A group of Krishna practitioners visited the Long Beach City College campus, handing out books centered on yoga, meditation and spiritual well-being to Long Beach City College Students.
Members of the group, including Vamsi- Lalita Devi Dasi and Dhira- Lalita Dasa, said their mission is to share timeless wisdom through books like the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text that has been studied for centuries.
“We’re just doing service to share awareness,” said Dasa. “These books have been giving direction to countless people for hundreds of years.”
According to the group, many of the books they distribute are translations and interpretations of ancient Sanskrit teachings introduced to Western audiences by A.C Bhakivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Their goal is intended to help students manage stress and uncertainty through meditation, self-reflection and spiritual education.
“Students go through assignments, stress and personal challenges, sometimes people need direction and something that helps them feel grounded.” said Dasa.
Members emphasized that although the teachings originate from Hindu traditions, they believe the books can be appreciated by people of any faith or background.
“It’s not limited to one religion,” Dasi said. “People from different backgrounds study these books. It’s wisdom anyone can learn from.”
The books being handed out ranged from introductions to meditation and yoga to cultural stories, vegetarian recipes and simplified explanations of spiritual concepts.
“One of the group’s goals is to make the teachings easier for students to understand and connect with in daily life,” Dasi said.
Vamsi-Lalita Devi Dasi shares her favorite book filled with vegetarian recipes, along with other books like the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text. Dasi comes to LBCC with her husband, Dhira-Lalita Dasa, to share books regarding Krishna practices. (Thavarath Ellis)
The group also spoke about the growing population of yoga and meditation following the Covid-19 pandemic, saying many people have become more interested in mindfulness and mental health wellness.
“After COVID, we saw much more interest in these practices.” Dasa said. “People are searching for peace and balance.”
Along with spiritual texts, the organization promotes vegetarianism and cultural awareness through recipe books featuring dishes from countries like India, Thailand, Greece and Italy.
“It’s not just about religion,” Dasa said. “It’s also about culture, food and understanding different ways of living.”
The group said their experiences on campus have been mostly positive, with many students stopping to ask questions or browse the books.
“We haven’t really have had a negative reaction, most people are curious and open to learning,” Dasa said.
Some students said they appreciated the group’s openness and willingness to discuss their beliefs.
“I honestly do not mind them at all being on campus. From time to time, I do say hello to them, and when they’re out there giving facts about their religion, it can actually be intriguing to learn about. I feel like there’s no harm in picking up the books and maybe reading a few pages because they do have some interesting topics,” said Yazmine Soto, a student at LBCC.
For LBCC students the interactions with the Krishna Organization provided insight into how spiritual organizations connect with students in public campus spaces.
Organizers said they hope students who take the books leave with something meaningful whether it is guidance perspective or simply a moment of calm during a stressful semester.
In addition to visiting LBCC, the group said they also collaborate with students connected to the University of California, Los Angeles through outreach programs focused on vegetarian food distribution, meditation and cultural education.
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