Founded by Marco Ferrini in 1996, the Institute of Indo-Vedic Studies - Centro Studi Bhaktivedanta (CSB)- has its head office in Ponsacco, Pisa (Italy) and conducts its activities throughout Italy and abroad. It operates mainly on the basis of the free and voluntary contribution of thousands of members and more than 100,000 people, including scholars and followers attracted by the cultural, educational and informative activities through which we seek to offer a useful contribution and value to the individual and the community.
Born as a recognized non-profit association and for social promotion one, the CSB has been officially recognized by the MIUR (Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research) and provides accredited training courses for teachers and Italian school staff, in accordance with Directive 170/16.
The purpose of the CSB is to preserve the philosophic, literary and spiritual wisdom of the millenary knowledge of the Vedas (recognized as UNESCO world heritage), the Upanishads, the Puranas, the Itihasas, the Psychology and Philosophy of Yoga with particular focus on the teachings of Bhakti Yoga, according to the Vaishnava tradition and inspired by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and Ayurveda, making this ancient knowledge available for everyone through educational courses for personal and professional development, seminars, yoga-ayurveda wellness programmes, spiritual journeys to India, yoga retreats, as well as the publication of books, essays, audio and video materials.
THE 9 STUDY TRACKS
Marco Ferrini was born in Pisa (Italy) in 1945. After graduating from the Magistero d’Arte of Florence, he began his apprenticeship under an antiquarian of international reputation esteemed by prestigious art museums. In 1967 he launched his professional interior design firm, through which he would collaborate with major Italian and international private clients and some of the most highly regarded Italian and international firms in the field.
Since a young age, he was drawn to inquire on the most fundamental principles of life and at the age of 31 undertook an ancient discipline and spiritual path. The turning point came in 1976: when he met the saintly Vaishnava A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977), one of the most authoritative representers of the spiritual and philosophical thought of India, ambassador of Bhakti Yoga (the Yoga of love) in the West , who became his Master and initiated him with the name Matsya Avatar das.
After years of several journeys to the most sacred sites of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism in India and of intense spiritual practice of devotional service to his Guru's mission, in 1996 he founded the Centro Studi Bhaktivedanta: Institute of Indo-Vedic Studies, today recognized by the MIUR (Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research), providing accredited training courses for teachers and Italian school staff, in accordance with Directive 170/16. The institution immediately engaged in the spreading of the universal wisdom of Yoga Psychology and Philosophy, with particular focus on the teachings of Bhakti-Yoga according to the Vaishnava tradition, always integrating in the offered curriculum the Eastern vision with the Western one.
Marco Ferrini's aim is to preserve the holy scriptures and traditions of the Vaishnava, the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Yoga Darshana and Ayurveda, to study them, following academic methods, in their historical and philosophical context, inspired by the teachings of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and widespread through this Centro Studi Bhatkivedanta.
Characteristic of his activity as educator is an authentic attention to the person, whom he listens to according to his or her needs with humanity, expertly valorises in his or her potentialities, and considers in his or her widest evolutional vocation.
“In recognition of his contribution to the dissemination of the Vedic knowledge throughout the world, entirely dedicated and without other purposes, to the authentic spirit of Vedas for the wellbeing and welfare of humanity”, in 2012 the President of India and the Chancellor of the Dev Sanskriti University in Haridwar awarded him the gold medal and an honorary certificate along with the academic title of Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy Honoris Causa.
With over 40 years teaching career, Marco Ferrini is author of more than a thousand publications, including audios, videos and books, that, in a modern key, repropose the Indo-Vedic historical, sociological, philosophical, psychological and spiritual thought, within the dialogue between East and West, between modernity and tradition.
I dedicate the teaching and research work of the Centro Studi Bhaktivedanta to my eternal Well-Wisher and Teacher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, on whose teachings I have based my life.
(Matsya Avatar das)
