One of Srila Prabhupada’s earliest disciples, Shyamasundar Das, 81, shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to narrate his personal experiences with ISKCON’s founder-ācārya.  His popular 3-volume series, “Chasing Rhinos with the Swami,” spans nearly 1,500 pages of memories and includes over 600 unique photographs.  “Srila Prabhupada has always been my hero.  During the seven years I spent at his side—three years as his personal secretary—I observed the most amazing person who ever graced our planet,” Shyamasundar said.  “His bold, fearless, victorious adventures and heroic acts are the stuff of legends and his message to us—who is God?  Who am I?  What is the meaning of life? —is the absolute truth.  Prabhupada always said, ‘Just pass this knowledge on to others, then you are Krishna’s best friend.’” 

Speaking of this decade-long labor of love, Shyamasundar said, “I had to wait until my hurried years were behind me (those years for creating money) and now have this time for contemplation, finally setting pen to paper in 2013…Slowly, this project has grown at maybe one page per eight-hour day over the past ten years,” he mused.  “I knew I was especially blessed to be an intimate witness of Bhaktivedanta Swami’s magical sojourn among us, so I always knew I had to do this, write, try somehow to describe the acts and words of the Perfect Person.”

Photos courtesy of Shyamasundar Prabhu

New Audiobook Available

As if this writing project wasn’t daunting enough, Shyamasundar has just finished recording 23 hours of audio, making Volume One of ‘Chasing Rhinos with the Swami” now available as an audiobook.  In the last ten years, the share of US adults who listen to audiobooks has grown by more than 100%, so an audio version is timely. 

Recording memories of his guru was a profound experience for the author.  “I was surprised to hear my own voice speaking, with the volume, emotions, and cadence occasioned by the moment, sometimes crying when Prabhupada’s glance of deep love met my eyes, laughing at his astonishing behavior, my voice child-like for a fresh new session, growing gruff near the end of another long day.” Shyamasundar continues, “I realized how much more powerful and meaningful this audio medium is.  Just like when you hear one of Prabhupada’s lectures, the experience sinks in much deeper than just the reading of it.”

Writing and recording with a broad audience in mind, especially hoping to attract younger spiritual seekers, Shyamasundar remarked, “Prabhupada is an action hero, full of power and surprise, laughter, leaping tall buildings in a single bound, with words of wisdom to leave you wondering and wanting more.  These books are adventure novels.”

To learn more about this three-volume series and the new audiobook, visit www.chasingrhinos.com