Page 12 - BIKC - Eng
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x           BRAHMACARYA IN KÅÑËA CONSCIOUSNESS

          the present and future generations of devotees—in all äçramas and
          statuses.
              Therefore it is timely that His Holiness Bhakti Vikäsa Swami
          has, with the good wishes of many of his godbrother comrades in
          active preaching, diligently prepared this compendium of the
          principles and practice of brahmacäré life. Bhakti Vikäsa Mahäräja
          is respected as a staunch practitioner of these spiritual principles.
          He is dear to the devotees, especially in Eastern India,
          Bangladesh, and South East Asia, where he has dedicated so many
          years of his life to traveling and preaching on behalf of Çréla
          Prabhupäda. He is certainly qualified to present this book, and has
          done a great service by doing so.
              This book may accurately be called a “user’s guide” to
          brahmacäré life. The first part consists of elaborate discussion of
          and down-to-earth practical guidance on the many aspects of
          brahmacarya. The second part is a compilation of quotes from
          Çréla Prabhupäda’s books, tapes, and letters about this subject
          matter.
              The importance of this matter should not be underestimated.
          Brahmacarya is the basis of all four äçramas, and must be practiced
          by any man or woman serious and sincere about making tangible
          progress on the path back to Godhead. Tapasä brahmacaryeëa
          çamena ca damena ca: “There is no possibility of controlling the
          mind and senses without following the principles of brahmacarya.
          “Çréla Prabhupäda lamented the dearth of educational institutions
          teaching the principles of brahmacarya (celibacy), and cited this as
          one reason for the lack of qualified members of the other three
          äçramas. 1
              We pray that by Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy this book may help
          to educate and train the members of the Kåñëa consciousness
          movement to seriously understand and follow the principles of
          brahmacarya, and thus be pleasing to Çréla Prabhupäda and
          beneficial to the devotees and the Society.
              We feel fortunate to have met our dear godbrother Bhakti
          Vikäsa Swami (then Iläpati Prabhu) just as he was finishing the
          manuscript of this book and requesting the blessings of the
          ISKCON Publications Board for its publication, and thus be given
          the chance to assist in its production. Historically, books which
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