World religions is a survey of the world’s major religious traditions. It will include reading and discussing short works by practitioners and outsiders, to show a range of possibilities for further study. The point of departure is that if there is to be meaningful communication of Krishna consciousness, then attempting to understand others’ viewpoints is crucial.

Teacher: Anupama Dasi

Introduces the six philosophies of Hindu thought that have contributed most to defining historically Hindu ideas of world, self, God, and the process of liberation. Each philosophy is analyzed in terms of its basic perspective and categories, with the help of selected original texts in translation. The course provides tools for informed comparative studies and a broader grasp of the basis of traditional Vaishnava philosophy.

Teacher: Pranava Dasa

Srila Rupa Goswami and his community dominated the Medieval world of Indian metaphysics.  He was a highly placed minister of Nawab Hussain Shaw, of Bengal, but still not happy. He renounced everything to follow the saint and mystic Sri Krsna Chaitanya. He obtained happiness by surfacing and drowning in the waves of the gopis' love for Lord Krsna. Rupa Goswami wrote more than 11,000 verses in 18 works and then summarized everything in just eleven verses.

Teacher: Hanumatpreshaka Swami

Identifies the successes and mistakes of more than twenty years of preaching in the United Kingdom. This course takes into account all the existing ISKCON programs of congregational development and some from other organizations, and helps students think about what will be right in various fields of preaching.

Teacher: Kripamoya Dasa

Provides students with a comprehensive overview of Hindu history, theology, and social and political life.

Teacher: Gopinath Acharya Dasa

Provides students with historical background on the life of Rupa Goswami and detailed knowledge of the structure and contents of his principal theological ideas, as presented in the Bhaktirasamrta sindhu.

Teacher: Hanumatpreshaka Swami

Provides students with background on the emergence of modern Hinduism and a detailed understanding of the lives and teachings of the Hindu reformers who shaped it.

Teacher: Pranava Dasa

Teacher: Saunaka Rsi Dasa

This course on "uttama bhakti," or pure devotional service, will give the students an exciting glimpse of the unlimitedly nectarean ocean of pure devotional service, according to the teachings of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The diving-off spot for entering that ocean will be the six characteristics of pure devotional service described in his translation of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, "The Nectar of Devotion." There will excursions into aspects of pure bhakti via the songs of Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. The course will be taught by Sankarshan Dasa Adhikari, an initiating guru and traveling preacher.

Teacher: Sankarshan Dasa

Topics include: strategic planning; public speaking; listening skills; devotee relations; internal communications; media relations and training; and networking with academics, interfaith people, and government leaders.

Teacher: Anuttama Dasa

Provides students with broad knowledge and an understanding of the main contemporary social issues in ISKCON in light of contemporary and traditional social theory. Considers how these issues shape ISKCON’s development.

Teacher: Braja Bihari Dasa

Everyone gets into conflicts sooner or later in Kali-yuga. There are both practical and Krishna conscious ways to deal with such situations when they arise. This course addresses those ways. Furthermore, there are skills involved in helping others when they are in conflict, and this course studies those skills. Organizations have learned to deal with conflicts in a proactive and systematic way. This course shows how religious organizations in general, and ISKCON in particular, can set up systems so that there is a smooth and fair process for dealing with conflicts. Such systems can be a key factor in improving an organization's ethos. The course studies the theory behind establishing these systems and the ways to implement the theory.
 
Teacher: Braja Bihari Dasa

Provides students with detailed knowledge of the structure of the Ramayan and the Mahabharata and the main stories and characters presented therein. It invites students to consider their theistic ideas, their characters as role models, their ethical teachings, and the moral dilemmas they explore.

Teacher: Anuradha Dasi

Acquaints students with a range of modern interpretations of the Bhagavada-gitaand the reasons for these divergent understandings. Aims to allow students to consider the relevance of these interpretations to the Hindu tradition today.

Teacher: Anuradha Dasi

An Invitation from Sacinandana Swami:

The idea of organizing Japa Kirtan Retreats emerged from a realization we had during our many Japa Retreats. Simply put, we became aware that the dharma for the Age of Kali is sankirtana: singing with devotion the holy names in the association of others. It is primarily through this process that realization of Krishna can take place.

Srila Krishna das Kaviraja Goswami writes:

tattva-vastu-krishna, krishna-bhakti, prema-rupa
nama-sankirtana-saba ananda-svarupa

"The Absolute Truth is Sri Krishna, and devotion to Krsna in pure love is achieved through congregational chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all bliss." (Cc Adi 1.96)

Our Vaishnava scriptures contain a wealth of information on kirtana. When I began to research the subject, I was overwhelmed by the nectarean information on the proper moods, proper styles, and proper skills of doing kirtana. My enthusiasm to share all this information has grown unlimitedly. Now I am dedicating a good part of my service to research this exiting subject matter even further and systematically give training in the art of kirtan.

As the research on kirtan deepened I felt like a spiritual archeologist who had just found a lost treasure and now wanted to share it with the world. So I decided to develop the Japa Kirtan Retreats.

The Japa Kirtan Retreats will summarize the insights of the Japa Retreats and then go into explaining and doing kirtan. Good kirtan improves japa, and good japa also brings about improved kirtan. Both of them complement each other, because they are based on the same thing: Krishna's most merciful
form, the holy name.

The holy name is so merciful that devotees have even glorified Kali-yuga as the best yuga, since the yuga-dharma of this age is chanting!
"I am most satisfied by this particular yuga, Kali-yuga, because the result of all spiritual processes (meditation, sacrifices, and Deity worship) can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the holy names of Lord Keshava. O great sages, a small effort in Kali-yuga is the cause of the greatest good fortune for mankind. No doubt, I am most satisfied by this particular yuga."
(Visnu Purana 6.2.15-17)

I am unlimitedly grateful to Srila Prabhupada and the previous acaryas of our glorious parampara, who reveal this deepest knowledge to us. This gratitude will manifest during the seminar in lectures, workshops, and lila-katha, all focused on becoming deeply absorbed in the holy name and, of course, in soul-uplifting kirtanas. These retreats are open to anyone sincerely interested in practicing Krishna consciousness. I am most enthusiastic to receive and serve all of you.

More info on:
http://www.bhaktivedantacollege.com/index.php?p=news&id=297

Compares the various theories behind moral reasoning that we find in different cultures. Examine models of ethical thought in terms of their relevance and practical application to ISKCON, contemporary society, and traditional Vedic culture.

Teacher: Sesa Dasa

Provides students with an introduction to modern philosophy and the basic ideas, methods, and influences of the great philosophers of the period 1500-1860. It also aims to allow students to reflect on the impact of historical and philosophical changes in attitudes toward and understandings of religion.

Teacher: Anupama Dasi

Deepens and challenges the students’ knowledge and understanding of the Caitanya-caritamrta by providing a detailed analysis of its historical context, structure, and content. The module also aims to nurture a reflective approach to the message and teachings of the text in light of personal and institutional practice.

Teacher: Krsna Ksetra Dasa

This intensive course is for devotees wishing to organise and facilitate VTE courses, or who aspire to teach at corresponding levels of competence. It is highly recommended for devotees pursuing services within outreach, management and training & education. We focus on classroom delivery skills, particularly those suited to interactive and experiential approaches. We also reflect on the values and qualities required of an effective Krishna conscious teacher.  During this second VTE course, students will:

- Learn how to match teaching styles and methods to students' talents and preferred learning styles.
- Practice key skills such as:
- Developing strength, flexibility and dynamism in voice and body language
- Leading a whole-class discussion
- Setting up and running group-work
- Making the most of experiential learning
- Plan and deliver a forty-minute lesson
- Offer and receive constructive feedback, both qualitative and quantitative, oral and written, from self, peers and tutors.
- Experience fun, challenge and transformation

The TTC1 Certificate is a pre-requisite for this course (unless, and at the discretion of the VTE, the candidate has professional experience.)  We strongly recommend candidates to get some experience of teaching in between these two courses. Students will receive a VTE Student Handbook, and successful candidates a VTE Certificate.

Teacher: Laxmimani Dasi

Based on the request of many devotees, in July of 2010, Bhaktivedanta College will offer a summer camp for young devotees aged 14 to 21. Experienced guides will help the youth become accustomed to life in the spiritual community of Radhadesh and teach them music, art, spiritual aspects of life, and lots of recreational activities.

There will be plenty of cultural exchanges and lots of learning of new skills. Most camps offer fun, friendship, and memories, but what makes the Radhadesh Summer Camp unique is our commitment to offer children a pure devotional atmosphere, filled with opportunities to perform devotional activities. Participants will explore many aspects of spiritual life and learn how to integrate these into everyday life.

The camp is both a wonderful way to spend a holiday and an exciting opportunity to broaden skills, add experience to one's life, and develop friendships with peers from around the world. Participants will visit nearby cities in Europe with fellow campers and discover the wonders of nature in the Belgian Ardennes. Campers will return home spiritually enlivened and refreshed.

The Radhadesh Summer Camp offers young people an exceptional opportunity to make friends and a chance to grow in a favorable atmosphere of intercultural exchanges and devotional activities under the guidance of experienced teachers.

Our Offer
We will organize various activities such as:

• Music and arts: Singing, mridanga, harmonium, karatalas, drama, dance, painting.
• Study: Basic Vaishnava philosophy and morality from scriptures such as Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita.
• Vaishnava cultural events: Observing festivals, participating in Padayatra, going on Rathayatra in Amsterdam, offering puja, and attending dynamic spiritual temple programs.
• Learning new skills: Public speaking and listening, preaching, improving English language skills (if applicable), cooking, sewing, and gardening.
• Recreation: Sports, campfire, cookout with Hare Krishna songs, yoga, harinama in surrounding cities, treasure hunt, and other games.
• And more!

Place: Bhaktivedanta College, Radhadesh Community, Septon (Durbuy), Belgium.
Time: 1 July - 31 July, 2010.
Age group: Youngsters from 14 to 21 years.
Cost: 1.250 Euro, (excluding air ticket)
Registration: Registration form can be downloaded here. Flyer can be downloaded here.
Application deadline: 31 April 2010.
Contact person: Mangala-candrika Dasi, email: College@pamho.net, tel.: +32 (0)86 32 32 77.


About Radhadesh and Bhaktivedanta College

The well-established community of ISKCON Radhadesh, Belgium, is centered around a medieval castle that serves as a splendid temple. It is situated in the Ardennes, amid green hills, pasturing grounds, natural reserves, and many recreational facilities. The transcendental darsana of Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha, Lalita and Visakha, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, and Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Srimati Subhadra are available, ISKCON Radhadesh
has a restaurant, bakery, guesthouse, Indian boutique, and two playgrounds. The beautiful compound provides an ideal base for excursions into the surrounding region.

For the last seven years, Bhaktivedanta College has made the Radhadesh community its home and has developed into a unique educational institution that offers academic studies alongside devotional and vocational training for children and adults. All teachers are practicing Vaishnavas and have years of experience in the educational field. Furthermore, the College provides a wide variety of courses for various types of students. One of the college's most recent initiatives is a summer camp for young devotees in the age group of 14 to 21 years.