- By Anshika Verma
- Mon, 28 Jul 2025 11:48 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Who is Gaur Gopal Das?: Gaur Gopal Das is a spiritual leader, lifestyle coach, motivational speaker and a monk. He is associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). He is quite well-known for his talks on spirituality, personal development, and tips to practical wisdom; he often shares insights to encourage individuals from ancient philosophy and modern psychology.
Early Life & Education:
Gaur Gopal Das was born in the year 1973 in Maharashtra, India. He has finished his schooling from the St. Jude High School and he has earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from the prestigious College of Engineering, Pune and also studied at Cusrow Wadia Institute of Technology, Pune. Initially, he worked as an electrical engineer at Hewlett Packard (HP) for a short period.
Transformation As A Monk:
In 1996, Gaur Gopal Das became an active member of the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). Initially, he was strongly influenced by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, when he decided to follow the path of spirituality and commence his spiritual training under guru Radhanath Swami in Mumbai.
When he was asked about his transformation to a monk, he always mentioned that it is easy to make money in this world, but it is a challenging task to be able to motivate and change the lives of other people. He tries to motivate people to live the life they want and achieve happiness in their life.
1. The Journey Home by Radhanath Swami:
This is one of the best books that is recommended by Gaur Gopal Das, he said that this book is one of the most honest and soul-stirring autobiographies that he has ever read. He has strongly advised students to read this book as it gives life a different meaning and will change your perspective towards life. This book talks about three elements such as identity, purpose, and belonging, he mostly mentioned these things in his speech.
2. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek:
When Gaur Gopal Das takes sessions in corporate teams, he always talks about this book. This is one of the classics that show how empathy, faith and responsibility can form the core of effective and productive teams. He mentioned that ‘Leadership is never about control but it is about showing empathy, understanding people and showing care.’ This book shows how important it is for people to be calm during leadership roles.
3. Positive Personality Profiles by Robert A. Rohm:
This book is one of the top recommendations by Gaur Gopal Das for students to transform their lives. It is based on the DISC personality model—Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. It offers several ways to understand the psychology of human behaviour. In ‘Positive Personality Profiles by Robert A. Rohm’ each and every personality is explained with empathy and humour.
4. Bhagavad Gita:
Bhagavad Gita is one of the most influential books that every student must read once in their lifetime. This book helps in achieving clarity and positivity in life, the Bhagavad Gita can significantly impact a student's life by offering them guidance on how they can tackle difficult situations and navigate through challenges, helps them in developing mental clarity, and fostering a sense of purpose in their life.
5. The Mahabharata:
The Mahabharata is one of the most effective books that every student must read as it offers valuable lessons that will help students to understand the importance of hard work and putting effort to achieve success in life. Gau Gopal Das values its episodic style, which invites readers to revisit and find new insights throughout life. This book will help in character development as well as personal growth.