Front Pages

WHEREAS philosophy in the West germinates, most often, in the soil of intellectual curiosity and is highly theoretical, being concerned with "knowledge for its own sake," philosophy in the ancient Vedic tradition of India is very pointedly directed toward the avowedly practical goal of human liberation. The conviction that human life is specifically meant for discovering and applying the proper means for the liberation of the self from matter is the sine qua non of India's traditional spiritual thought and culture.

This book is based on a unique series of lectures on the teachings of Kapila Muni (Kapiladeva), presented in Bombay, India, in the spring of 1974, by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. Kapila Muni, a renowned sage of antiquity, is the author of the Sāṅkhya philosophical system. Sāṅkhya, which forms an important part of India's ancient philosophical heritage, is both a system of metaphysics and a system of spiritual knowledge culminating in liberation. Kapila, however, is not an ordinary philosopher or sage. According to Vedic tradition, He is an avatāra (incarnation) of the Supreme Absolute Truth, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Lord Kapila descended as the son of Kardama Muni and his wife, Devahūti, both of whom were great yogis and saints. After Kardama Muni renounced the world and went to the forest to attain spiritual perfection, Devahūti, aware of the divinity of her son, approached Kapila and implored Him to endow her with spiritual enlightenment. Pleased by His mother's sincere desire for transcendental knowledge, Kapila spoke Sāṅkhya philosophy, the philosophy which leads one to discriminate between matter and spirit and which culminates in the ultimate liberation called bhakti, divine love.

In this book, the author gives a brilliant exposition on the basic teachings of Kapila and thus illuminates a major element in traditional Indian spirituality. Topics discussed include the significance of the guru, the psychology of consciousness, the characteristics of a self realized person, the science of meditation, the nature of transcendental knowledge, and the process of ultimate liberation.

Through his voluminous writings, which constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture, Śrīla Prabhupāda has distinguished himself as the greatest contemporary teacher of Vedic philosophy and religion. This volume represents another valuable contribution by Śrīla Prabhupāda to our increasing understanding of the profound and universal principles of Vedic wisdom.

First Printing, 1977: 50,000 copies

© 1977 Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America

Puranas. Bhagavatapurana. English. Selections.
Teachings of Lord Kapiladeva.

Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
I. Bhaktivedanta Swami, A. C., 1986-
II. Title.
BLll35.P7A22 1977294.5'925 77-11077
ISBN 0-89213-008-3