Texas-Mexico Holistic Health Network

Chitsukhananda Das

Initiated Disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedabta Swami Prabhupada

Chitsukhananda Das, born as Charles M. Torres in the New York is a influential figure in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). His spiritual brothers distinguish in him spiritual qualities such as compassion, devotion, and integrity based on solid spiritual values. He is specifically well known for his service rendered to the movement's leader A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He began his association with the Krishna Consciousness movement in 1969 during the early days of the movement as an official disciple of the A.C. Bhakivedanta Swami Prabhupada. As a member of the pioneering group of the Krishna devotees in America, he was personally trained by Sri Bhakievedenta Swami Prabhupada on how to spread spiritual awareness in the world. His relentless desire to serve and natural charisma, quickly gained him the admiration and respect of the devotees. In 1969 , he was chosen to be one of the Krishna devotees to be directly involved with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the famous "Bed Peace" event in Montreal, Canada.

Chitsukhananda Das seemed naturally to slip into a leadership groove during the early days of the movement. His enthusiasm and ability to place himself with the right attitude at the right time, lead him into a position of authority. He accepted guidance with grace and humility, read voraciously, worked with great intensity and spoke with clarity and power. His personal knowledge of Prabhupada's teaching was vast and his innovative and penetrating ideas lead Prabhupada to appoint him to a committee to lay the foundation for the ISKCON Society. ISKCON has since developed into a worldwide confederation of 100,000 temple devotees and over a million congregational devotees. Better known as the Hare Krishna movement, ISKCON is comprised of more than 350 centers, 60 rural communities , 50 school and 60 restaurants. This is a nonsectarian, monotheistic movement to promote the well being of society by teaching Krishna consciousness according to the Bhagavad Gita and other ancient scriptures.

During his 38 years of teaching, studying and conducting worship services, he traveled throughout the world spreading the message of love and devotion. His tireless efforts helped establish temples in California, Latin America and the West Indies. In 1971, he pioneered the first Vaishnava Temple in Latin America (Mexico City). He served as Priest in the Temple in Dallas and conducted extensive outreach with the Universities in the area. Due to his academic merits , he secured a position teaching the Bhagavad Gita at San Jose State University Experimental College in California. His Public Relation duties with ISKCON lead him to numerous radio and TV programs, were he spread the Word of Krishna Consciousness. Likewise, his classes on Vedic Scripture have been heard in Churches, Mosques and Jewish temples across the U.S. Over the years, he has consistently supported movements that promoted unity and understanding among different religions. For his efforts to bring "Unity within Diversity" among different faiths, he received special recognition and honors from La Salle University.

Chitsukhananda Das has worked to establish his reputation as a master vegetarian chef and spread the yoga philosophy of cooking or bhakti-yoga. The bhakti-yoga practices were widely introduced to the Western world in the 1960s and 1970s by Prabhupada. It was from Prabhupada that Chitsukhananda Das first became inspired to follow his natural propensity as a cook, and at the same time satisfy his spiritual craving.

One of the main elements of Krishna Consciousness is the preparation of sacred vegetarian foods, foods fit for God. For thousands of years, priests in temples throughout India have prepared divine vegetarian offerings for the Supreme Being. These offering are saturated with love and devotion. Cooking thus becomes yoga. When vegetarian dishes are offered to the Lord with love and devotion and the lord accepts them, the offerings are infused with spiritual energies of God. By tasting such foods, the individual devotee experiences divine pleasure and enlightenment. Many spiritual truths are revealed to one who simply eats this divine meal, called prasadam.

Chitsukhananda Das has gained a wealth of culinary experience by traveling to India many times. Across the US, he assisted cooks in temples, restaurants and private homes. He has cooked for numerous celebrities including the President of Costa Rico, the Ambassadors of India and Mexico, and Lata Mangeshkar. Desiring to share his experience with others, he has opened three restaurants in Mexico. For the past three years he has been serving gourmet vegetarian meals at Atlantis Healing Center and The Church of Divine Spirit in Brownsville, Texas. Aside from his culinary gifts, Chitsukhananda Das is a well respect singer and composer of vedic songs and mantras. He has numerous recordings on several different labels .

Chitsukhananda Das will be offering hindu saced text and vegan classes at the Holistic Optimal Health Center in Harlingen and the Church of the Divine Spirit, Brownsville Texas

Chitsukhananda Das joined the Church of Divine Spirit in September of 2007 and established Sri Krishna Chaitanya Theological Society as a means of promoting the Lord's message "Unity through Diversity" . One of the goals of the Society to have all religions come together and discuss how to make unity in diversity. This message is a keystone of the Church of the Divine Spirit. Chitsukhananda will be teaching classes in 'The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita" every month based on his ministry schedule. The Krishna Religion recognizes Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Virgin birth of Christ. They believe that Christ traveled to India and trained under the great India Sages that visited Mary as the Three Wise Men. They see no difference in what Krishna taught thousands of years prior to Christ arrival. Christ teaching are seen as holy scripture from the one God.

He is married to Palindhika Dedi Dasi and they have two sons, Bibhatsu and Gauranga. The couple is currently running a Temple and Mission for the Society in Xico, Veracruz, Mexico. Chitsukhananda Das and his wife conduct missionary work extending from Veracruz, Mexico to Belize and along the Gulf Coast. They are currently working to establish a retirement community for devotees and spiritually minded senior citizen

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