In Search of the Ultimate Goal of Life

This book “In Search of the Ultimate Goal of Life” was probably the first literary work by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Prabhupāda after he accepted sannyāsa in 1959. The book deals with the divine conversation between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Raya Ramananda on the banks of the Godavari River, and is considered by Gaudiya Vaisnavas to be the acme of all theistic conceptions. This conversation found in Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta explores the progression of theistic starting with vārṇāśrama-dharma and culminating in prema-bhakti in mādhurya-rasa. This manuscript was originally found by Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Bhajan Kutira in Rādhā Dāmodara Temple in 1977 while serving there. Some years later Mahārāja published this manuscript as this book and it is exceptional in that it is a glimpse into the mood of Śrīla Prabhupāda prior to his world preaching campaign.