From Identity Crisis to Krishna Consciousness: ISKCON’s Gauranga Das Shares His Journey. ISKCON leader Gauranga Das explained how the Bhagavad Gita addressed identity crisis and mental health, offering a path to self-discovery and inner peace. He also taught how we can apply Krishna’s teachings in our daily lives, align with dharma, and ultimately gain spiritual fulfilment. Please read the full article to learn about the spiritual journey and teachings of Gauranga Das and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
From Identity Crisis to Krishna Consciousness: ISKCON’s Gauranga Das Shares His Journey
Gauranga Das Prabhuji, ISKCON leader and director of Govardhan Eco Village, picked the rare path of spirituality after graduating from IIT Mumbai. Normally, people would expect him to work as a high-powered corporate employee with a six-figure salary, but he picked his path differently. Gauranga Das decided to dedicate his life to serving humanity instead of spreading the wisdom of God.
Gauranga Das comes from a traditional family, rooted in Sanatana Dharma, where all festivals and religious occasions are celebrated in a family. He told about his thoughts that the concept of death always intrigued him and he was always finding answers about what happens to life after death. He stated, “While at IIT, I stay focused on education, and I also had the opportunity to associate with senior monks at ISKCON Mumbai, from whom I learnt the core concepts of the Bhagavad Gita. That had the answers to my seeking, and I realised the purpose of my life should be to dedicatedly share these invaluable teachings with the rest of the world.”
Every individual is seeking a common factor they can share with others of a similar mindset and in this way experience a sense of identity. The inherent problem in today’s modern society is that our identities are being defined by the body and mind. We live in a culture where our identity is established by the flesh we belong to, but since that changes at every moment, our identity changes along with it, and therefore people do not actually know who they really are.
Krishna Consciousness
Gauranga Das Prabhu gave a detailed description about Krishna consciousness. According to him, Krishna Consciousness helps us make sense of worries, stresses, and fears in life. He said in his interview that, “In today’s world, many people struggle with mental health issues like stress and even thoughts of ending their lives. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us why we feel scared—it’s because we’re afraid our identity might change. Imagine someone who expected a big promotion but didn’t get it; an employee with less experience got it and now it feels like their whole identity has been shaken.”
Gauranga Das Prabhu teaches us that our awareness works on three levels. In the first place, we are aware of our responsibilities and our personalities. But even when we know these things, we can still become shaken by variations in life. Unlike our responsibilities or natural tendencies, this relationship never changes. This is what Krishna consciousness is all about: understanding and embracing this eternal connection with something greater than ourselves.
Gauranga Das Sayings
Gauranga Das, in an interview, stated, “You may be helpless but you should not be hopeless. Devaki and Vasudev were in a helpless situation in Kansa’s jail, but they were not hopeless, as they had a hope that Krishna would come as their eighth child. This hope kept them going. Similarly, Draupadi was helpless or doubtful about Krishna’s assistance. She has hope in Krishna, and that hope kept her going even in the midst of such a devastating situation. So, this principle of hopefulness, personally taught by Krishna, keeps me going.
He was asked about the impact of mantra chanting on the health of an individual. To which he replied, “A tool for finding inner peace, Mantra Chanting calms the mind and brings it to a state of focus. The rhythmic repetitions of the Vedic mantra help in reducing stress and mental clutter. Scientific studies have shown chanting can reduce anxiety and lower stress hormones. On a subtle level, chanting aligns us with the spiritual frequencies, which helps us connect ourselves with the divine. The vibration from it creates a sense of peace, devotion, joy, and a more harmonious state of being.