100: Dedication

Today is the last day of 2020, my final deadline to complete this project. 

And here we are, at post 100. 

I'm a little in a daze. 

Most of all, I am flooded with a quiet shock of gratitude. When I began this project, I had no idea if I would be allowed to complete it. After all, the Bhagavad-gita is not an ordinary book. 

This book cannot be read or understood by the insincere. I was scared that I was on of those "insincere"s. I was nervous that my conviction and purpose would dry up and sizzle away in the heat of doubt or disinterest or boredom or confusion. 

Somehow, though, here we are. 

I thought I would conclude this project by starting at the beginning - Prabhupad's beginning. I wanted to return to the very first words he writes for his Bhagavad-gita translation and commentary, which are his dedication. He writes:

To

SRILA BALADEVA VIDYABHUSANA

who presented so nicely

the Govinda-bhasya commentary

on

Vedanta philosophy

Okay, wait a second here. Who is Baladeva Vidyabhusana? What is the Govinda-bhasya commentary?? What is Vedanta philosophy????? 

Hello, Google, my old friend. Let's see. 

I just looked up Baladeva Vidyabhusana and my heart is deeply moved. I knew very little of who this person was, and now my heart is opening with deep wonder. (To read more: https://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/srila-baladeva-vidyabhushana-2/)

According to Gaudiya History on Iskcon Desire Tree, Baladeva Vidyabhusana was originally born to a family of farmers, but he quickly ascended to become a prominent scholar. His powerful mood of scholarship, humility, and devotion is a wondrous story indeed. 

What's amazing is that Srila Prabhupad dedicates his commentary on the Bhagavad-gita with a deep bow of deference to another Vaishnava scholar. Prabhupad's Gita has been translated into over 75 languages worldwide, has sold millions of copies, and has transformed hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lives. In the dedication, though, Prabhupad is simply folding his hands to another Vaishnava who has inspired him and guided him in his service. 

In this mood, I would like to dedicate this project to my husband, Ghanashyam das. He is a Vaishnava scholar in the truest sense - humble, knowledgeable, and he imbibes a mood of such love and devotion. Whenever I have had a question, no matter how obscure, my husband would have a response. He has read pretty much every post I have published on this blog, which is saying something, because very few have even read much from this project! Not only has he read these posts, he discusses them with me, and expresses deep appreciation for my writings and creative expressions. 

His encouragement to continue, and to finish when I had said I would finish (today!), has kept me going even when I felt I could not finish.

I am blessed to be married to such a beautiful example of a Vaishnava scholar, a kind and humble gentleman who is loyal to the teachings of Srila Prabhupad and respectful of all spiritual traditions, and a devotee who lives the teachings of the Gita in the truest sense.