Finalist: 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Spirituality category
“Brilliant photographs … a talented writer … her descriptions are lyrical and evocative.” — Kirkus Reviews
“As multi-faceted and luminous as the photos it contains, this book is an important historical and spiritual journey told seamlessly.” — The BookLife Prize
“This book will give pleasure and wisdom to many people, for many years to come.” — Howard J. Resnick, Ph.D., Harvard University
“Whatever our own spiritual orientations and commitments might be, this memoir brings us into Visakha’s world of material detox and spiritual reset, inviting us to look again and look deeper into ourselves and our motivations, convincing us that a ‘lifetime of unexpected love’ is truly possible.” — Kenneth R. Valpey, Ph.D, Oxford University
“One of the best memoirs conveying the power of the spiritual that I have ever come across.” — Graham M. Schweig, Ph.D. Visiting Professor and Research Scholar, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley
Scene from train, india
Pious widows, 1971
Mayapur, India 1976
Radha Damodar Mandir
Vrindavan, India 1972
Yamuna River
A new memoir by a bestselling author
After growing up in the United States in the tumultuous ’60s, Visakha, a professional photojournalist who had just published her first book, was suspicious of everything metaphysical. In early 1971, invited to India by her boyfriend who was working on his MFA thesis there, Visakha hears about bhakti, the yoga of devotion, from a simple Indian sage. She flatly rejects it. Then, after observing and empathizing with ascetic monks in Nepal and deeply pious widows in one of India’s holiest towns, she begins to doubt her convictions. Gradually she finds the bhakti teachings unreasonably reasonable. Despite herself, her skepticism wanes. Bhakti and the love it evokes upends her life.
The story’s backdrop is the amusing challenges a Westerner experiences while living in India, and the misadventures a new adherent of an Eastern tradition has while living in the West. The tests of celibacy add spice to it. And it’s a disarmingly frank exploration of the inner churning and confusion that result when faithlessness meets faith, and when firmly held conclusions prove unexamined.
Throughout the story runs a lasting thread of love bonding teacher to student, student to teacher. Click Here to Order Now.
BookLife Prize – 2017
Plot/Idea: 10 out of 10
Originality: 10 out of 10
Prose: 10 out of 10
Character/Execution: 10 out of 10
Overall: 10.00 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot: Well plotted and well paced. That the character arc develops slowly makes the book that much more believable. I wouldn’t cut a word.
Prose: This gifted author’s prose is beautiful, carefully wrought, and a pleasure to read. The only issue is the title, which doesn’t do justice to a wonderful book.
Originality: Wholly original. This makes Eat, Pray, Love look like a summer vacation.
Character Development: The author’s spiritual development occurs gradually. It is believable and by degree — and brilliantly told. The way the author handles the deaths of her parents is both painful and perfect. Dasi walks the line between sentiment and sentimentality and never veers too far toward the latter.
Blurb: As multi-faceted and luminous as the photos it contains, this book is an important historical and spiritual journey told seamlessly.
The BookLife Prize.
Reader Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best memoirs conveying the power of the spiritual that I have ever come across. By Graham M. Schweig, Ph.D., Visiting Professor and Research Scholar, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley: Five Years, Eleven Months is hardly an ordinary read. The author shares how her relationship with an ancient spiritual path from sacred India becomes more and more a part of her life. She is confronted with the big questions, such as the purpose of life and the question of ultimate meaning, giving the reader a fresh look at the nature of a faith as it transforms a person. I offer my guarantee to the prospective reader of this book–you will not only learn much from its pages, but you will soon learn how difficult it is to put the book down. The author is an excellent writer, who engages irony, humor, anecdotal delights, and more. It is one of the best memoirs conveying the power of the spiritual that I have ever come across.
5.0 out of 5 stars This book will give pleasure and wisdom to many people, for many years to come. By Howard J. Resnick, Ph.D., Harvard University: In her latest, most revealing book — Five Years, Eleven Months — Visakha Dasi unleashes an autobiographical work of revolutionary honesty. Rarely has a serious, practicing “Hare Krishna” bared their heart and mind with such candor and eloquence.
Along this riveting journey, we relive with her a lonely, painful youth. We share her relief and joy at the discovery of romantic love, and career success. With impressive maturity and earned wisdom, Visakha then carries us to exotic lands, where spiritual discovery transforms her life.
With courage and humility, she talks openly of heavy changes in her marriage, her guilt at the loss of a neglected parent, feminism, problems within the Krishna consciousness movement, fellow practitioners who inspired and repelled her, and much more. And at the center of this uncompromising narrative, we behold her extraordinary relationship with her beloved spiritual teacher, Srila Prabhupada.
This book will give pleasure and wisdom to many people, for many years to come.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Joy to read
By Jayadvaita Swami, author of Vanity Karma: Ecclesiastes, the Bhagavad-gita, and the meaning of life (winner of the 2016 Benjamin Franklin Book Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association as the best book in the “religion” category). Literate and introspective, Visakha’s memoir is a joy to read. Especially engaging is her running account of the tension within herself between her spiritual path and, on the other side, her persistent doubts, her skepticism, and a rational mind always on guard against being spiritually duped. And hers is an extraordinary story. As a young photojournalist, still in college, she journeys first to Nepal and then to India, where she meets a spiritual teacher who shows her much more than she expected to see in her viewfinder and changes the course of her life. Now, nearly fifty years later, she shares with us her adventures, her insights, her reflections, her wisdom. A splendid book!
5.0 out of 5 stars A jewel which will illumine the heart of the reader By Sacinandana Swami: In her new book Five Years, Eleven Months, Visakha takes her readers on a fascinating journey. What is it like to meet a true saint? What happens to one in his association? How does he live and how does he teach and – most important – how does he impact those close to him? These and other questions are masterfully answered by Visakha as she tells her amazing story of spiritual transformation – a story of a journey that makes her turn from a skeptic into a student.
The backdrop of her spiritual adventure is modern and traditional India, which is brought to life by her amazing ability – as a writer and a photographer. Again and again she meets the Queen of faith on the dusty little lanes of a pilgrimage town and feels compelled to start a friendship with her – first with some hesitation. This friendship we learn by her honest descriptions has its very human ups and downs.
When reading and viewing Vishaka’s journey I became deeply affected myself and thus experienced maybe the most outstanding feature of the book – I met Srila Prabhupada again – in a fresh way through the eyes of one person who was there and who dared to ask questions which very frankly put are in the heart of most persons from the west brought up in modern critical thinking.
From all the books on this great saint who brought the ancient teachings on Bhakti to the west this is a jewel which will illumine the heart of the reader and leave permanent impressions of a success story – the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.
5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerized by the candor
By Bob Cohen, Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator: I was mesmerized by the candor, picturesque detail and superb writing style of Visakha’s autobiographical adventure of her almost six years with A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (aka Prabhupada). Visakha is multi-talented (I used her book on macrophotography as a reference during my graduate school days in the 1970s). She applies her photo skills to the written word, composing a complex mosaic of her time with Prabhupada and her personal struggle with her latent atheism, encounters with misogyny, austerities of India in the ’70s, and difficulty of opening of her heart and trusting. I knew Visakha during those fascinating and exciting years. Her memoir preserves the actual tensions, exhilaration, doubting and heart-wrenching of the times. Five Years Eleven Months is required reading for those who want to understand the source of her awakening, the tumult of the times and the open-hearted love she felt for Prabhupada and Prabhupada for her. The book is a page-turner.
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling!
By Josh Wagner on January 3, 2017
For a number of reasons, I found Visakha Dasi’s book compelling reading:
• The writing was clear and elegant, often poetic in its descriptions
• The author was brutally honest about her struggles with atheism and faith (I identify with that; I was brought up in a communist, atheist household that mocked the idea of God)
• She was also honest (in a non-judgmental way) about the shortcomings of neophyte spiritual practitioners and how their inner battles were sometimes expressed in harsh and condemnatory behavior toward female followers
• She eloquently described how the progress of someone new to the spiritual path is not at all linear, but rather ebbs and flows based on a number of stimuli
• The love she developed for her spiritual teacher was inspiring
• The transformation of consciousness she experienced in the holy Indian city of Vrindaban made me want to go there
• And the scene of her return to her family home was touching and all-too-real.
This work is a result of decades of mature spiritual practice grounded in human experience and wisdom. I found it spiritually edifying and an absolute joy to read. It deserves to become a prominent part of the literature in this genre.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book filled with profound insights
By Ron Conroy on February 13, 2017
Great book filled with profound insights . Every time i pick it up and read , for some reason it has me reviewing
my own life. Thought provoking , I recommend it for everyone.
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is one of a kind.
By Ainsley Bresnahan on February 4, 2017
This book is one of a kind. While many spiritual memoirs are inspiring, they are often not relatable to the reader. Visakha sparks hope in the hearts of the audience with honesty about her journey. She is sincere about her feelings and not afraid of crossing over the “flowery norms” usually linked with sacred practice. Well written, practical, inspiring, and an addictive read!
5.0 out of 5 stars An important and beautiful memoir. She thinks she’s flawed, we know she’s real
By CM Long on February 16, 2017
Wonderful writing! A compelling story. The female perspective of serving a guru (who doesn’t judge based on the body) in a male dominated circle that does, is inspiring and important. Visakha is so candid, we identify with her thoughts and feelings throughout the book. She’s never “too good” to be true. I didn’t want to put it down and ignored other duties to finish it. We, male and female, owe her a collected thank you for such a beautiful and honest memoir.
5.0 out of 5 stars I want to read this with all my friends!
By Stephanie on February 8, 2017
This book is a really honest account and a truly genuine perspective on the process of following a spiritual path amidst all the doubts and misgivings that come up. I could feel the love deepen that the author developed for her faith as I read the book, and in this process, my own faith deepened. The book is autobiographical and also instructive, historical and grounded, from a a leading female perspective not often heard. What a gem! I am so happy that my friends recommended this book, as I feel transformed and supported after reading the story and seeing the parallels with my own questions and quests to know more and feel more in my spiritual life.
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a perfect book for any person traveling to India
By Kate Reddy on January 11, 2017
Visakha dasi’s book is such a gem. I have never heard a more tender rendering of the life of Prabhupada, one of the spiritual teachers who first brought Krishna devotion and worship to the western world. Through the eyes and camera of Visakha, we come to know the tender, loving heart of her guru, and we witness the care with which he treated his disciples. This is a perfect book for any person traveling to India for the first time. It shows the grace and glory of late 1960-early 1970’s India, and shows us what an adventure life was at that time.
5.0 out of 5 stars … to walk alongside her as she weaves the most beautiful and intriguing tapestry of her spiritual journey
By M3d2 on January 11, 2017
An incredible book! Visakha dasi allows the reader to walk alongside her as she weaves the most beautiful and intriguing tapestry of her spiritual journey. On that walk, she reveals the innermost chambers of her heart – something most people usually cannot do – which makes her story profoundly personal. There is no question: one can easily identify with her thoughts and experiences, while taking heed of her most enlightening realizations. She is obviously deeply devoted to her spiritual teacher, someone who shared his love, that love which everyone is always seeking.
5.0 out of 5 stars A down-to-earth account of a trip to the spiritual stratosphere
By Hari-kirtana Das on January 9, 2017
‘Five Years, Eleven Months’ is a colorful and captivating story of an unexpected journey to an unsought revelation. Offering testimony to the possibility and power of authentic spiritual transformation, demonstrating how faith and love walk hand-in-hand with reason and critical thinking, and fusing truth to the truism that the teacher appears when the student is ready (or not), Visakha Dasi’s memoir is a must-read for anyone seeking encouragement to follow a spiritual path and especially for women who aspire to experience a depth of spirituality that goes beyond sentimentality.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Read!
By Aarti on January 23, 2017
As a writer and an artist I just loved this book, I usually tend to be a little skeptical about spiritual journeys but this one really stole my heart. I loved her honesty, at so many moments in the book when I felt skeptical of certain things being said, she would go ahead and echo my doubts. It was inspiring to see a woman who didn’t just blindly follow but truly question and slowly fall in love with God while still being able to critique and question the path that she was on. In so many books about people’s path to find God, authors tend to just talk about the good sides of religion and God and neglect the darker parts, like how religion is used to spread sexist ideas or fuel hatred towards non-believers, and I loved that Visakha faced these conflicts head on, by asking questions and trying to understand the true soul of religion and God. I couldn’t stop reading this book, it was so entertaining and inspiring and poetically written that by the end even my inner skeptic couldn’t help falling in love.
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
By Amazon Customer on December 27, 2016
I read this book like a hungry man devouring a meal, relishing each new course while anticipating the next. The author describes her dramatic transformation in exquisite, relevant detail, creating for me vivid insights and realizations. The introspective sections balance smoothly with the exciting flow of events in her life, intermingling and prodding one another into a rich, virile, stimulating and very human tapestry. This is a great book for someone looking for more out of life. If you’re like me, you’ll love the read and leave it a better person.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant, Revealing, Captivating Work
By Amazon Customer on December 30, 2016
A brilliant work of introspection, candor, narrative, and hope from which I
learned much, not only about Visakha and her journey, which have been described
in vivid detail, but also about myself: Visakha’s insights into her ways of
being and her efforts to achieve transcendence gave me tools with which to
evaluate my own ways of being and attempts in enlightenment. Also, reading her
descriptions of events to which I was party, or in knowledge, was refreshing;
she saw things that I missed, or saw them from a different perspective—that of
an extremely intelligent, clear-eyed, frank, dedicated, tenacious woman with a
wry sense of humor. The book is accessible to all sorts of readers and will be
captivating and enlightening to any open, honest person. It is so rich and deep
that I have read portions repeatedly and gained fresh insights every time.
5.0 out of 5 stars A superb read which speaks to the mind and heart!
By Vrinda on January 13, 2017
A marvelous achievement; this memoir speaks to both the cynic and the faithful, and carefully documents the author’s journey from deeply held intellectual queries to the transformation of the heart. The author Visakha Dasi writes with a voice that is self-reflective and undeniably smart; her observations of her surroundings are mediated by a dry humor that charms, and her conclusions resonate with wholistic power, appealing to the mind and heart. Visakha Dasi moves through her story with not only vivid detail but vulnerability, so necessary in a memoir, and thus pushes her work to the top of this particular genre. What I particularly appreciated and enjoyed was that the narrative is grounded in personal experience, including early childhood memories, her first meeting with her husband, and the tragic unraveling of her parental family. The personal is never lost, even as Visakha moves into the more metaphysical realm, having discovered a guru, who in Five Years, Eleven Months, alters the course of her life forever. Highly recommended. A superb read which moves the heart and the intellect to a deeper understanding.
5.0 out of 5 stars A book you don’t want to miss
By Sivarama Swami March 17, 2017: In Five Years, Visakha Dasi makes known her fascinating spiritual journey from an egocentric Long Island photojournalist to a humble pilgrim and personal photographer of Bhaktivedanta Swami, leader and founder of the Hare Krishna Movement. If you want know how photographs of transcendence and of its personification are articulated in colorful, focused language, then Five Years is a book that you don’t want to miss.
The book is refreshingly unique, the emotions are palpable Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite March 19,2017
Five Years, Eleven Months and a Lifetime of Unexpected Love by Visakha Dasi is a brilliant memoir about a woman’s struggles in coming to terms with her spiritual realization, conditioning her mind to overcome her atheism, and her transformative spiritual journey amid many challenging circumstances. The memoir speaks about a woman who goes to India with her boyfriend, John, to capture how villagers lived in a quaint Indian village without the complexity and stress which is typical of Western life. Things take a different turn when she comes into contact with her spiritual guru. The book draws readers in with its honesty, faith, and the author’s personal experiences. It is a memoir of self-realization, self-discovery, and an inner journey that will leave readers inspired and motivated to look for answers that revolve around God and faith.
The author’s insights, thought-provoking reasoning, and her account of Prabhupada and his movement reveal the spiritual journey of a young woman who starts questioning her lifestyle, goals, values, and identity. The narration is descriptive and the black and white photographs are starkly vivid – they capture the essence and mood of the author’s words. The way she has woven her story is simple, yet she manages to encourage readers to find their own spiritual path. The book is refreshingly unique, the emotions are palpable through the words and pictures, and the struggles and obstacles undergone and faced by the author during her journey as a spiritual seeker make it a compelling and thoughtful memoir.
In Canada, order here.
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Adventures in Spiritual Life 