BIHS Newsletter

September 2025

Greetings! Friend and Supporter of the BIHS,

At the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS), we are engaging one of the greatest questions of our time: can material laws alone explain life and consciousness? From international conferences to the Discovery Series and our ongoing study of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, our programs continue to show why this question matters. Read on to see how our scholars and community are carrying this mission forward.

BOB COHEN

Brahma Tirtha Das

Executive Director

Bhaktivedanta Institute

for Higher Studies

Gainesville, FL

Message from the director

This summer has marked an important step forward for the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies. With nine of our scholars presenting at the Science of Consciousness Conference in Barcelona and our inclusion in the Galileo Commission, BIHS is becoming part of the international conversation on the nature of reality.

Guided by Srila Prabhupada’s vision and the wisdom of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, we continue to affirm that consciousness cannot be reduced to matter but stands at the very heart of life , knowledge, and purpose.

These developments show that BIHS is stepping into a wider dialogue on consciousness—one that bridges science, philosophy, and spiritual insight. And what lies ahead is even more compelling: new publications, expanding collaborations, and fresh opportunities for you to share in this important work.

The Five Frontiers of BIHS

by Hridayananda Das Goswami

In a recent conversation about the mission of the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies, Hridayananda Das Goswami spoke boldly:

“We are engaged in a war against illusion, trying to save a planet. That’s what Srila Prabhupada was doing, and that’s what those of us trained by him continue to do. It’s a battle—just fought on different kinds of battlefields.”

What are these battlefields? Hridayananda Das Goswami explains five frontiers of BIHS’s mission.

Perspectives in Consciousness Studies

Explore this month’s collection of writings: two reflective reports from the Science of Consciousness conference in Spain—including one by Drutakarma Dasa—alongside a book review "Beyond Physicalism" by Dvija Govinda. These pieces offer readers thoughtful windows into current dialogues on consciousness from both contemporary scholarship and Vaishnava perspectives.

What if science and philosophy met not as rivals, but as partners in the search for truth?

This series stands apart by uniting seven distinct expert voices into a single, compelling narrative—a tapestry of ideas that challenges and inspires. Where most dialogue-style works circle around narrow debates, this collection is both broader in scope and deeper in insight, weaving reasoning, physics, open science, natural intelligence, cosmology, consciousness, and wholeness into one conversation. Rather than simplifying complexity, it dares to expand our understanding of what science and philosophy can become when pursued together—opening the door to a new paradigm of discovery.

Connect & Engage: BIHS Networking Events This September

At the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies, we know that breakthroughs don’t happen in isolation—they emerge through dialogue, shared inquiry, and meaningful connections.

This September and October, BIHS is opening a new season of events that bring scholars, seekers, and friends together: from a hybrid event that welcomes both local and global participants, to a focused session with invited collaborators, to a workshop on writing and reflection. Each gathering is designed to spark new ideas and collaborations, while deepening the sense of community at the heart of our mission.

Bhakti Vijnana Goswami Resumes the lectures: The conceptual study of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam

After a brief pause due to His Holiness Bhakti Vijnana Goswami’s health, we are delighted to continue the Srimad Bhagavatam lecture series.

As Brahma Tirtha das expressed: “The Bhaktavedanta Institute is often thought of as just science, but that's not Prabhupada's vision. The Bhaktivedanta Institute is much more philosophy of science and includes humanities. That's why we call ourselves the original name of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies. And in Bhakti Vijnana Goswami, we have a combination—he is a PhD scientist, he is a philosopher, and obviously a well-established Vaishnava. So, when we combine all of these traits together, we have the epitome of what the Bhaktivedanta Institute is about."

The Lectures be held every other Saturday, at 4:30 PM IST (7:00 AM EST). Next class is on September 20.

For updates and prior lecture videos Sign up for CANVAS HERE

Watch Full Lecture 9.2

Don't Miss the Journey into the Heart of

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

"Of course, the storyline is there, and we know that ultimately it’s all describing Maharaja Parīkṣit. But what is the idea behind it? And if we are to formulate the idea or the message of the First Canto in one sentence, then I would say that the whole idea of the First Canto is to inspire us to become like Maharaja Parīkṣit. Ultimately, that’s what the First Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is conveying to us. Because unless we develop the same eagerness as Maharaja Parīkṣit, by understanding his character, unless we conquer Kali within our heart as Maharaja Parīkṣit did on a much bigger scale, and unless we become really desperate to understand Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the mysteries of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam will remain uncovered." (BVG: A conceptual Study of Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture 9.2)

What Scholars and Participants Are Saying

“Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for the Bhaktivedanta Institute.”

What happens when BIHS brings people together? The best answer comes from those who’ve experienced it firsthand. These testimonials show how the Institute is sparking inspiration, nurturing growth, and grounding inquiry in both wisdom and practice.

Support BIHS Today

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