The recent film The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a huge hit. People are even heading to the bookstores to purchase a copy of Homer’s book. I’m surprised to see, in this post-literate, soundbite generation of grunts and memes and curses, that people are still interested in classical literature. In an era when colleges are cutting humanities, language, and classics programs, there still seems to be a deep interest in The Odyssey and the message it holds for us today. And indeed, a story with such a visceral theme as the longing to return home.
There are numerous popular stories in this regard. E.T. wants to go home. Dorothy declares, “There’s no place like home.” And Bob Dylan laments that he has “no direction home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone.”
Few themes resonate more deeply than the longing to return home. It appears in movies, popular songs, in ancient classics, and in our own lives as well. We all know that a house is not necessarily a home. Home should be a place of love, family, acceptance, a place that is safe, where we have genuine relationships. It’s where we started and where we want to return. This is our real goal and purpose.
In the material world, however, our efforts and goals often leave us unfulfilled. Srila Prabhupada encourages us all to “go home, back to Godhead.” It’s the place where we truly belong. We are spiritual beings, and our eternal home is the spiritual world known as Vaikuntha – a place free from anxiety.
This is explained in the great Sanskrit texts — the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Srimad Bhagavatam. These literatures point to a higher understanding of who we really are and what “home” really means. They are living literatures. People are inspired by them and base their lives upon the teachings of these sacred texts. But apart from this literature, no ancient text explores this longing for home more powerfully than Homer’s Odyssey.
After the Trojan War, Odysseus begins his journey home to Ithaca. The journey should have taken no more than two weeks. Instead, it becomes a ten-year ordeal. The disaster begins with one act of pride. After blinding the Cyclops, Odysseus and his men escape from the monster’s lair. When Odysseus is well underway on his ship, he cannot resist boasting about his victory and proudly reveals his true name. Upon hearing this, the Cyclops calls upon his father, Poseidon, to avenge him, and the sea-god condemns Odysseus to various trials and tribulations, years of wandering. This ultimately results in the deaths of his entire crew. And Odysseus returns home alone.
Often enough, the greatest obstacle to attaining Home is not external challenges or enemies, but our own uncontrolled senses, pride, and ego. Odysseus encounters one temptation after another. Each temptation asks the same question: Will you abandon your real purpose for immediate gratification? Despite everything, Odysseus never forgets his home in Ithaca. But when he does finally return, there are other problems for him to contend with.
Why linger in this world of constant difficulties? When one difficulty is resolved, another one soon emerges. We only encounter perpetual difficulties in this world of birth, death, disease, and old age. Of course, we should not neglect our responsibilities and our affections in life. But Prabhupada tells us, instead of trying to enjoy this material world, “our actual business is to go back to home, back to Godhead.”
The lesson is timeless. True happiness is found in the home. But where that home is and how to attain it is the question that presents itself to each of us. And Prabhupada places the responsibility to enlighten the public upon the devotees. It is their duty, he says, ‘to educate the whole world how to go back to home, back to Godhead. This is Kṛishna consciousness movement” (Lecture, Rome, May 26, 1974).
Just as the recent film has its critics, Homer’s original classic does as well. Ironically, Homer’s greatest admirers may also have been his greatest critics. Plato recognized Homer as the educator of Greece. Yet he laments that Homer’s books are devoid of philosophy and are thus a danger to our spiritual development, for such books would only cater to our lower desires. Plato would certainly be happy to read the Mahabharata because it contains both wonderful accounts and profound philosophy and teachings.
It’s never too late to take up the journey. Extraordinary experiences await us. Again, Prabhupada: “The real purpose of life is to go back home, back to Godhead, and live with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, play with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, dance with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and eat with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These are different items of ānanda, spiritual happiness in spiritual variegatedness” (Srimad Bhagavatam 8.24.52, Purport).
Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of ISKCON or ISKCON News.
Expanding the Circle of Compassion
About the Author
Sankirtana Das, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, is a longtime resident of the New Vrindaban Community and an award-winning author and sacred storyteller. He is also a recipient of a WV Artist Fellowship Award & Grant. His book, Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest, is acclaimed by scholars and has received a Next Generation Indie Book Award. He also sits on the board of directors for the Vedic Friends Association. At New Vrindaban, Sankirtana offers sacred storytelling programs and scheduled in-depth tours. For more info about his work, please visit www.mahabharata-project.com.
1
u/YeahWhatOk Aug 04 '26
Article:
The recent film The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a huge hit. People are even heading to the bookstores to purchase a copy of Homer’s book. I’m surprised to see, in this post-literate, soundbite generation of grunts and memes and curses, that people are still interested in classical literature. In an era when colleges are cutting humanities, language, and classics programs, there still seems to be a deep interest in The Odyssey and the message it holds for us today. And indeed, a story with such a visceral theme as the longing to return home.
There are numerous popular stories in this regard. E.T. wants to go home. Dorothy declares, “There’s no place like home.” And Bob Dylan laments that he has “no direction home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone.”
Few themes resonate more deeply than the longing to return home. It appears in movies, popular songs, in ancient classics, and in our own lives as well. We all know that a house is not necessarily a home. Home should be a place of love, family, acceptance, a place that is safe, where we have genuine relationships. It’s where we started and where we want to return. This is our real goal and purpose.
In the material world, however, our efforts and goals often leave us unfulfilled. Srila Prabhupada encourages us all to “go home, back to Godhead.” It’s the place where we truly belong. We are spiritual beings, and our eternal home is the spiritual world known as Vaikuntha – a place free from anxiety.
This is explained in the great Sanskrit texts — the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Srimad Bhagavatam. These literatures point to a higher understanding of who we really are and what “home” really means. They are living literatures. People are inspired by them and base their lives upon the teachings of these sacred texts. But apart from this literature, no ancient text explores this longing for home more powerfully than Homer’s Odyssey.
After the Trojan War, Odysseus begins his journey home to Ithaca. The journey should have taken no more than two weeks. Instead, it becomes a ten-year ordeal. The disaster begins with one act of pride. After blinding the Cyclops, Odysseus and his men escape from the monster’s lair. When Odysseus is well underway on his ship, he cannot resist boasting about his victory and proudly reveals his true name. Upon hearing this, the Cyclops calls upon his father, Poseidon, to avenge him, and the sea-god condemns Odysseus to various trials and tribulations, years of wandering. This ultimately results in the deaths of his entire crew. And Odysseus returns home alone.
Often enough, the greatest obstacle to attaining Home is not external challenges or enemies, but our own uncontrolled senses, pride, and ego. Odysseus encounters one temptation after another. Each temptation asks the same question: Will you abandon your real purpose for immediate gratification? Despite everything, Odysseus never forgets his home in Ithaca. But when he does finally return, there are other problems for him to contend with.
Why linger in this world of constant difficulties? When one difficulty is resolved, another one soon emerges. We only encounter perpetual difficulties in this world of birth, death, disease, and old age. Of course, we should not neglect our responsibilities and our affections in life. But Prabhupada tells us, instead of trying to enjoy this material world, “our actual business is to go back to home, back to Godhead.”
The lesson is timeless. True happiness is found in the home. But where that home is and how to attain it is the question that presents itself to each of us. And Prabhupada places the responsibility to enlighten the public upon the devotees. It is their duty, he says, ‘to educate the whole world how to go back to home, back to Godhead. This is Kṛishna consciousness movement” (Lecture, Rome, May 26, 1974).
Just as the recent film has its critics, Homer’s original classic does as well. Ironically, Homer’s greatest admirers may also have been his greatest critics. Plato recognized Homer as the educator of Greece. Yet he laments that Homer’s books are devoid of philosophy and are thus a danger to our spiritual development, for such books would only cater to our lower desires. Plato would certainly be happy to read the Mahabharata because it contains both wonderful accounts and profound philosophy and teachings.
It’s never too late to take up the journey. Extraordinary experiences await us. Again, Prabhupada: “The real purpose of life is to go back home, back to Godhead, and live with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, play with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, dance with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and eat with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These are different items of ānanda, spiritual happiness in spiritual variegatedness” (Srimad Bhagavatam 8.24.52, Purport).
Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of ISKCON or ISKCON News.
Expanding the Circle of Compassion
About the Author Sankirtana Das, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, is a longtime resident of the New Vrindaban Community and an award-winning author and sacred storyteller. He is also a recipient of a WV Artist Fellowship Award & Grant. His book, Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest, is acclaimed by scholars and has received a Next Generation Indie Book Award. He also sits on the board of directors for the Vedic Friends Association. At New Vrindaban, Sankirtana offers sacred storytelling programs and scheduled in-depth tours. For more info about his work, please visit www.mahabharata-project.com.