Swami Probuddhananda Puri

Swami Probuddhananda Puri is the General Secretary of the organisation of International Vedanta Society. He also is the soul of IVS in Varanasi, working relentlessly to spread the message of Bhagavan and Advaita Vedanta to the whole of India and abroad. [ivsweb.org].

Swami Proboddhananda was born on December 5th 1971 and he had know Bhagavan from his childhood days as a family friend and uncle in the Railway Quarters of Guwahati, the neighborhood he grew up in. During his teenage years, he worked with Bhagavan in theatre and played the role of his son. In later years, he became impressed with Bhagavan when he heard his speech about Buddha. He started to visit Bhagavan with his friends to hear talks on Vedanta. He became more and more drawn to Bhagavan and the message of Vedanta. Within no time, he and all his friends were immersed in the strong love of Bhagavan. At age twenty-two, Swami Probuddhananda went into the depths of realization when Bhagavan told Him to sink into the ocean of consciousness. Specifically, Bhagavan told him to, “Sink, Sink, Sink,” and Swamiji sank into the depths of Samadhi on September 11th, 1994. Shortly afterwards, he left his professional life. On april 5th 1998, he became a monk and vowed to serve Bhagavan and humanity to spread the message of Vedanta throughout eternity. Swami Probuddhananda is one of six disciples of Bhagavan who helped found and carry forward IVS.

Swami Probuddhananda was the one who brought the youth to Bhagavan and developed the youth front of IVS that met at his own home. He served Bhagavan till 1998 and then was sent out to different parts of India to spread the message of Vedanta. Later during November 1999, Bhagavan asked Him to come to Varanasi (Benares) and join his other brothers there and start an ashram in the holy city. In ten years, with the help of his spiritual brothers, he developed both the main ashram there and an ashram for women. He also became affiliated with Benares Hindu University (BHU), and lectured there many times. He became very well known in the Benares' spiritual, religious and cultural community as a spiritual personality with integrity and profound compassion. He also organized programs for spiritual upliftment in many of the local secondary schools, the local prison, and homes for widows, and hospitals. After Swamiji spent ten years developing the ashram in Benares and gathering aspirants and devotees internationally, Bhagavan gave Swami Probuddhananda the responsibility to travel and spread the message of Vedanta to the world and to maintain the foundation of the fast-growing IVS organization with integrity.

Swami Probuddhananda has shared the message of Vedanta with audiences across India and abroad. He has given lectures across India, Europe, and North America, addressing audiences in universities (i.e. Benares Hindu University, New York University, Soffolk University, Dartmouth College, Tilburg University, Laguna University), spiritual centers (Sadasiya Yoga Center, Centro Milarepa, Gita Ashram, Unitarian Church of New York, Centre for Conscious living, Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, Centrum voor zingeving en spiritualiteit), and cultural institutions. His talks have focused on Vedanta philosophy, meditation, and the practical application of spiritual wisdom in daily life. In addition to speaking in major cities, he has also reached smaller communities, where his words have inspired seekers from diverse backgrounds.

In India, Swami Probuddhananda has conducted structured spiritual modules, including a three-day program at BHU, a seven-day series for Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit University in New Delhi, and a nine-day module at the Stratford University’s New Delhi campus. He has spoken on Vedanta at international forums hosted by BHU, including sessions at the International Students’ Hostel and the Malaviya Peace Foundation, and has addressed the Association of the Mechanical Engineering Society at IIT-BHU. In 2015, he was also invited to speak at BHU’s prestigious alumni meet at Swatantrata Bhawan, sharing the stage with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Through these lectures and programs, Swami Probuddhananda has sought to bridge cultures and traditions, inspiring diverse audiences, consequently emphasizing the timeless relevance of Vedanta and the universal message of unity, love, and self-knowledge.

Swami Probuddhananda has published a book of letters to devotees entitled, ‘With Love, Swami Probuddhananda: Letters on Advaita Vedanta’ [link toevoegen naar verkooppagina] which was later also translated into Spanish. He has published several articles, among which “Reflections on Vedanta: The teachings of My Master.” in the September 2011 issue of Namarupa Magazine.

[ADD last 10-15 years]. Recurring also are retreats [add link to program] given by Swamiji in the Varanasi Ashram

[ADD currently working on] Swami Probuddhananda Puri is currently working on the Bhagavad Gita and making the masses aware about the greatness and universality of the same.