Chaitanya Chandra Dasa has unveiled his latest offering, an e-book titled “Traps in our Path Back to Godhead.” Drawing inspiration from a publication by Suhotra Swami during the 1990s, this e-book sets a philosophical foundation to illuminate the common pitfalls in one’s spiritual evolution, empowering one with the wisdom required to navigate and transcend these impediments.

Currently staying in Mayapur with his family, Chaitanya Chandra Dasa started his journey into Krsna Consciousness in 1992 after receiving a copy of the Bhagavad Gita during the December marathon. Gradually, he embarked on a quest to understand its profound wisdom, seeking the guidance of local devotees.

He said, “I tried to bring this historical perspective of the different deviant sects described by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura into our practical, contemporary reality. Srila Prabhupada explains a lot about Sahajiyas and Mayavadis in his books. These are not just isolated sects in India, but tendencies we all carry inside of us, which can create many obstacles in our spiritual path.”

Here is a brief summary of the e-book:

Chapter 1: “A Historical Perspective,” discusses the historical perspective of Vedic knowledge and the importance of written texts in preserving it. It emphasizes that oral transmission of knowledge was once possible due to good memories and honest dispositions but is now challenging due to misunderstandings and changes. Srila Prabhupada’s extensive writings are highlighted as a means to access pure teachings and avoid deviating from the path of devotion. The chapter also cautions against mixing different philosophies and practices with Krishna consciousness, which can lead to uncertainty and a departure from the original teachings.

Chapter 2, “The Revival,” discusses the challenges faced by the Sankirtan movement in India due to deviations introduced by various sects such as the Sahajiyas, Jata-gosanis, and Smartas. To reinvigorate the Sankirtan movement and fulfill the prediction of chanting holy names in every town and village, Lord Caitanya sent three successive acaryas: Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and Srila Prabhupada. These acaryas re-established the original teachings and spread them worldwide.

Chapter 3, “Traps in Our Way Back to Godhead,” discusses the pitfalls and deviations that can hinder spiritual progress on the path back to Godhead. The chapter emphasizes the relevance of the mistakes from history to the present day. It shows how similar spiritual diseases can manifest today in various ways and contexts. Different modern groups may exhibit characteristics of these apasampradayas. For instance, the chapter draws parallels between the hippie movement and the baulas and daraveshas, associating aspects of the New Age movement with sahajiya ideas. 

Chaitanya Chandra Dasa aspires to share the wisdom he acquired on his spiritual journey with others. He said, “I just try to share whatever I learned with other devotees so they don’t have to commit the same mistakes I did. I post articles on different social platforms and my website thepathofbhakti.com. I have also published a few books.”

He concluded by saying, “I hope that the contents of this e-book can help devotees recognize potential challenges in their spiritual practice and find the necessary strength and knowledge to surpass them.”

For those interested in reading this latest offering, you can access it free of charge at the following link.

You can directly connect with Chaitanya Chandra through his social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.