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Dr. Baffour Jan
Since 1986, Dr. Jan has taught seekers to move beyond borrowed knowledge into direct experience of the divine.
Early Life
Born in the heart of Ghana
Dr. Baffour Jan was born on Thursday, 10th December 1953 at Dwenem, at St. Mary's Hospital (New Drobo) in the Jaman District of the Bono Region, Ghana. He was born to the late Francis Kumi and the late Madam Mary Donkor.
He completed the Local Authority Middle School at Dunkwa in 1969 with distinction, followed by Dormaa Secondary School in 1974. Even from these early years, a deep spiritual inclination was already beginning to stir within him.
Date of Birth
10th December 1953
Birthplace
Dwenem, Bono Region, Ghana
The Seeking Years
A journey through many traditions
Dr. Jan's path to realisation moved through diverse spiritual traditions, but did not end in any outer form. It ended in direct experience.
As ISKCON's 1st Ghanaian Temple President
Before Secondary School
Christianity
An ardent Christian in his early years
Secondary School
Rosicrucianism
Explored esoteric wisdom of the Rosicrucian Order
Medical School
Buddhism
Joined Nichiren Shoshu sect (1975-1980)
After Medical School
ISKCON
Initiated as Jiva Goswami in 1980
In 1980, he was initiated into the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) under the name Jiva Goswami—meaning “eternal soul” (Jiva) and “lord of the senses” (Goswami). He soon became the 1st Ghanaian ISKCON Temple President and rose to become the 1st Regional Director of the Movement in West Africa.
India & Realisation
The end of seeking, the beginning of sharing
In 1983, Dr. Jan travelled to India, where he pursued advanced courses in several alternative therapy systems, deepening both his medical knowledge and spiritual understanding.
After years of exploring comparative religion in depth and many spiritual techniques, the decisive movement was not adding more. It was letting go.
1986 — The Moment of Realisation
In 1986, he let go of beliefs, knowledge, and practices. There and then, realisation dawned spontaneously in the presence of three teachers from the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
The Heart of the Teaching
External, internal, and spiritual
Dr. Jan often explains fulfilment in three movements. The external gives pleasure, the internal gives happiness, and the spiritual reveals bliss. The work is to understand these levels, balance them, and return to the source from which they descend.
Pleasure
The world the senses report — comfort, possessions, the body at ease. It is real, but it passes quickly, and however much we gather, it is never quite enough.
Happiness
The quieter satisfaction of the heart and mind. Steadier than pleasure, yet it still rises and falls — because, like everything in this world, it has its opposite.
Bliss
The life of the Spirit itself. Bliss has no opposite and nothing to fall back into; it simply overflows. This is the source — pleasure and happiness are only its stepping-down.
Pleasure belongs to the body, happiness to the mind, and bliss to the Spirit. Every joy is that one Spirit, stepped down — and to realise the Self is simply to return to its source.
“The most worthy knowledge is that which helps to dismantle the Ego in order to reveal the True Self.”
Dr. Baffour Jan
Life Journey
A timeline of awakening
Birth
Born on 10th December at Dwenem, St. Mary's Hospital, Bono Region, Ghana.
Education
Completed Middle School at Dunkwa with distinction, then Dormaa Secondary School.
Medical Training
Three-year course in Medical Sciences at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Joined Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism.
ISKCON Initiation
Initiated as Jiva Goswami. Became 1st Ghanaian Temple President and later Regional Director for West Africa.
Journey to India
Studied Ayurveda, Pranic Healing, Psychotherapy, Hydrotherapy, and Reflexology.
Realisation
Let go of all beliefs and practices. Realisation dawned in the presence of Brahma Kumaris teachers.
Teaching & Counselling
Has been teaching and counselling seekers continuously for nearly four decades.
Institutions Founded
Spreading the light across Africa
Dr. Jan's work has always joined teaching with practical service: places for study, retreat, counselling, healing, and the steady return to Self-Realisation.
Hermetic Sanctuary
Ivory Coast (La Côte d'Ivoire)
A sacred space for spiritual practice and teaching in West Africa.
San Bra Enlightenment Centre
Adjen Kotoku, Ghana
A retreat centre dedicated to inner transformation and Self-Realisation.
Jan Cosmic Foundation
Accra, Ghana
The foundation supporting Dr. Jan's teaching mission and outreach.
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Teaching and counselling seekers since 1986