Book excerpt: The president and acarya of the Gopinath Gaudiya Math offers his insights into in the teachings of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in this enlightening book. Who am I? Who is God? What is Guru? How do I relate to other gurus and their disciples? What is the dharma that we follow? What are the impediments to service? What is our shelter? What should we meditate on while chanting? These and many other important questions are answered conclusively and authoritatively by Swami B. B. Bodhayan, current acarya of the Gopinath Gaudiya Math. Born into a Vaishnava family, the author served his guru, Srila B. P. Puri Goswami Thakur, with unwavering faith for decades. He studied and realized the essential teachings of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. In Essential Vaishnava Teachings, he shares his illuminating insights on the path of bhakti.