Science of Identity Foundation
The Science of Identity Foundation (SIF) is a Hindu Vaishnavite Yoga religious organization based in Hawaii, United States, founded by Chris Butler (also known by his Vaishnavite name Siddhaswarupananda Goswami) in 1977. Early history. Butler gained followers after founding the Haiku Meditation Center in 1969. He joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1970, but after the death of ISKCON founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Butler broke away from ISKCON and founded SIF. SIF was initially known as the Hari Nama or Holy Name Society. In 1977, Butler estimated the group had 1,000  devotees throughout the world. Butler had a late-night television show called "Chris Butler Speaks" on Hawaii's Channel 13 in the 1980s. Theology. The organization combines the teaching of yoga and other aspects of Krishnaite Vaishnava Hinduism. Although grounded in Hinduism, Butler has asserted that SIF philosophy of Bhakti yoga "does not conflict with Christianity, with Islam, with any bona fide religious system. We're trying to teach the essence of Bhakti yoga without having anybody say 'Oh that's Hindu' or 'Oh that's Christian'." The teachings are similar to those of Prabhupada: that human beings are "sparks