Stephen Knapp CV
(Sri Nandanandana dasa)
Location:
Detroit, Michigan, USA
E-mail:
Srinandan@aol.com
Website:
Http://www.stephen-knapp.com
and http://stephenknapp.info
Blog:
http://stephenknapp.wordpress.com
Education:
1969: Graduated--Buchanan High School, Buchanan, Michigan
1970: Lake Michigan
College, Benton Harbor, Michigan
1971: Started his
independent research and study of Eastern Cultures and philosophy, Yoga,
Vaishnavism, and India.
1975: Started a
spiritual apprenticeship under the auspices of a spiritual master, His
Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and in Iskcon.
1976, Springtime: Was
duly initiated by Swami Prabhupada and given the spiritual name of Sri
Nandanandana dasa. Was brahminically initiated several months later.
Study Travel:
From 1987 to Present: He has taken sixteen trips to India and has traveled
extensively throughout the country, visiting practically every major holy
place in India, along with prominent temples, ashramas, historical sites,
etc.
Career:
1986: Founder and owner of The World Relief Network, a publishing company
for the dissemination of accurate information on the Vedic philosophy, Vedic
culture, Vaishnavism, and the process of bhakti-yoga.
2001: Founding member
and President of the Vedic Friends Association, a non-profit institution for
networking with other prominent writers and lecturers on providing a free
affiliation with all who are interested in understanding and promoting an
accurate understanding of Vedic culture and traditions of India.
Http://www.vedicfriends.org
From 1975
onwards, involved in various aspects of temple management, such as treasury,
accounting, landlord, general manager, Board of Directors member, Board
Chairman, and Deity pujari--priest.
Current Position: Managing the World Relief Network, started in 1986, for writing and
publishing books.
One of the
founders and past president of the Vedic Friends Association, started in 2001.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Iskcon Temple, from 2005
to 2015.
Full time lecturer and writer of articles and books on different aspects of
the Vedic culture and its traditions.
Published Books: 1986: The Secret Teachings of the Vedas: The Eastern Answers to the
Mysteries of Life
1987: The Universal
Path to Enlightenment
1998: The Vedic
Prophecies: A New Look into the Future
1999: Facing Death:
Welcoming the Afterlife
2000: How the Universe
was Created and Our Purpose In It (The Vedic Version)
2000: Proof of Vedic
Culture=s
Global Existence
2001: The Key to Real
Happiness
2005: Destined for
Infinity (A spiritual adventure novel).
2005: Vedic Culture:
The Difference it can Make in Your Life
2005: The Heart of
Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Empowerment and Illumination.
2005: Reincarnation and
Karma: How They Really Affect Us.
2006: The Power of the
Dharma: An Introduction to Hinduism and Vedic Culture
2007: The Eleventh
Commandment: The Next Step for Social Spiritual Development
2008: Seeing Spiritual
India: A guide to Temples, Holy Sites, Festivals and Traditions
2009: Crimes Against
India: And the Need to Protect its Ancient Vedic Traditions: 1000 Years of
Attacks Against Hinduism and What to do About it.
2010: Yoga and
Meditation: Their Real Purpose and How to Get Started.
2010: Avatars, Gods and
Goddesses of Vedic Culture.
2010: The Soul:
Understanding Our Real Identity.
2011: Prayers, Mantras
and Gayatris: A Collection for Insights, Protection, Spiritual Growth, and
Many Other Blessings.
2011: Krishna Deities and
Their Miracles: How the Images of Lord Krishna Interact with Their Devotees
2011: Defending Vedic
Dharma: Tackling the Issues to Make a Difference.
2012: Advancements of
Ancient India's Vedic Culture: The Planet's Earliest Civilization and How it
Influenced the World.
2012: Spreading Vedic
Traditions Through Temples: Proven Strategies That Make Them More Effective.
2013: The Bhakti-yoga
Handbook: A Guide for Beginning the Essentials of Devotional Yoga.
2014: Lord Krishna and
His Essential Teachings: If God Were to Tell You the Truth About Life, This
is It.
2015: Mysteries of the Ancient Vedic Empire:
Recognizing Vedic Contributions to Other Cultures Around the World.
2016: Casteism in India.
2016: The Ancient History of Vedic Culture
2017: Bhakti Yoga: The Easy Path of Devotional
Yoga
2018: The Power of the Maha-Mantra
2018: The Power of the Bhagavad-Gita
2019: The Power of the Ramayana
2019: The Power of Sri Sri Radha-Kunjabihari
2020: Seeing Spiritual India: Photos of the
Temples and Holy Sights of Northern India
2021: Seeing Spiritual India: Photographs of
Temples and Culture of South India
Small Free Ebooks:
Why Be a Hindu:
The Advantages of the Vedic Path (A short e-book)
Vedic Culture /
Hinduism: A Short Introduction
Basic Points About
Vedic Culture / Hinduism: A Short Introduction Part 2
Thirty-One Days to
Salvation on the Vedic Path
Meditation: A Short
Course to Higher Consciousness
Yoga and How to Get
Started
A Complete Review of
the Vedic Literature
Sri Krishna
Shiva and Durga: Their
Real Identity
Manifestation of Souls
and Where They Go
Death of the Aryan
Invasion Theory
The Aryan Invasion
Theory: The Final Nail in its Coffin.
The Taj Mahal: Its Alternative History as a
Vedic Temple
Published Articles:
This does not include the articles he has written that have been used by
other publications, or circulated through the internet and used on a variety
of websites. These are the ones we know about.
ASeeing
Spiritual India@
published in
AAccent@
magazine Mumbai, India, April, 2001
AA.
C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada: A Short Biography@
published in
AAccent@
magazine, Mumbai, India, May, 2001
AThe
War Against Hinduism@
published in
ABharatiya
Pragna@
an Indian magazine, September, 2001. Other articles by Stephen Knapp
continue to be published in this journal.
ATerrorism
Strikes America: A Spiritual Perspective@
published in
ATana
Patrika: Telegu Association of North America, Inc.@
Volume 17, Number 2, November, 2001
AUFOs
and Vimanas@
published by
AUFO
Magazine@,
Volume 17, Number 2, April/May, 2002
AVedic
Culture: The Last Bastion of Deep Spiritual Truth@
published in
ABharatiya
Pragna@
December, 2002.
AFighting
to Preserve a Tribal Heritage@
with seven photographs taken by Stephen, published in the January-March,
2005 edition of
AHinduism
Today@.
“Buddhism
and its Connections with Vedic Culture”
published in the Vishwa Dharma Digest, July-Sept., 2006
"Women Occupy a High Position in
Vedic Culture" published in Chaitanya Bharati, Special Publication,
January-March, 2007
“Reincarnation:
A Simple Explanation,”
in the July-September, 2007 edition of the Vishwa Dharma Digest.
“Vedic
Temples: Making Them More Effective”
in the January-March 2009 edition of the Vishwa Dharma Digest. Several other
articles of Stephen Knapp have also appeared in other editions of this
magazine.
"Why All Religions are Not the
Same" in the March-April, 2010 issue of "Marg: A Path to Hindu Heritage."
"Giving Vedic Culture to the
Next Generation" Part 1 in "Navrang Times, May 2010.
"Giving Vedic Culture to the
Next Generation" in the 20th Arya Maha Sammelan souvenir issue for July,
2010.
"American Hindus: How to
Cultivate Your Culture in America" in the Sept-Oct., 2010 issue of "Marg: A
Path to Hindu Heritage.
"American Hindus: How to
Cultivate Your Culture in America" in the July--September, 2010 issue of "Vishva
Dharma Digest."
"A Cure for the Corruption in
India" (part 1) published in the April, 2011 (Vol.1, Issue No. 8) of New
Global India magazine, Pune.
"A Cure for the Corruption in
India" (part 2) published in the May, 2011 (Vol.1, Issue No. 9) of New
Global India magazine, Pune.
"Hinduism / Sanatana-Dharma in a
Nutshell" published in the March-April 2011 edition of Marg: A Path to Hindu
Heritage.
"The Hindu Identity and Cause
for Hindu Unity" published in the Sept-Oct., 2011 edition of Marg: A Path
to Hindu Heritage.
November, 2011,
Article about Stephen Knapp and
his books and website in the popular Telegu Monthly issue of Rushipeetan Magazine, November, 2011,
written by M. Satyavathi.
This was followed by a series of articles in the same magazine
based on the contents of Stephen's book, "Proof of Vedic
Culture's Global Existence."
"God is Love: What Does it Mean," published in
the July-August edition of "MARG, A Path to Hindu Heritage."
"Strong Hindu Families for Strong Hindu Youth,"
published in the September-October, 2015 of "MARG: A Path to Hindu
Heritage."
"The Greatness of Ancient India's
Developments", published in the November-December, 2015 of "MARG: A Path to
Hindu Heritage."
This list does not
include the many papers that he has written for his website that have been
circulated and republished on other various websites, internet magazines,
and through emails that circulate around the world.
Through this means Stephen is also a regular contributor to the email
magazine Vedantin of "Vedanta Today", reached at:
askus@vedantatoday.com. For example, the September, 2011 issue included articles, "Finding
Our Real spiritual Identity," and "How Can we see God," and
others.
"The Purpose of Defending Dharma" in
the inaugurating and March, 2016 issue of "Hinduism Now."
"Understanding the Traditional Legend of the
Kumbha Mela" and "Tirtharaj--Triveni Sangam," both in the April, 2016 issue
of "Hinduism Now."
"Yoga and Meditation: Their Origins
and Real Purpose," in Hindu Vishwa, April-June, 2016.
A little article of mine in the October 7, 2016
edition of India Abroad about the significance of the goddesses and
observing Navaratri:
http://www.indiaabroad-digital.com/indiaabroad/20161007?pg=54#pg54
An article on Sanskrit for the
Sydney Sanskrit School (www.sanskritschool.org)
in its annual magazine titled "Medha" for their Samskrutotsavam day, the
16th of October, 2016, celebrating its 10th year. A copy of the magazine can be
viewed at:
http://www.sanskritschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Medha-2016-FinalFinal-Web.pdf
"Vedic Influence in Japan and Korea"
in Dharma Today, April, 2016.
"Vedic Influence in Iraq and Iran," in
Dharma Today, December 30, 2016.
http://dharmatoday.com/2016/12/30/vedic-influence-iraq-iran/
"The Ramayana on the Need for a Proper
Leader (Part 1)," in Hindu Vishwa, January-March, 2017.
"Sanatana Dharma: Its Real Meaning,"
in MARG: A Path to Hindu Heritage, March-April, 2017.
"The Signs of Vedic Culture in the
Middle East," in Dharma Today, April-June, 2017.
"Prasada: The Power of Sacred Food,"
in Hindu Vishwa, April-June, 2018.
"Past, Present and Future of Hinduism
in North America," in MARG: A Path to Hindu Heritage, Nov.-Dec. 2018.
"The Primary Mission of the Vedic
Temples Giving Inspiration," in MARG: A Path to Hindu Heritage, May-June,
2021.
"Caste by Birth is Unjust," Hindu
Vishwa Magazine -- April-June, 2021.
"Death of the Aryan Invasion Theory,"
in MARG: A Path to Hindu Heritage, September-October, 2021.
"According to Vedic Scriptures Caste
by Birth is Unjust," in MARG: A Path to Hindu Heritage, March-April, 2022.
"Vedic Culture: As Relevant Today as
Ever," in Hindu Vishwa, July-Sep., 2022.
Lectures &
Presentations
Stephen has made
numerous presentations on Vedic culture and spirituality over the years,
from slide shows on his travels through India to lectures and presentations
on various aspects of the Vedic tradition to a wide variety of audiences,
from children to adults, and Indian Hindus to Westerners.
This includes three lecture tours through India. One was in June of 2001
giving lectures to chapters of the Bharata Prajna of scholars and other
organizations through central India, which included places such as Mumbai,
Hyderabad, Warangal, Vijayawada, Vishakapatnam, Bangalore, and other cities.
Two tours were given through the troubled area of Northeast India, one in
December of 2001, another in December of 2003, in Assam, Arunachal Pradhesh,
Nagaland, and Manipur. Lectures were given at schools, colleges, and adult
institutions at both large cities and small towns.
A fourth lecture tour was given in January-February of 2008 through central
India, including colleges and universities and other organizations in such
places as Chennai, Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Vijayawada, Guntur, and
Tirupati. During this time he was also a guest speaker at the meeting of
10,000 people in Tirupati for the culmination of the 6 month Padayatra of
Kamal Kumar Swami, sponsored by the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation,
speaking for the preservation of Hindu temples in Andhra Pradhesh.
The following list of additional lectures does not include the numerous
talks and presentations he has given at temples, both Iskcon and other Hindu
temples, about the path of Vedic spirituality and Sanatana-dharma. Some of
his other talks include the following, along with numerous others:
Since 1990, he has been
a regular guest on the cable show “Out
of the Ordinary / Into the Extraordinary”
hosted by Robert Taylor on the Grosse Pointe Cable network in Michigan.
Talk at Cornell
University for the student Vedic group on the Vedic version of the creation
of the cosmos.
Two talks at Penn State
University, one on the influence of Indians on the American development and
economy, and one on Vedic spirituality.
June, 2004, by
invitation, a short introductory talk at the Swadyaya Conference with Dadaji
at Madison Square Garden in front of 25,000 people.
September 2004,
key note speaker at the fundraiser for the VHP at the Bharatiya Temple, Troy, Michigan.
August 15, 2005, a
guest speaker at the First Dharma Summit in North America, in New Jersey:
“How
to Spiritualize our Daily Lives.”
Sept. 25, 2005, Power
of the Dharma with the introduction to Vedic Culture, Hindu Awareness Day,
at Jain Center, Cincinnati Dayton Rd. For the Cincinnati Chapter of the VHP
February, 2006: One of the
speakers, sharing the stage with Swami Dayananda Sarasvati, at the start up
of the "Spirituality Beyond Religion" conference in Jaipur, India, by the
World Council of Elders in partnership with the World Council of Ethnic
Religions based in Europe, co-sponsored by the International Center for
Cultural Studies in India.
July 15, 2006 talk at
the World Association for Vedic Studies conference, Houston, Texas.
October, 2006, Gita
Group on Vedic Spirituality in Washington, DC.
October, 2006,
“How
Vedic Culture is as Relevant Today as Ever,”
presentation at a personal home gathering of Dr. Dilip Doctor in Long
Island, New York.
October 2006,
Swaminarayan temple in Brooklyn New York, short talk on the need to preserve
Vedic Culture.
November 14, 2006,
“How
Vedic Culture is as Relevant Today as Ever,”
at Eastern Michigan University, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
2008: Did an interview
for Arish Asahani on his radio show on RBC Radio out of New York City on the
values of Vedic culture.
2008/9: Also did a few
interviews for Dr. Sharad Wagle on his radio show on Easy 96 in New York,
called “Arise
Arjuna Hour.”
June 2009: Guest
speaker on two shows of “Common
Threads”
on the Public Radio Station in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with host Fred
Stella, president of the Interfaith Dialog, Michigan.
July 2-4, 2009: Gave
one of the spiritual discourses at the 17th TANA (Telegu)
Conference at the Rosemont convention center in Rosemont, Illinois, near
Chicago for which he received a plaque in recognition of the valuable
service he has done for spirituality and Hinduism.
July 9-12, 2009:
Provided classes and presentations on the value of Vedic culture, etc. at
the VHPA Camp at Rockville, Maryland.
September 6 to October
7, 2009, Stephen provided over 90 lectures in 30 days to over 76 different
institutions, of which the most prominent included the following in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore,
Coimbatore, and Goa:
Near Pune:
IBMR Management College
in Nigdi,
Pimpri Chinchwad
College,
IBMR Institute of
Management Business & Research in Nigdi,
Sinhgad Institute of
Technology,
Sharada College of
Science,
Rajarshi Shahu College
of Engineering,
Tolani Maritime College
at Simhachalam outside Pune,
Tiffany College in
Pune,
Visvakarma Institute of
Technology in Pune,
In Bangalore:
Defense Research and
Development Organization in Bangalore,
Sindhi College in
Bangalore,
Sheshadripuram College
of Management,
Rashtriya Vidya Peta
College of Engineering,
PESIT City College,
AMC College of
Engineering,
AMC College of
Management,
Sheshadripuram Evening
College,
In Coimbatore:
Ayurvedic Pridya
Vidyashala Pharmacy College in Coimbatore,
P.S.G. Institute of
Technology,
KGISL Institute,
In and Around Mumbai:
S.P.N.Doshi Women’s
College in Mumbai
SIMSR at S. K. Somaiya’s
campus,
Somaiya Polytechnic
Hostel,
Shah & Anchor College,
P. L. Dalmia College,
Bhaktivedanta Hospital,
Bombay Management
Association,
K. J. Somaiya I.T.
College,
K. J. Somaiya Hospital
& Research Center,
M.E.T. Institute of
Management,
University and
Institute of Chemical Technology,
S.I.E.S. College of
Art, Science and Commerce,
Oriental Institute of
Management,
Bhavans Somani College
at Chowpatty,
Aditya Birla Center,
S.I.E.S. College of
Commerce in Sion,
Rachna Sansad Academy
of Architecture,
Vasant Dada Patil
Polytechnic College,
Patkar College at
Goregaon,
Veramata Jijabai
Technical Institute,
Indian Medical
Association,
Baba Atomic Research
Center,
Vidya Vihar Science
College,
Indira Gandhi College
at Navi Mumbai,
Rajiv Gandhi College
for Management,
Ruia College,
Thadumal Sahani
Engineering College at Bandra,
S.P.C.E. College of
Engineering,
I.I.T. Mumbai,
Around Goa:
Blue Cross Company in
Verma, Goa
D-Link company,
Lawyers Association at
the Hotel Mandovi, in Panjim, Goa,
Aventis-pharma,
Finolex,
G.K.B. Company,
Watson Pharmaceutical
Company,
Goa College of
Engineering,
Rayeshwar Institute of
Technology.
April, 2010, provided an
accelerated course on the Bhagavad-gita at the Detroit Krishna temple
lasting one hour daily for over 3
1/2 weeks.
April 21, 2010 at Hindu Temple
of Greater Cincinnati, "Hindu Deities and Their Artistic Expression,"
exploring the significance and characteristics of Vedic deities as well as
the historical and scriptural basis for deity worship.
August 6-8, 2010, HSS Hindu Youth
Camp, made presentations to the youth and additional presentations to the
adults on the benefits of Vedic culture, such as "Why be a Vedic Ambassador," and
"American Hindus: How to Cultivate Your Culture in America."
Stephen's
September, 2010
lecture tour of
South India consisted of the following itinerary of speaking at some of
India's most noteworthy colleges and
universities, as well as public lectures, as organized by the Citizens
Intellectual Forum
In
Bangalore
Sept.5:
-Lecture at a special meeting with other Pro-India and Hindu
men.
-An
evening program with special invited guests
Sept 6:
-Lecture at S.J.B. Institute of Technology
-ISEC,
Institute of Social and Economic Change
-an
evening program with specially invited guests
Sept 7:
-University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering
-Nitte
Meenakshi Technological Institute
-a
Home program of specially invited guests.
Sept.8:
-B.N.M.
Institute of Technology
-People's Educational Society Institute of Technology
Sept. 9:
-Morning talk to special group
-Vidya
Vittala Institute of Technology
-M.
S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology
An
evening discussion with special invited guests
Sept. 10:
-A
talk on improvements for India to specially invited guests.
Sept. 11:
-A
special home discussion with invited guests
Mysore
Sept. 12:
-A
special public lecture to 160 people on India's culture at a
private hall, graced by Jagadguru Sri Sri Shivarathri
Deshikendra Swamiji from the Suthur Math.
Sept. 13:
-J.S.S.
Mahavidya Peetham Center for Management Studies
-J.
S. S. Hospital Hall on "Rediscovering the Glories of Indian
Spiritual Culture."
Sept. 14:
-SBRR
Mahajana First Grade College
-National Institute of Engineering
-Suthur
Math, gave a talk to the nearly 4000 students.
Sept.15:
-Vidyavardhaka
College of Engineering, gave the keynote address on the 150th
year of Engineer's Day, followed by another presentation in one
of the classrooms there.
-International Institute of Information Technology
-A.
M. C. Engineering College
-A
home program with specially invited guests on the direction of
India.
Sept. 17:
-Seshadripuram
Law College
-Indian Institute of Management, one of the most prominent in
India
Sept. 18:
-JSS
Academy of Technical Education
-Bangalore Institute of Technology
Mangalore
Sept. 20:
-Mangalore University
-Sri Dharmasthalam Manjunatheshvara College of Business
Sept. 21:
Srinivasa Institute of Management Studies
-Karnataka Bank Hall for public discourse on India.
Sept. 22:
Manipal Institute of Technology
-Bangalore National Law School
-International Institute of Science
Sept. 24:
-Amrita Institute of Technology
Sept.25:
-A
special presentation to invited guests and CEOs at an
international internet company called "Global Edge."
Sept. 26:
-A
special home program for particular invited guests on the future
of India and its culture.
These dates included a constant flow of special meetings with
other noteworthy people, such as M. Ram Jois, the retired judge
of Karnataka High Court and Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana
High Court, as well as K. S. Narayanacharya, retired English
teacher but active writer on the Vedic tradition.
November 16, 2010
Another lecture given at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) of
Delhi.
May
1, 2011
Lecture at the Parashakthi Temple in Pontiac, Michigan on "Sri
Sri Radha and Krishna: How to Meditate on Them and Reach Their
Spiritual Abode" as part of their Prana Pratheestha or
installation process of their Sri Sri Radha Krishna Deities.
May
7, 2011
Lecture on "Vedic Prophecies" given at "The Festival of
Inspiration" at New Vrindavan, West Virginia, which each
festival for the past several years.
May
11, 2011
Lecture on "Prayers, Mantras and Gayatris" for the television
show "Out of the Ordinary, Into the Extraordinary" for Grosse
Pointe, Michigan Cable TV. This is a show that he has appeared
on many times before.
May
13, 2011
Lecture on "Secrets to Ease Your Stress" at one of the General
Motors office buildings on Van Dyke near Detroit.
May
21, 2011
Lecture for the Hindu youth of Indian descent at the HSS shaka
meeting in Tampa, Florida
Lecture at the Hindu Temple of Tampa, Florida on Being Hindu in
America.
July 29-31, 2011
Provided a presentation on how "Caste by Birth Alone is Unjust"
at the World Association of Vedic Studies (WAVES) conference on
Caste, Jati and Kula in Newark, New Jersey.
August 4-7, 2011
Returned to the
annual HSS Hindu Youth Camp to make presentations to the youth and additional presentations to the
adults on the benefits of Vedic culture, such as "The Power of a United
Hindu Identity," "Giving Vedic Culture to the Next
Generation," "Staying Connected with the Vedic Tradition," "Strong
Roots, Strong Future," "How Vedic Culture is as Relevant Today
as Ever," and others.
September 17, 2011
Featured speaker at the Hindu
Awareness Seminar at the Hindu Temple of Metropolitan
Washington, DC, in Adelphi, Maryland, supported by the Marg
Foundation.
September 23-25, 2011
Featured speaker at the Sixth
Hindu Mandir Executives' Conference in Columbus, Ohio, speaking
on the importance of the Mandirs as being living symbols of
Sanatana-dharma.
October 22-23, 2011
Lectured for the Hindu Temple of
St. Louis, MO., gave two talks for adults and one for the youth
on Vedic culture: As Relevant Today as Ever," and "Giving Vedic
Culture to the Next Generation," and "Common Questions and
Answers," along with some residential programs.
March 3, 2012
Featured Speaker at the first London, Ontario
Rangeela Holi Celebration.
May 11, 2012, Featured Speaker, the first
presentation at the Festival of Inspiration, New Vrindavana,
West Virginia, on "Krishna Deities and Their Miracles."
June 10, 2012, Featured Speaker on "Power of the
Dharma and How Vedic Culture is as Relevant Today as Ever," at
the Vedantic Center of Nebraska, Hindu Temple, 13010 Arbor
Street, Omaha, Nebraska.
August 18, 2012
Invited and featured speaker at the "Hindu Mandir
Executives Conference" in San Jose, California, to speak on the
Content Architecture, or the content of programs temples must
have to inspire, interest and pique the participation of its
congregation and the youth in temple activities in order to
protect and preserve the future of both the temples and the
Vedic culture.
September 22 & 23, 2012
Hindu Youth Camp at an Indiana state park
sponsored by the Hindu Temple of Indianapolis, Indiana: to give
talks to both youth and adults in separate sessions focusing on
values, morals, based on the yamas and niyamas and the qualities
of personalities described in the Vedic epics.
January 12, 2013
Keynote lecturer for
the Swami
Vivekananda 150th
Birth Anniversary
launch ceremony
organized by Hindu
Swayamsevak
Sangh at the
Canton Hindu Temple,
Canton, MI.
April 17, 2013
One of the featured
speakers at the
"Ancient Mysteries"
conference in Fort
Wayne, Indiana,
along with Michael
Cremo, Gary David,
Frank Joseph, and
Wayne May.
May 10, 2013,
Featured Speaker for
the Festival of
Inspiration at New Vrindavana, West
Virginia, on
"Krishna Deities and
Their Miracles"
repeated by popular
demand.
August 24, 2013,
One
of the featured
speakers for the
Canadian Hindu Youth Conference at
the Vishnu temple in
Toronto, Canada, on
what attracted him to
Vedic
culture/Hinduism.
August 31, 2013,
One
of the featured
speaker in the Gyana
Yoga and again in
the Bhakti Yoga
sessions, at the
Dharma & Yoga Fest,
put on the by the
HSS in Atlanta,
Georgia.
September 21, 2013,
One of the featured
speakers at the
Dharma & Yoga Fest
in Bloomington,
Illinois, put on by
the HSS.
September 27-28,
2013, One of the
featured speakers at
the "World Without
Borders" event in
Chicago, put on by
the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad of America
commemorating the
150th year of Swami
Vivekananda, with
other speakers
including Swami Baba
Ramdev, Dr.
Subramanian Swami,
Swami Chidananda
Saraswati, Sadhvi
Bhagavati, Jeffrey
Armstrong, and Swami
Jyotirmayananda.
September 29, 2013,
Gave the keynote
lecture for the
Dharma & Yoga Fest
in Morrisville,
North Carolina (near
Raleigh), on how the
principles of Vedic
Dharma can create
peace throughout
society.
February 20, 2014,
Radio interview with
Rita Louise on Just
Energy Radio.com
February 21, 2014,
Gave lecture on "The
Purpose of
Ritualistic Worship"
at the Hindu Temple
of St. Louis, 725
Weidman Road, St.
Louis, MO.
February 22, 2014,
Gave lecture on "The
Importance of
Bhagavad-gita in
this Day and Age,"
at the Mahatma
Gandhi Center, on
Weidman Road, St.
Louis, MO.
February 23, 2014,
Gave lecture on "The
Benefits of Applying
the Principles of
Spirituality and
Bhagavad-gita in our
Busy Life," to both
the youth and
parents at the Bal
Vihar at the Ladue
Middle School, 9701
Conway Rd., St.
Louis, MO.
May
9, 2014, Guest
speaker to give a
presentation on
"Seeing Angkor Wat:
The Largest Vishnu
Temple in the
World," at the
Festival of
Inspiration, New
Vrindavana, West
Virginia.
August 9, 2014,
Guest speaker at the
Sanantana Dharma
Conference at the
International
Sanatana Dharma
Society Temple,
Omaha, Nebraska, on
"Recognizing Vedic
Culture Around the
World."
September 13, 2014,
Guest speaker at the
First North American
Hindu Summit, on The
Future of Hinduism
in North America, at
The Hindu Temple in
Omaha, Nebraska,
speaking on "The
Past, Present and
Future of Hinduism
in North America."
September 20, 2014,
Guest speaker at the
Hindu Mandir
Executives
Conference in
Orlando, Florida,
speaking on
"Becoming a Dharmic
Leader."
October 24, 2015,
Keynote lecture at
the Kumbha Mela
festival on the
Excelsior Grounds in
Norwalk, California,
as organized by the
Akhil Bharatiya
Akhada Parishad.
January 30, 2016,
Lecture for the
Kerala Hindus in
Troy, MI.
February 2, 2016,
Interview on Vedic
culture and India on
the John B Wells,
Caravan to Midnight
radio show,
www.caravantomidnight.com. Episode
463--Patrick Wood &
Stephen Knapp.
May
12, 2016, Simhasth
Convention
(International
Convention on
Universal Message of
Simhasth), Ujjain,
India.
June 3, 4 & 5, 2016,
SEWA INTERNATIONAL,
special guest
lectures given for
its Cultural
Education Seminar,
in Bloomington,
Illinois, on Vedic
history, Pillars of
Life and
Self-Development,
and youth sessions.
October 7-9, 2016,
Ancient Artifact
Preservation Society
conference on
Ancient America,
Harris, Michigan.
Lecture on the
Ancient Vedic
Influence in Central
America.
November 18, 2016,
Advancements of
Ancient India, given
to an Indian Youth
Group at the
University of
Southern California.
December 9-11, 2016,
Specially invited
guest speaker at the
International
Seminar on Gita at
Kurukshetra
University,
Kurukshetra, India.
September 20, 2017,
Guest speaker at the
Hindu Mandir
Executives
Conference.
November 25-27,
2017, Specially
invited guest
speaker at the
International
Seminar on Gita at
Kurukshetra
University,
Kurukshetra, India.
October 2-5, 2018,
Specially invited
guest to speak at
the inauguration at
the world Peace Dome
at MIT University,
Pune, India, for the
World Parliament of
Science, Religion
and Philosophies.
October 21, 2018,
Guest appearance on
the Richard C.
Hoagland radio show,
"On the Other Side
of Midnight."
https://www.theothersideofmidnight.com/20181021_knapp/
November 5, 2019,
Guest at Ford Motor
Company in Dearborn,
Michigan, for the Diwali celebrations
for the Ford Hindu
Group.
January 26-28, 2020,
Specially invited
guest to speak on
"The Power of the
Ramayana" at the 2nd
World Ramayana
Conference in
Jabalpur, India.
July
25, 2020, an online
talk about "My
Journey Through
Vedic Culture and
What Became of It,"
with Vaishali Shah,
now on Youtube.
December 22, 2020,
Online International
Bhagavad-Gita
Seminar at
Kurukshetra
University,
Kurukshetra, India,
on "Sustainable
Existence Gita
Philosophy."
April
8, 2021, "How the
Bhagavad-gita Can
Change Your Life,"
online class for the
Vedic Friends
Association,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayfIZzLAr70&t=187s
April
18, 2021, "The Power
of the Ramayana,"
online Sunday class
for Farmington
Iskcon.
October, 2021, an
online talk about
"Defending Vedic
Tradition for the
Survival of Hindu
Dharma," given for
the Global Hindu
Heritage Foundation,
now on Youtube.
June,
2022, an online talk
about my journey
into Vedic culture,
and "Why the World
Needs Hinduism,"
given for the
Festival of Bharat,
now on Youtube.
June,
2022, an online talk
for the Festival of
Bharat, on how "The
Taj Mahal is not
Islamic," now on
Youtube.
July,
2022, An online talk
for The Center for
Indic Studies, on
the "Insurgency in
Northeast India,"
about my experience
and what I learned
while giving talks
to the indigenous
tribes of India's
Northeast, now on
Youtube.
[This
does not include the
many smaller
engagements of home
programs or lectures
at various temples.]
For A Few Letters of Appreciation for Lectures Given
[CLICK HERE]
For Photos of Stephen While Lecturing [CLICK
HERE].
Some Prepared Lectures and
Presentations for Colleges and Universities, or Hindu Organizations
Power Point Presentations
1. How to Be a Corporate Athlete
2. Curing Depression with Spirituality
3. Ancient Indians who did Great Things
4. Re-Discovering the Glories of Ancient India
5. Secrets to Ease Your Stress
6. India's Sustainability Agriculturally and
Economically
7. Being a Vedic Ambassador
8. Giving Vedic Culture to the Next Generation
9. Why Be a Hindu
10. What Hinduism Has Done for Me (for general
discussions amongst all ages)
11. Seeing Spiritual India -- The Northern Char Dham
Area
12. Seeing Spiritual India -- General Holy Places
Introductions To India:
1. Facts About India
2. A Deeper Look at India
Slide Shows
All areas of India
The Divine Depicted in Vedic Art
The Divine Depicted in Vedic Dance
Krishna Darshan 42 Prints
General Lectures and Talks (Non-PowerPoint) Include
1. A Call to be Vedic Ambassadors
2. A New Species of Humanity
3. American Hindus: How to Cultivate your Culture in
America
4. Curing Depression with Spirituality
5. Economics According to the Dharmic Way
6. Environmentalism According to the Vedic View
7. Giving Vedic Culture to the Next Generation
8. How to Spiritualize Your Busy Life and Why
9. Particular Traits of Hindu Practices
10. Seeing Spiritual India Talk
11. Uncovering the Truth About India's History
12. Vedic Culture: As Relevant Today as Ever
13. Why I Became a Hindu / Krishna Bhakta
Other talks can be Arranged According
to Need