Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS), in cooperation with ISKCON’s North America Regional Governing Body (NA-RGB), is pleased to announce a new six-month online course entitled Consciousness Studies: Ancient & Modern Perspectives, commencing on January 10, 2026. Designed as a university-level program, this course seeks to equip serious students and devotees with the philosophical clarity and intellectual tools necessary to present Bhāgavata philosophy within contemporary scientific and academic discourse. Instruction will be offered through weekly live classes, with recordings made available for those who require flexible participation.
Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly emphasized that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must be guided by learned Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas—persons deeply grounded in śāstra and capable of addressing the pressing questions of their age. He warned that without first-class philosophical leadership, human society remains without proper direction, especially in the present age of Kali. His own example, including his meetings with scholars and intellectuals throughout the world, demonstrated the necessity of presenting Vedic knowledge with both fidelity and thoughtful engagement.
- Srila Prabhupada meeting with scholars in Los Angeles, 1975.
In a 1971 letter to Dr. Bigelow, Śrīla Prabhupāda wrote: “It will be a great contribution to human society if this authorized information from the Vedic literature is presented to the modern world on the basis of modern scientific understanding. The fact is already there. It simply has to be presented for modern understanding.” This course has been structured to assist devotees in fulfilling that vision by strengthening their capacity to communicate timeless spiritual truths in language accessible to educated and thoughtful audiences.
Following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana, and the great ācāryas of the disciplic succession, devotees are called not merely to preserve transcendental knowledge, but also to address the concerns of their historical moment with clarity, sobriety, and responsibility. Accordingly, the course emphasizes firm philosophical grounding alongside careful and respectful engagement with modern scientific thought, enabling participants to speak with confidence and integrity in academic and intellectual settings.
The timing of this program is especially significant. In recent years, strictly materialistic explanations of reality have begun to lose their unquestioned authority within Western universities. Increasingly, scientists and philosophers are turning their attention to questions of consciousness, meaning, purpose, and the possibility of non-material dimensions of existence. Kṛṣṇa consciousness offers comprehensive and coherent answers to these inquiries, and this course prepares devotees to enter such discussions thoughtfully, without compromising siddhānta.
As Hṛdayānanda dāsa Gosvāmī (Dr. Howard Resnick) has written: “Imagine a legion of Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees establishing Prabhupāda’s teachings as an important voice in the great debate of our century—personal spiritualism versus materialism and impersonalism. If this could be for you, please join us.” This course is intended for those who wish to contribute to that effort through informed dialogue, careful reasoning, and faithful representation of Vaiṣṇava conclusions.
Participants will gain familiarity with the language and conceptual frameworks of modern science, learning how Bhāgavata philosophy may be articulated using ideas drawn from physics, cosmology, and biology. The curriculum emphasizes logical rigor and disciplined reasoning, enabling students to thoughtfully address materialist and reductionist narratives, including claims of blind evolution. It also provides a structured and coherent understanding of Vedic cosmology and its relationship to contemporary scientific theories, moving beyond vague or superficial conceptions of the universe. Through sustained study and guided discussion, participants develop the confidence to engage in high-level discourse firmly grounded in śāstra and sound logic.
The course will run from January 10 through July 11, 2026, with classes held on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. Pacific Time). Sessions are conducted live online, and complete recordings are made available for asynchronous participation. Students who view the recorded classes and successfully complete all required assignments and examinations receive the same certificates as those who attend live sessions. Instruction is delivered through the BIHS Canvas learning platform, and participants receive unit certificates as well as a final program certificate upon completion.
Tuition for the full six-month program is $108, with the option to enroll in individual units for $30 each. A limited number of scholarships are available for sincere participants for whom the tuition would otherwise present a genuine difficulty. For questions regarding this or other upcoming courses, interested readers are invited to contact BIHS by email.mailto:Monicad@bihstudies.org
Further information about the course and registration details may be found through the provided links,https://bihstudies.github.io/Home/BIHS_Consciousness_Studies.html as well as access to the latest BIHS newsletter.https://myemail.constantcontact.com/BIHS-December–2025.html?soid=1141936386237&aid=4JpJ2VhTaCs
How to Support BIHS
Those who feel inspired to assist this educational endeavor may also consider offering support to the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies. Such contributions help sustain teachers, develop university-style curricula, and maintain BIHS’s library, research initiatives, publications, conferences, and ongoing educational programs. Every offering assists in ensuring that Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings continue to be presented to audiences worldwide with depth, clarity, and philosophical integrity.https://help-bihs-thrive.raiselysite.com/
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