Gauranga Das: The IIT Graduate Who Became A Monk

As the debate of toxic workplaces and work-stress has taken centre stage again, people can be seen condemning the long-hailed hustle culture. Grappled with extreme anxiety and stress, many often give up the corporate culture to live a life of peace and serendipity. Such is the path of India's most well-known motivational and spiritual guru - Gauranga Das Prabhu. Now a leader at ISCKON, Gauranga Das ji was once a student at IIT Bombay. "Indeed, it is surprising to many that a person from an IIT background has become a monk. I come from a traditional family, rooted in Sanatana Dharma, where we celebrated all festivals and religious occasions in the family. The concept of death always intrigued me, and I was seeking answers to what happens to life after death," Gauranga Das Ji said in an exclusive conversation with Times Now Digital. He further added, "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 learned the core concepts of the Bhagavad Gita. That had the answers to my seeking, and I realized the purpose of my life should be to dedicatedly share these invaluable teachings with the rest of the world."

The Relevance Of Krishna's Teachings In Today's Time Gauranga Das Ji is the director of ISKCON's Govardhan Ecovillage. His path to spirituality started at a very young age and ever since then he has relied on Krishna's teachings. "Krishna’s teachings are timeless and greatly relevant today. In Bhagavad Gita 6.17, yukta aahar vihaarasya yukta cheshtasya karmasu, i.e., Krishna asks about balancing our eating, sleeping, working, and recreation in order to get rid of suffering. In today’s fast-paced and competitive society, this message holds a great importance, as even modern medical research is also flagging unregulated and unbalanced eating, sleeping, and recreation as the cause of increased mental health issues," he explained. The motivational speaker further emphasized on how Krishna also teaches us about selfless work, which is, working without getting attached to the result of that work. In the current era, when we are driven by desire for recognition, this attitude helps in reducing anxiety and stress while fostering a sense of purpose. Importance Of Mantra ChantingHe is a strong advocate of mantra chanting and hails it as a "tool" for "finding inner peace." Time and again, Gauranga Das Ji has urged today's youth to start mantra chanting as a way to get away from stress. He says, "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."On being asked about how today's young adults can cope with depression and anxiety, he said, "During the rainy season, we know, we may encounter a sudden rain shower while walking on the road. But that probability of rain does not stop us from doing our work. We still go out to the market for shopping. But as a precaution, we carry a good-quality umbrella with us. The umbrella protects us from the inevitable rain while we continue our daily chores. Bhagavad Gita 8.15 says dukhalayam ashashwatam that this world is full of stress, depression, and miseries. If we carry the umbrella of spirituality, then we can easily and peacefully navigate in this world where stress and anxieties are inevitable."He concluded by saying that personal fulfillment cannot be achieved by external possessions. Long-term happiness comes when we try to introspect and understand who we are at the core and then align our actions with those values. "One should try to cultivate a sense of service through one’s personal or professional life and should find ways to give back to society. Consider spirituality as a guiding light for your journey. Remember, happiness is not a destination but a by-product of living a meaningful and purpose-driven life," he explained.