Page 12 - BIKC - Eng

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