BIHS Newsletter – Summer 2021

by Prishni Sutton

The Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS) is a center for the research and dissemination of a nonmechanistic scientific view of reality. The main purpose of the Institute is to explore the implications of Bhagavata Vedanta philosophy as it bears upon human culture and to present the Institute’s findings in courses, lectures, conferences, monographs, digital media, and books. Our work contributes a nonmechanistic view of matter and consciousness to scientific discourse, exploring consciousness as an irreducible aspect of reality.

by Bob Cohen (Brahmatirtha Dasa)

The BIHS is currently developing a substantial library, housed at our new headquarters in Gainesville. Initial contributions came from two retiring University of Florida professors, who donated their extensive academic libraries to the BI. A Vaishnava archivist also donated his extensive library, which includes original Bhaktivinoda editions, before his passing away. This seed library already contains over 3000 volumes, with many more on the way. Our library resource and our BI facilities will be dedicated as a research retreat for visiting scholars. In addition to this resource, local BI scholars have access to the entire University of Florida collection as well as the County’s vast public interlibrary loan network.

by S.E. Kreitzer

Dr. Richard L. Thompson (1947–2008), also known by his Vaishnava name Sadaputa Dasa, was a mathematician, scientist, philosopher, author, researcher of ancient cosmology, and devoted practitioner of bhakti-yoga. In 1974 he received his PhD from Cornell University, where he specialized in probability theory and statistical mechanics. During this time, he found inspiration in the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita and became a dedicated follower of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, popularly known in the West as the Hare Krishna movement. He later served as a founding member of the Bhaktivedanta Institute.

by Ryan Bisset

Bhaktivedanta Institute Connect (“BI Connect”) is a free virtual space in which scientifically trained devotees connect and collaborate and continue Srila Prabhupada’s desire to share Krishna consciousness in ways that will engage the intellectuals of society. BI Connect regularly holds Bhagavad-gita discussions, plans to introduce forums for cross-pollination of ideas, and ultimately aims at developing projects with output in the form of research and publications.

BI Connect currently has twenty-six PhD members from various scientific fields as well as medical doctors and others with postgraduate scientific training. If you are qualified in a STEM or related field, or in the history and philosophy of science, please apply for membership by completing this quick survey.

by Tattvavit Dasa

An important publication in pursuit of ISKCON’s mission sees new life.

For a little more than a decade, Shaunaka Rishi Dasa, from Ireland, published the original ISKCON Communications Journal (ICJ) in England in his capacity as the director of ISKCON Communications Europe. Biannual issues appeared from 1993 through 1999, and five issues between 2000 and 2005. The digital back issues are online (content.iskcon.org). The journal presented to the general public ISKCON’s values and understandings on a variety of topics, while also promoting internal analysis among its membership.

by Akhandadhi Dasa

Atma Paradigm Webinar Course

In 2020, Akhandadhi Dasa presented a webinar series entitled The Atma Paradigm. The series explored elements of Bhagavata philosophy relevant to major issues in modern science and philosophy. The thirty-five talks in the series covered four topics:
-Consciousness, mind, and perception
-Matter, reality, information, and interaction with conscious agency
-Life – its characteristics, appearance and development
-The origins and metaphysics of the universe and beyond