About Sri Acharyaji, Dr. Frank Morales, Ph.D.
spiritual teacher, Hindu scholar and religious leader
"Dr. Frank Morales represents the Sankalpa [the will] of the Hindu people and the cause of Sanatana Dharma. I urge all Hindus everywhere to give him your full support, assistance, and encouragement in his crucial work. He needs and deserves our help."
- Dr. David Frawley (Oct. 14, 2007)
Sri Acharyaji teaches an authentic weekly Dharma Satsangha and also a class series called Exploring Vedic Spirituality at the new Center for Dharma Studies.
From the Streets of Brooklyn to the Feet of God
Dr. Frank Morales was born in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Morales has been studying and practicing the ancient tradition of Yoga spirituality for over 30 years. His dedicated interest in self-realization began when he first read the Bhagavad Gita, the most important philosophical text of the Dharma tradition, at the tender age of ten. A philosophically inquisitive child, Dr. Morales began collecting and reading a vast number of books relating to spirituality and Yoga. He also proceeded to practice various forms of Yoga, pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation soon after this first encounter with the Gita.
At the young age of 14, Dr. Morales visited a Hindu temple for the first time. So awed was he with the majestic beauty and spiritual power that he encountered in this temple that, on the spot, he decided to devote his life to the path of Hindu spirituality. After living the highly disciplined life of a celibate Hindu monk for six years, Dr. Morales was ordained as a brahmana (a spiritual teacher and priest) in 1986. His Sanskrit name is Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya.
He is known to his many students and followers affectionately as Sri Acharyaji.
In addition to being an accomplished spiritual practitioner, Sri Acharyaji coupled his personal spiritual practice with rigorous academic training. Sri Acharyaji earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Theology, magna cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago in 1994. While there, he studied the intellectual and philosophical foundations of Western civilization under the tutelage of Jesuit (Catholic) professors. In May of 1999, Sri Acharyaji earned a Master of Arts degree in South Asian Languages and Literature. In December of 2002, Sri Acharyaji earned a Ph.D., summa cum laude, in Languages and Cultures of Asia at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a scholar, Sri Acharyaji specializes in Philosophy of Religion, Sanskrit, Hindu Studies, and South Asian Affairs. He is currently an Adjunct Professor with Antioch University.
He has written for numerous academic journals and anthologies, as well as presented talks at numerous academic conferences. Sri Acharyaji has guest lectured at over two dozen major universities, including such prestigious institutions as Harvard, Columbia, Rutgers, Cornell, and Northwestern. He has also served as a consultant for many Fortune 500 corporations, including Ford Motor Company and Lucent Technology.
His latest book Whisperings of the Divine: How God is Known in the Vedic Tradition is scheduled to be published in early 2008. He has previously released The Shakti Principle: Encountering the Feminine Power of God, and Radical Universalism: Does Hinduism Teach that All Religions are the Same?
Sri Acharyaji is one of the very few non-Indian spiritual teachers on earth to be fully accepted by both the orthodox Indian Hindu community, in addition to Western spiritual seekers, as being a fully authentic and recognized spiritual teacher (Acharya). Sri Acharyaji's students come from both Indian and non-Indian communities and number in the multiple thousands.
Dr. Morales is also the President and Acharya of the International Sanatana Dharma Society, a world-wide movement dedicated to teaching Dharma spirituality.
In addition to delivering hundreds of talks and seminars throughout the nation, he has been the keynote speaker at several very large Hindu events, each with audiences in the multiple thousands. In June, 2007, Sri Acharyaji was the keynote speaker at the largest single gathering of Hindus in American history. During the "Swadhyay" event in Washington, D.C., Dr. Morales spoke to an estimated 20,000 Hindus about the benefits of Dharma spirituality.
Sri Acharyaji began formally teaching Yoga spirituality and meditation in Chicago in 1988, and today teaches the most authentic and spiritually compelling form of Classical Yoga spirituality available anywhere outside of India. Sri Acharyaji has given hundreds of lectures, workshops, and seminars throughout North America, as well as written countless published articles, on many aspects of Yoga philosophy and Dharma spirituality. The form of Dharma spirituality that Sri Acharyaji both follows and teaches is the most ancient, effective and authentic of all Dharma traditions. Sri Acharyaji's depth of knowledge about the Yoga tradition, his authentic and personal approach to teaching others, and his own exalted level of personal achievement in meditation and Self-Realization have become legendary in the Yoga and Hindu communities throughout the world.
Sri Acharyaji is currently recognized as one of the world's foremost scholars of Hinduism, the Yoga tradition, Dharma, and meditation, as well as being a truly authentic spiritual teacher. Sri Acharyaji teaches the ancient philosophy of Sanatana Dharma in a way that is inviting to the modern mind. Sri Acharyaji's teachings stress the achievement of self-realization and God-realization through the practice of meditation, Yoga, and directly experiencing the presence of the Divine. Another overarching aspect of Sri Acharyaji's teachings focuses on the importance of love, compassion and service toward all living beings.
Sri Acharyaji is widely renowned for his unapologetically authentic, traditional and fearless approach to teaching. Whether speaking to an audience of thousands, or having a heart-felt discussion with only one person, Sri Acharyaji vividly conveys a deeply moving sense of compassion, peace, humility, and spiritual insight that has endeared him to thousands of students and admirers throughout the world.
To read a sampling of Sri Acharyaji's ground-breaking writings on Dharma, please visit here: Articles by Sri Dharma Pravartaka.
Dr. Morales and Deepak Chopra
"You've done truly phenomenal work teaching the pure essence of Yoga." - Dr. Deepak Chopra
“You are an awakened soul. May God bless you" - Dr. Ganesh D. Dixit (Department of Mathematics, University of Auckland)
Dr. Frank Morales and Dr. David Frawley
"Frank Morales is one of the most informed and articulate teachers of the greater Yoga tradition in the West today. He is in contact with the roots of this profound tradition of Self-realization going back to the mantras of ancient Vedic seers and rishis. He has a deep understanding of the foundations of Yoga in Hindu (Sanatana) Dharma and a special insight into Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion." - Dr. David Frawley (Internationally known author of over 22 books on Yoga spirituality)
"I have heard you speak twice and feel you are an excellent speaker and knowledgeable in your field. As much or more so than any I have heard." - Ken Adi-Ring (Director, Tri-Unity Well-life, Madison, WI)
Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya
"Dr. Morales, I am astounded at your knowledge and realization of our Dharma. That an American would grasp the Divine teachings as deeply as you have is wondrous. You are truly a Maha Jagad Guru, the Great World Teacher." - Sri Swami Brahmananda Saraswati
"I found the work of Dr. Frank Morales interesting, admirable and inspiring. It's good to see another person with a European background who has found value and sustenance in the Dharma. " - Stephen Shotton
"In twenty years of attending spiritual discourses, I have never encountered a teacher with such power of authority, complete authenticity and abiding humility. Dr. Morales is the real thing...a truly enlightened teacher!" - Nathaniel Garber, M.D.
Request to Have Sri Acharyaji Speak to Your Organization
Dr. Morales is currently recognized as one of the nation's leading authorities on Hindu philosophy and religion, as well as South Asian studies. In addition to directing his own institute, Dr. Morales works in conjunction with several educational institutes and think tanks globally. Dr. Morales maintains a very demanding schedule consisting of lecturing, consulting and writing. Dr. Morales has been a guest lecturer at over two dozen major universities throughout the USA, including Cornell, Rutgers, Northwestern, Illinois Institute of Technology, and University of Virginia. In addition, Dr. Morales has served as a South Asian affairs consultant for such corporations as Ford Motor Company, Lucent Technologies, Goodwin Procter Law Firm, and the Global Health Corporation. Topics that Dr. Morales has spoken on include:
Meditation, Philosophy, Religion, Hindu Studies, South Asian Affairs, Ethics, Asian Culture, Contemporary South Asian Politics, History of Religion, Foreign Affairs, Comparative Theology, Principles of Effective Leadership, Yoga
as well as many other subjects. He has spoken throughout North America before diverse audiences ranging from 50 to 5000 people. If you would like to arrange for Dr. Morales to give a presentation to your university, company, conference or organization, please contact us to schedule an event.
Help Support Sanatana Dharma
Sri Acharyaji has established many different projects designed to restore authentic Sanatana Dharma for the spiritual benefit of all. Such projects include: the International Sanatana Dharma Society, Dharma Central, Dharma Journal, the Center for the Study of Religion and Civilization, "The Hindu Perspective" T.V. series, among many others. These projects are only successful due to the voluntary support of persons like you. If you would like to help Dr. Frank Morales with his mission of educating the world about the profound teachings of the Vedic world-view, please contact us today. Your help and involvement are crucially needed.
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