Appendix 1 105

“the big mrdanga.” For the purpose of world-wide service to
humanity, ISKCON Press has been established, for the exclusive
printing of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

In 1968, Macmillan published The Bhagavad Gita As It Is
translated with commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhakti-
vedanta Swami Prabhupada. The Gita is the gist of the entire
Vedic literature. Just this one book can free anyone from the
clutches of material nature and fix one in eternal loving service
unto Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. As originally written
by Srila Prabhupada, the manuscript of The Bhagavad Gita As It
Is is many times larger than the Macmillan version. Publication of
this original expanded version is being undertaken by ISKCON.
Another important published literature by Srila Prabhupada is his
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya. This book outlines the precepts of
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Avatar Who appeared in India
500 years ago and propagated the Hare Krsna mantra as the means
of God realization for the present age. A book called The Nectar
of Devotion, an authorized summary study of Sri Ripa Gosvami’s
Bhak li-rasdmrta-sindhu, has just been published. Srila Prabhupada
is presently writing a several volume work called Krsna, which
contains all of the Pastimes of the Supreme Lord when present
on this planet 5000 years ago. Translations arc also underway of
the Veddnta-siitras, Caitanya-caritamrta and his 12 volumes of
Srimad-Bhdgavatam. The literatures compiled by Ilis Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are authorized by the dis-
ciplic succession, which is descending from Krsna Himself. Srila
Prabhupada’s whole life mission is to faithfully pass on the origi-
nal understanding of Krsna Consciousness without distortion. Ac-
cording to the Vedic literature this descending process is the only
way lo realization of the Absolute Truth, since the Absolute Truth
is beyond the reach of our mundane speculation.

The author is not a retired personality, despite his prodigious
literary output. He personally and very intimately guides his
disciples through the most practical problems of daily life.
Spiritual life is practical and, due to the predomincnt material
