Book Review: Krishna Consciousness

Prof. Debashis (Deb Ashis) Chatterjee spins a tale of love that manifests in two time periods. In his maiden book of fiction, the contemporary Keshav seems to be conversing with the ageless Kanha of Vrindavan. The students of Keshav seem to emote with the gopikas of the past. None had the patience for grandiose philosophy. All they seek is an uninhibited embrace from the Life Force.

In his inimitable way, Prof Chatterjee links the complex philosophy of Advaita with the path of Bhakti. More importantly, he provides a practical example of Krishna Consciousness through the life of the main protagonist. The book is a must-read if you ever thought that the life of the spirit is in the dark isolation of the forest. With simple analogies, Prof.  Chatterjee emphasises that living freely, mindfully, and with love, is spirituality.

The book almost seems to show that Krishna is using the lens of His masterpiece – the Srimad Bhagavad Gita – to reinterpret His life, which is documented in Srimad Bhagavatam. The reader can almost feel that the mortal journey of Krishna has ended, yet Krishna Consciousness has manifested again as Keshav. The book reveals the continuity of existence, notwithstanding the limitation of the one who exists. A treasure!

As a subplot, Prof. Chatterjee utilises his three-decade-old rich educational career to warn against the increasing 'commodification' of the mind. He does not advocate against material pursuits but emphasises the meaning of such pursuits. As he puts it, "Your life depends on the unity and rhythm of relationships between different parts of the body. Once you lose the unity of rhythm, you go out of sync with life itself."

Inspired, I pen this poem: 

We are the waves of the same Ocean

Separated by time

United by Consciousness

I surrender, so you rise

I stand, so you move

I shrink, so you swell

I don't lose, we win!

Read this book to discover what it is to dance with Krishna!

The writer is Associate Professor, Human Resource Management Group and Chairperson, Management Development Programme | Faculty Development Programme, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode