Bhakti Sastri PLUS is an additional degree issued to students who complete all six modules of the Bhakti Sastri program PLUS one module of their choice from the curriculum of our BA in Theology and Religious Studies online year-one program (TRS).

Bhakti Sastri core modules:

• Bhagavad Gita Chapters 1-6 - Karma Yoga
• Bhagavad Gita Chapters 7-12 - Bhakti-yoga
• Bhagavad Gita Chapters 13-18 - Transcedental Knowledge
• The Nectar of Devotion
• Sri Isopanisad
• The Nectar of Instruction

Bhakti-sastri course is always going on, with 6 modules in total, one after another. It is possible to enroll at any time and continue from the next scheduled module or just take one module (or more) of your choice as each one is independent from the rest of the modules.

Additional module:

After finishing the VTE Bhakti Sastri program, students can take part in one of the Theology and Religious Studies online modules from the year-one program and then receive a Bhakti Sastri PLUS certificate. This will be possible only for those students who enrolled for the complete Bhakti Sastri program from the beginning. Students can choose one of these modules:

Introduction to Western Philosophy
History of Vaishnava Thought 
Introduction to Hinduism 
Encountering World Religions 
Theory and Method in the Study of Religion 
Modern Interpretations of The Bhagavad-Gita 
Introduction to Ethics

And if after receiving a Bhakti Sastri PLUS degree the student wishes to continue the TRS program, the passed module will be taken into consideration and the student will be exempt from reassessment in that.

Each Aim for sastric study is expressed in a few words as follows. Each aim has corresponding objectives. Each aim is also denoted by a two or three letter code, as shown below. Students should try to memorize these codes. 12 Aims:

KUPP

• 1. Knowledge (Memory and Recall) = Kno

  To help students memorise and recall the (theoretical) knowledge which forms the foundation of their ongoing progress in Krishna Consciousness.

• 2. Understanding = Und

  To deepen students’ understanding of the Krishna consciousness theology, particularly through studying it from a wide range of perspectives and through developing thoughtfulness and introspection.

• 3. Personal Application = PeA

  To help students apply the Krishna Consciousness theology, with reference to:

  • their external practices;
  • their inner development;

  and to help them develop appropriate Vaishnava qualities and behaviour.

• 4. Preaching Application = PrA

  To enhance devotees desire and ability to preach effectively.

FATE

• 5. Faith and Conviction = F+C

  To help build and maintain students’ faith and conviction in:

  • the process of Krishna consciousness;
  • the sastra as its foundation.

• 6. Authority = Aut

  To simultaneously cultivate within devotees:

  • wholehearted acceptance of the spiritual authority of shastra;
  • a mood of open and honest inquiry and a desire to factually understand and realise the import of Vedic knowledge.

• 7. Theological Application = ThA

  To help create learned Vaishnava theologians who are expert in assisting the Society through application of sastric knowledge to a wide range of personal, social, moral, topical and theological issues.

• 8. Evaluation = Eva

  To develop students’ analytical, interpretative and evaluative skills, particularly in respect of the practical application of sastric knowledge.

MARS

• 9. Mood and Mission = M+M

  To facilitate devotees in:

  • understanding and appreciating the mood and mission of Srila Prabhupada;
  • perpetuating that understanding within the Society and its members.

• 10. Academic and Moral Integrity = AMI

  To ensure that devotes develop moral and academic integrity in the interpretation, evaluation and application of sastric knowledge.

• 11. Responsibility for Learning = RfL

  To encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and develop healthy study habits by:

  • enhancing their desire to study Srila Prabhupada’s books (particularly by nurturing their appreciation of shastra and sastric study, and by demonstrating sastra’s relevance to everyday life);
  • equipping them with the appropriate learning skills.

• 12. Sastra Caksus = SC

  To equip students with the ability to see through the eyes of shastra, and with a Krishna conscious worldview. Ultimately, to assist the students in realising scripture, and in seeing Krishna, at all times and in all places.

VTE Orientation Module for Bhakti Sastri and Bhaktivaibhava

TO ENTER THIS INTRODUCTORY MODULE YOU NEED TO TYPE IN THIS PASSWORD: ONLINESTUDY.

The VTE’s over-arching purpose in promoting the systematic study of sastra (sacred texts). This Module introduces the VTE methodology. To facilitate a systematic, Krishna-conscious education, the VTE has developed an aims-driven (as opposed to content-driven) approach to studying sastra. Here you will find an introduction to and overview of those 12 aims of sastric study.

Orientation Module: Introduction to Online Study is an open module offering an overview of the Bhaktivedanta College study methodology. It is designed to introduce students to the Bhaktivedanta College Online Campus (BCOC) environment.

Future students are invited to carefully explore the Orientation Module before proceeding with any of our online programs. This module is designed to inform prospective students about our BHAKTI SASTRI Studies (BS), but all others are welcome to explore our virtual environment and in that way get to know what to expect during your studies. In the Orientation Module, you will also find general information about the BS program.

1. 15% for participation in the discussion forums throughout a module
2. 30% for VTE essays (two or three)
3. 15% for quizzes (five or more)
4. 40% for the closed-book exam (explanation below)
   • Student has to get at least 65% in the closed-book exam to pass the exam
   • In the closed-book exam 80% of the grade comes from the essay questions and 20% from the memorization verses.
   • In case of failing, student gets one more chance to take the exam

VTE essays

Closed-book exam details

This final closed-book exam will also include 2 or 3 questions asking you to recall verses that you are required to learn during your study. A list of all the Bhakti Sastri verses to be memorized is here. Individual modules will require memorization of only those verses learned during the module study period. To ensure this closed-book system is honored you are requested to provide us the name of a proctor who will sit with you while filling out the on-line exam.

Before attending the exam every student and proctor needs to be familiar with the Proctor Guidelines. The closed-book exam should be written within two week after the module is finished. Those who fail the closed-book exam (achieving a score of less than 65%) will be given a second chance. Of course, that will be a different exam.

Grades Table

Final grade

• contact tutor to get clarification
• if there is no agreement achieved between the students and tutor regarding the mark, internal monitor marks again the disputed part of the assessment. Mark given by internal monitor is final.

Although all prospective students may enroll in any of the Bhakti Sastri modules, we recognize few levels of awards for the Bhakti Sastri degree.

A) Bhaktivedanta College Bhakti Sastri Digital Attendance Certificate, which will be issued electronically at the end of each Bhakti Sastri module. The study requirements are:

Watching the weekly video classes

Reading the assigned materials

Being active on the forum

Completing quizzes

B) Bhaktivedanta College/VTE Bhakti Sastri Certificate. In addition to the above requirements, a student must:

• Submit VTE essays
• Successfully pass the closed-book exams within the requested time frame
• Chant sixteen rounds of the maha-mantra daily
• Follow the four regulative principles for bhakti-yoga
• Provide a recommendation letter by a local ISKCON representative.

Before finishing the last module student needs to submit the Sadhana Requirements and Recommendation Letter as prerequisite for VTE Bhakti Sastri certificate issued by the ISKCON Board of Examination. We are issuing Bhakti Sastri Certificates once a year. In January/February we are reviewing the previous year, and all students who finish all six modules successfully will receive the Bhakti Sastri Certificate.

C) Bhakti Sastri PLUS. is a separate certificate issued by Bhaktivedanta College to those students who in addition to the Bhakti Sastri modules pass one module of the Theology and Religious Studies online program.

Bhakti-sastri course is always going on, with 6 modules in total, one after another. It is possible to enroll at any time and continue from the next scheduled module or just take one module (or more) of your choice as each one is independent from the rest of the modules.

Registration to the complete Bhakti Sastri PLUS program

We are offering the possibility to study full Bhakti Sastri PLUS program:

1. Create account on Bhaktivedanta College Online Campus (BCOC).
2. Fill in the Bhakti Sastri PLUS registration form.
3. Pay the Paypal fee (link below).

Registration into the Bhakti Sastri PLUS program brings number of benefits:

• a tuition-fee deduction of 15% (paying €505, instead of €594)
• each module can be studied according to one’s preference in a maximum period of two years (two consecutive postponing possible)
• one can immediately take the Disciples Course online
• after meeting criteria for receiving a Bhakti Sastri degree, one can automatically continue with the Bhakti Sastri PLUS and take one TRS module free of charge
• after receiving a Bhakti Sastri degree, one gets deduction of 15% for Bhaktivaibhava module (paying €339 instead of €399). This is applicable for those enrolled into BS+ after December 2015
• Bhakti Sastri graduates can apply for the BA in Theology and Religious Study (TRS) without paying the application fee of €50.
• As a special gift we will immediately send you two breathtaking audio CDs recorded by the Bhaktivedanta College students!

Once you register you will be automatically enrolled in the next Disciples Course and all upcoming Bhakti Sastri modules.

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