We recently connected with Vasanti Dasi and have shared our conversation below.

Vasanti, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

I was a social worker for the state of California for several years and worked with developmentally disabled adults. One of my clients was autistic and nonverbal. He would never speak or acknowledge me when I came to check on him in the group home he lived in every month.

The home he lived in hospitalized him for his behavior and that hospital over drugged him and gave him the wrong medication.

I visited him in the hospital and made some prayers for him and he soon healed. I moved him to a better and warm group home on release from the hospital.

When I went to visit him immediately after his move, he was in the shower. When he heard my voice I’m the next room he immediatley came out of the shower without a towel to shake my hand, showing his appreciation for helping him with his life. That was the first external acknowledgement I received from him and it melted my heart.

Vasanti, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi! My name is Vasanti dasi and every since I was a child, I wanted to help others. I remember telling my mother that I wanted to adopt a child from abroad, and she said, “You can’t change the world, you know,” and I replied, “Well, I can try.” That lead me to getting my Masters in Social Work and becoming a social worker in the state of California.

In 2000 I met my spiritual master from India, and was blessed to travel the world with him from 2002 to 2010 learning the tradition and practices of bhakti-yoga. I was also blessed with becoming the assistant to one of the for-most teachers in the bhakti-yoga tradition, Srimati Syamarani dasi.

I know my life has been divinely arranged as I now am able to fuse my social work with my spirituality and help so many sincere souls who are struggling in life by lending a listening ear and guiding them into their own soul-searching.

In 2010 I started a Prison Program to bring this devotional practice of bhakti into the prison systems. We send spiritual books to inmates all over America and prison libraries, penpal with hundreds of inmates, and teach mediation and chanting in many prisons in the nation. I am super honored to be part of this program and have seen and heard from individuals how by being a part of our program, their anger and anxieties have decreased.

Recently, we opened a Bhakti Center in Miami and so many souls are finding nourishment in the spiritual teachings and practices we offer. We are also serving blessed meals to the underserved weekly.

I find my creativity lies in managing and organizing these services and outreach events – and in helping individuals of all walks of life find relief from suffering through spiritual practices that have helped me change my life tremendously.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I find allowing individuals space to use their strengths and brilliance leads to managing a good team. I don’t try to control anyone, yet allow all to feel empowered in their role. I like to have regular meetings and facilitate a safe space to share their feelings and opinions which builds trust and comraderie amongst the team.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I feel and have heard from those I have helped that I listen very well and that they (the people I have helped) never feel judged. I feel this has formed a sweet reputation for me. I try my best to be kind and loving at all and know that being human comes with shortcomings and we all have them. I try my best to see the good in all and help people bring themselves up.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sacredvedicarts.org
• Instagram: @vasantidasi
• Facebook: Vasanti dasi