Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya (Dr. Frank Morales Ph.D., known affectionately by his followers and students as Sri Acharyaji or Sri Acharya Ji), born Frank Gaetano Morales in Brooklyn, New York City in August 1963, is a Guru and Acharya of Sanatana Dharma, President and Acharya of the International Sanatana Dharma Society, a world-wide movement dedicated to teaching Dharma spirituality,[1] and the director of the Center for the Study of Dharma and Civilization.[2a]
Sri Acharyaji, formerly known as Sri Nayaka[2b] is also a follower of Visishtadvaita philosophy[3][4] and originated the terms Veridical Analysis[5] and “Radical Universalism” (the belief that all religions and teachings are essentially the same.), which ‘Hindus are frequent to embrace’.[6][7][8]
BACKGROUND
Sri Acharyaji, a European-American of Italian and Spanish descent, was born in Brooklyn, New York City in August 1963.[9a][9b][10][11] At 14, he visited the first Hindu temple built in North America, the Ganapati Temple in Flushing, Queens. It was at this time that he decided to dedicate his life to Sanatana Dharma. He lived the highly disciplined life of a celibate Hindu monk for six years in several ashrams throughout New York, as well as in the Bay Area, London and India.
He was formally ordained in India as an orthodox Vedic brahmana (a spiritual teacher and Hindu priest) in 1986 by his guru, the world-famous Vaishnava Acharya Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Swami.
With a Philosophy major and a Theology minor, he 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, Dr. Morales earned a Master of Arts degree in South Asian Languages and Literature.” In December 2002, he earned a Ph.D. in Languages and Cultures of Asia at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a focus on Religious Studies and Philosophy of Religion. “As a scholar, Dr. Morales specializes in Philosophy of Religion, Sanskrit, Hindu Studies, and History of Religion. He has written for numerous academic journals and anthologies, as well as presented talks at numerous academic conferences. Dr. Morales has guest lectured at over two dozen universities, including: Northwestern University, University of Illinois, Cornell University, University of Michigan, Wayne State University, University of Iowa, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Virginia, University of Houston, Rutgers University, and many others. He has also served as a consultant for many major corporations, including Ford Motor Company and Lucent Technology.” He served briefly as an Adjunct Professor with Antioch University. He eventually left academia to devote himself to spiritual teaching and to the preservation of the tradition of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). He was formally appointed as the Resident Acharya (Spiritual Preceptor) of the Hindu Temple of Nebraska (2007–2009), the first time in American history that a Hindu temple had ever made such an appointment.
See his Official biography and him on the Authenticity of the Guru.
On September 4, 2013 a new documentary titled, ‘An American Guru: The Life of Sri Acharyaji’ was released.[25] “This compelling documentary presentation explores for the first time ever the amazing life-story of one of America’s most revered and authentic, contemporary spiritual teachers. Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya is universally renowned within Vedic and Hindu circles as one of the most revolutionary, forward thinking, and courageous gurus in the world today. With film footage, photos, interviews and information never before available to the public, a story as inspiring as the famous book “Autobiography of a Yogi”, and as American as apple pie, unfolds before the viewer.”
See also on this site, European Paganism, Hinduism and Sanatana Dharmaby Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya and Paganism and Hinduism by Michael F. Strmiska. See alsoThe Truth about the Aryan Migration and Influence on India.
INTERVIEWS AND PUBLISHING
Sri Acharyaji is published by the International Sanatana Dharma Society, and has also been published by Arktos media Ltd[12][13] and Black Front Press.[14][15]
In November 2013 he was interviewed by the People of Shambhala in a two part interview where he discusses in part 1 his journey to becoming a teacher of Sanatana Dharama (Hinduism) as well as the basic principles and purpose of his latest book The Dharma Manifesto.[16] and in part 2 some of the subjects he discusses are the global rise of Dharma, the future Dharmic nation state, and the thousand-year war against Hinduism.[17]
In December 2013 he was interviewed on Counter-Currents radio by Robert Stark.[18] Topics discussed were, what exactly is Dharma from a philosophical perspective? Is Dharma synonymous with “Hinduism”? What does Dharma have to do with Europeans and people of European descent? How did you become a follower of Sanatana Dharma? What is the basic premise and purpose of The Dharma Manifesto? What is the Dharma/Abrahamist divide? What is Conflict Theory? What actually constitutes a “nation”? What is the difference between natural diversity versus multiculturalism? What would a Dharma Nation look like? The Hindu Caste System and why its a disaster to allow the merchant caste, the Vaisya to become the ruling class. How a Dharma-based foreign policy would be implemented, how a Dharma-based economic system would be implemented and how it is similar to distributism and opposed to usury, Environmentalism and animal rights.
On April 8, 2016, Alex Jones interviewed Sri Acharyaji for about two hours. “Acharyaji was interviewed by Alex Jones (a major alternative media figure) for about two hours on April 8th, 2016 in Austin, TX. This important interview will be the first interview of a new series that Alex Jones is launching in which he speaks with cutting edge alternative thinkers and spiritual leaders about world issues. He chose Acharyaji as the very first person to speak to for this new series! The interview will be aired in May and potentially be seen by millions of viewers. Alex Jones read The Dharma Manifesto over a year ago and was blown away by the book. He was also extremely impressed by the book’s brilliant author when they first met in 2015.” On August 24 N.L. Sanghraj was informed by Sri Acharyaji that the interview would be aired in September 2016. However, as of April 2018 this has never been released.[19]
On March 19, 2017 Sri Acharyaji was interviewed on Thomas Rowsell’s Survive the Jive podcast.[20]
On August 9, 2017, Sri Acharyaji was interviewed on the Positive Head Podcast.[24]
On December 25, 2017 Sri Acharya released his Mantra Meditations CD album. “Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya is one of the most authentic and qualified representatives of the Vedic tradition alive today. In this beautifully produced musical album, Acharyaji expertly recites several of the most important mantras found in the ancient Vedic scriptures. Sri Acharyaji is universally renowned for his perfect pronunciation of Sanskrit, as well as for the spiritual power that he conveys in his recitation of sacred vibration of Vedic mantras. This album has been created to be a soothing meditative aid to assist you in your meditational practice. Whether listened to as an actual meditation practice, or to simply play in the background as calming and uplifting music, you will experience the amazing power of this unique spiritual album.” Mantras are provided in a downloadable PDF. Credits: released December 26, 2017 – Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya – Vocals, Gandharva Pandita – Producer, Tulasi Devi Mandaleshvari – Producer.
On January 1, 2018 Sri Acharyaji is derogatorily profiled in an outstandingly shoddily (yet surprisingly extensive) written hit-piece titled ‘Alt-Reich’ by Carol Schaeffer for Caravan Magazine.[27]
(THA Talks Podcast, April 16, 2017)
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Sanatana Dharma: The Eternal Natural Way, International Sanatana Dharma Society, first published in August 2011 and updated on April 15, 2015. ISBN 978-0-986252-60-0
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The Sanatana Dharma Study Guide, International Sanatana Dharma Society, first published on December 21, 2014 and republished on January 2, 2016. ISBN 978-0-986252-61-7
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The Dharma Manifesto: A New Vision for Global Transformation, Arktos Media Ltd, November 2, 2013. 196 pages. ISBN 978-1-907166-32-7. Originally published in 2012 by Lulu Publishing in 2012 at 274 pages and under the name Sri Nayaka.[2b]
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Taking Refuge in Dharma: The ISDS Initiation Guidebook, International Sanatana Dharma Society, February 15, 2013
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The Shakti Principle: Encountering the Feminine Power of God, International Sanatana Dharma Society, December 12, 2012. 2nd edition, expanded, May 1, 2016
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Living Dharma: The Teachings of Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya, Dharma Sun Media, January 10, 2012. 2nd edition, International Sanatana Dharma Society, February 27, 2017
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The Vedic Way of Knowing God, Dharma Sun Media, November 7, 2010, Dec 28, 2010
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Art of Wisdom: Affirmations for Boundless Living, Dharma Sun Media, 2010
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Radical Universalism: Does Hinduism Teach That All Religions Are the Same?, Voice of India, 2008
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Radical Universalism: Are All Religions the Same?
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The Dictionary of Sanatana Dharma
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The Culmination of Wisdom: Understanding the Essence of Vedanta
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Vedanta: The Culmination of Wisdom
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The Vedic Encyclopedia
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The Dharma Dialogues
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The Dharma of Wellbeing
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| Cave of the Numinous by Craig Williams. |
On June 27, 2017 Sri Acharyaji had a book published in the German language and edited by
Lothüdiger Lütge (website: innenwelt.com, twitter), the book is titled, ‘Einführung in denVedanta: Ausgewählte Vorträgevon Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya ‘ (Introduction to Vedanta: Selected lectures by Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya). Description…
The lectures by Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya, published here in German for the first time, are an excellent introduction to the basics and central aspects of the Vedanta philosophy, as originally meant in the Sanatana Dharma! To understand the true philosophy of Vedanta on the basis of its historical roots requires such an outstanding teacher, whose teachings correspond to the original traditions of Vedic sources!
02a]
, International Sanatana Dharma Society
2b]
(“There is only one recognized leader of the Dharma Nation movement, designated as the sri Nayaka, or the Auspicious Leader. Sri Nayaka guides the overall ideological and strategic development of the movement. He makes all final decisions regarding the daily operations of the movement. He personifies in his abiding being the long-term goals and the very vision of the movement.” – The Dharma Manifesto: A New Vision for Global Transformation, Arktos Media Ltd., November 2, 2013, Page 164.)
03] Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya (2013).
Sanatana Dharma: The Eternal Natural Way
. Dharma Sun Media.
08]
09a]
.
13] Carter, Adam;
Packaging hate – the New Right publishing networks
, Searchlight Magazine, March 1, 2012
18]
Robert Stark interviews Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya on The Dharma Manifesto
, The Stark Truth, Counter-Currents Radio, December 2013
26]
http://peopleofshambhala.com/real-left-hand-tantra-a-review-of-cave-of-the-numinous/
27]
http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/unholy-alliance-india-white-supremacy
(The Caravan, volume 1, Delhi Press, January 2018). It is also interesting to note that this publication is classified under the heading
Juvenile Fiction on Google Books
.
28]
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Main website: International Sanatana Dharma Society,
ISDS Facebook,
Sanatana Dharma Omaha Facebook,
Sanatana Dharma Austin Facebook.
