The course "Foundation of Bhakti-yoga" equips students with knowledge about the main themes and the general content of the Bhakti-sashtri books (Bhagavad-gita, The Nectar of Instruction, The Nectar of Devotion, and Sri Isopanisad). It establishes a foundation for the Bhakti-sashtri course.

Students live in the temple ashrama, follow the morning program, offer service, take part in community life, and enjoy the association of experienced teachers, senior devotees, and visiting preachers.

Time: March 1 - May 31. 2010
Fees: 20 Euro per month




Read more...

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.

Read more...

The college had its first Bhakti-yoga Retreat (Oct-Nov 2009), with six students from Belgium, Spain, Slovakia, Finland, and the US. Although called a retreat, it became an intensive course, owing to the students' eagerness to absorb as much as possible in three months. Theoretical and practical classes, spread throughout the day, inspired them. Most of them now wish to enroll at the college, so we are preparing a Bhakti-shastri course for them, starting in February.

Bhaktin Blanca (Spain) said: "The retreat is an excellent introduction, not only theoretically but practically. It provides a lot of opportunities to associate with devotees. I am glad I followed the advice of mataji Jaya Bhadra, an advanced devotee who has lived in Radhadesh for twenty years, to take the course (we met in Barcelona). Every class was a fantastic contribution to my limited knowledge. The theoretical classes were the most exciting for me, surely because of the high standard of the teachers (Dinadayal, Ramakeshava, Mangala Candrika, Anupama, Sudevi, Tivra Bhakti and others).


Read more...

Some very happy devotees On the evening of 9th January 2010, the students at Bhaktivedanta College organized a party for the members of the Radhadesh community. They wanted to celebrate the end of the Christmas food distribution program and express their gratitude to the community.

There was a Ramayana theme to the occasion, with many devotees dressing up as characters from the life of Lord Rama. There were many monkey warriors in evidence, especially amongst the children.

Devotees were served raclette cheese with crisp French bread, potatoes, veggie hot-dogs, gherkins, mustard, and tomato sauce. Both staff and students were on hand to serve the prasadam meal, bringing diners their particular favourites. Everyone could eat as much as they liked, with many taking seconds and even thirds.


Read more...

Reflections on Shri Caitanya-caritamrta: January 4 - January 8, 2010.
Introduction to Kavya: January 11 - January 15, 2010.
Classical and Medieval Philosophy: January 13 - January 26, 2010.
Vedas and Upanishads: January 18 - January 29, 2010.
Sad Darshanas - The Six Indian Philosophies: February 22 - February 26, 2010.
World Religions: February 15 - February 19, 2010.
Modern Hindu Trends: February 15 - February 26, 2010.
Congregational Preaching: March 3 - March 5, 2010.
The Nectar of Instruction: Ten Minutes with a Genius: March 3 - March 5, 2010.
Introduction to Hinduism: March 8 - March 19, 2010.
Bhaktirasamrta Sindhu: March 8 - March 12, 2010.
Interfaith: March 13 - March 14, 2010.
Uttama Bhakti: March 25 - March 26, 2010.

Read more...

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)

Read more...

Haribol! I am from Saranagati, a valley nestled between tall mountains, where simple, sweet devotees live. They are developing and supporting one another in Krishna consciousness after having voluntarily withdrawn from city life and an urban style of living.

Now I am in the wonderful community of Radhadesh. I feel that it is quite similar to Saranagati in some ways. I came here to take a Bhakti Shastri course, a three-month study of the basic spiritual books of the Hare Krishna movement. So far, my studying has been fantastic.

Radhadesh is magnificent. The castle is a huge, beautiful, and ancient masterpiece. There are really amazing spiral stairways that wind all the way up to the top of one tower. After class in the evening, I go up there to look at the golden sunset in a pink sky. It is so beautiful and peaceful. Rolling hills, grazing horses, and greenery are some of the breathtaking scenes in the distance.


Read more...

In late October, the college students and Radhadesh devotees had a magnificent opportunity to hear about Srila Prabhupada from two senior devotees, Dhananjaya Prabhu and Vishakha Mataji. They both related their personal experiences of joining the Hare Krishna movement and performing services for Srila Prabhupada. They also spoke about famous pastimes they were involved in. Dhananjaya joined ISKCON in London in 1969. He had practiced devotional service for only a short time before Prabhupada visited London. When Srila Prabhupada gave an arrival address and then asked for questions, Dhananjaya had a burning question on his mind and was the first to raise his hand.


Read more...

Kirtan plays a central role in the spiritual practices of the students. Many students have naturally developed expertise in playing instruments and singing by growing up in an atmosphere of dedication to spiritual life and inner growth.


Read more...

Some may say that learning is about academic knowledge, while for others it is about building relationships. Both types of learning help produce the well-rounded Vaishnava graduates of Bhaktivedanta College, and the eighth freshman class is being given all resources to achieve this goal. At the inauguration ceremony, the college students and the Radhadesh community members sang and ate, laughed and applauded, and reflected upon and appreciated the Hare Krishna movement together. Some were there to be formally introduced to the community, and others were there to offer support, but all relished the event in the same mood: how to further Srila Prabhupada's mission.

The college has seven new students (I am one), a new building in the middle stage of being completed, and is coming up with a new Bachelor's degree specialization. Yadunandana Swami, the Principal, is eager for these developments.



Read more...

The eighth class of first-year students was warmly greeted during Orientation Week. Seven students, from all parts of the world, were welcomed to their new home for the next nine months. Introductions, bhajans, and prasada were highlights of the week, as was a self-development aspect of the college: the Introspection Course, held by Anuradha Dasi, a visiting lecturer from Oxford.

"The group exercises and the lifelines we constructed of what it took to get us to Radhadesh," said Tivra Bhakti Dasi, a first-year student from Finland, were her "favorite parts."


Read more...

Bhaktivedanta College's first term courses for the academic year 2009/10:

Bhagavata Purana: September 14 - September 25, 2009.
Science and Religion: September 15 - September 19, 2009.
Vaisnava Acaryas: September 21 - October 2, 2009.
Teacher Training 1: September 21 - September 26, 2009.
Vaisnava Vedanta: September 28 - October 9, 2009.
Vastu/jotish Weekend: October 10 - October 11, 2009.
Bhakti-yoga Retreat: October 24 - November 14, 2009.
Prabhupada Retreat: October 26 - October 29, 2009.
History of ISKCON: November 2 - November 6, 2009.
ISKCON and Society: November 2 - November 13, 2009.
Systemic Counseling: November 25 - November 29, 2009.
Introduction to Sanskrit: November 30 - December 4, 2009.
Sad Sandarbhas: December 7 - December 11, 2009.


Read more...

"We would be very happy if we would have your support and experience in order to make the project successful." This was the note I received from Jaya Krsna Dasa, the Administrative Director of Bhaktivedanta College, who was wooing me into participating in the college's newest undertaking: prasadam distribution at a summer rock festival in Germany.

I anticipated a great adventure, and I also looked forward to seeing how the college had developed in the two years since I had been a student.


Read more...

The best way to see Bhaktivedanta College and Radhadesh is in three dimensions, in person. But the pictures here will give you a taste how it is to live and study there.

What's been your experience of teaching at the college?

Srila Prabhupada often said that the perfection of one's education is to use it in Lord Krishna's service. I felt satisfied, because teaching gave me a wonderful opportunity to use my studies in Krishna's service. Although many courses at Bhaktivedanta College are academic, they contain krsna-katha. I taught Readings from Vaisnava Acharyas. In the process of preparing and teaching this course, I absorbed myself in studying Vaisnava acharyas. The students, unlike those at other universities where I have taught, were enthusiastic and interested. This made the course especially enjoyable. Certainly the Vaisnava acharyas uplifted and enlivened us all.



Read more...

"Welcome, everyone, to the opening ceremony of our library at Bhaktivedanta College," said Jaya Krishna Dasa, the Administrative Director of the college, on Sunday, May 17th. "We are very happy that after one and a half years, we can now use this part of our building and give our students a nice place to concentrate on their studies."

The ceremony marked a big step in the college's history, which was reflected on the happy faces at the inauguration. Recently, the college staff began using its new offices, which are on the floor below the library. The library, with 6000 books, provides an orderly environment for study, and the offices provide space for nine staff members.


Read more...

From now on, you can subscribe to "quick email" (by clicking
 the logo) to receive all of Bhaktivedanta College's periodic emails
 and newsletters.