have had an extraordinary life. The great treasure I have received from my initiating spiritual master (dikṣā-guru) Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and my instructing spiritual master (śikṣā-guru) Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda, is something which I am compelled to share, for it can not only assuage all the ills and pains of life in this world, but it can award the highest happiness and most perfect experience of love which we all crave.

This website is my humble attempt to share with you my personal journey along with the insights and realizations I have gained as well as my personal appreciation of the wonderful Eternal Truth of the Vedas which my spiritual masters have shared with me. I have therefore called this website "The Journey of Life".

As a side note, I am asking for your patience as this is very much a work in progress. As we begin to post more articles and videos over the next weeks and months the site will take on more structure and become more of a useful tool to share what I am offering in a more structured way.

Thank you for your patience.

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My Teachers

The great treasure I have received from my initiating spiritual master (dikṣā-guru) Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and my instructing spiritual master (śikṣā-guru) Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa, is something which I am compelled to share..