Travels with His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,
NOVEMBER 1975 – APRIL 1976
Hari-Sauri Dasa
In this first volume of Hari Śauri’s Transcendental Diary the reader comes to understand the man who has touched the hearts and minds of so many people around the world.” “For scholars and students of religion the material presented represents a critically important historical record. Anyone seeking to understand Prabhupāda’s movement specifically, or the centrality of charismatic leadership to the development of religious movements, will want to consider this book. The use of a diary to record and present Prabhupāda’s life has helped assure that the material presented is richly detailed and an accurate reflection of unfolding events. Hari Śauri has given the reader a clear and rather straight forward presentation of events rather than engaging in historical reconstruction meant to serve partisan or theoretical interests. As such, it will be of great interest to historians and sociologists of religion who seek to understand the cultural and social significance of Prabhupāda and the broader Hare Krishna movement. “The value of this volume and the ones to follow can not be overstated. To the disciples of Prabhupāda, the accounts contained here are a spark bringing to light endless stories and emotions that only further their connection to the Spiritual Master. To those devotees who had no personal contact or association with Srila Prabhupāda, this book serves a particularly important purpose; it becomes the basis for “knowing” Prabhupāda in a more intimate way. To the average reader with no direct involvement in Prabhupāda’s movement this book is also a source of inspiration. It is nothing short of miraculous that one man could inspire so many people throughout the world to become God conscious. We learn here how and why this has happened.”
—From the Foreword by Professor E. Burke Rochford, Jr. Dept. Sociology and Anthropology Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont. Author of Hare Krishna In America