Course Summary
This course aims to provide detailed information on the nine stages of the spiritual journey, from sraddha to prema, or initial faith that a practitioner starts his/her journey with to the highest level of spiritual realization – love of Godhead. Madhurya Kadambini offers plenty of information on how to overcome common and more specific obstacles in our spiritual lives so we can be encouraged that no obstacle is stronger than spiritual techniques provided for dealing with them, even before they surface!
Schedule
Pre-recorded, short format
Great acaryas like Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur are facilitating us in returning to the realm of pure love. Their teachings are as remarkably relevant for us today as they were when they were written several centuries ago – they stress the benefits of having a yardstick for measuring one’s spiritual advancement. To honestly detect where we are now and where we are going next in our spiritual life seems to be a necessity if we want to make our way to the goal of divine love. We start with exploring the appearance of the initial faith in spiritual life (sraddha) and how it develops in the proper association (sadhu-sanga).
Development of faith at some point requires a certain practice which will lead us further on the path. At that moment, a qualified guide is required to step in so that our efforts can yield the best results possible. At the same time, there are obstacles to be dealt with which appear in the lives of all practitioners, like lethargy, doubt, and attraction to sense enjoyment, to name a few.
The fourth stage is the longest and it is a make-it-or-break-it stage as obstacles are getting more complex and subtle. During this stage, we can lose hope that progress, or that reaching our goal, is actually possible. But Madhurya Kadambini gives not one but many solutions to challenging situations which often occur.
After the stage of clearing unwanted desires comes the stage called nistha or steadiness. It is a turning point after which other stages of spiritual unfoldment come naturally and quickly. It is compared to riding a bicycle uphill and then ending up in a open field – the pedals are almost turning on their own! There are still a few things which need to be taken care of, but progress from here is significantly easier.
At the stage of ruci, or transcendental taste, activities of bhakti are no longer considered a choir. A practitioner has developed an internal attraction for devotional service and is naturally inclined towards it. Such taste develops further into the deep transcendental attachment to the object of devotional service – Lord Krishna, which deepens one’s inner life and sense of spiritual identity further.
Finally, one arrives at the healthiest and most natural position of the person, spiritual soul – total intoxication from being madly in love with God. The long journey has been successfully finished, and now the real life starts!
A convenient feature of the lectures is that they are cut into small units dealing with one specific topic. So, whenever there is some free time, a student can use it to go through the topic, then continue with other activities and think about what has been said. This system is very practical for those who have busy lifestyles but it is also proving to be helpful for just anyone, helping to better focus on the most important points from the lectures.
Certificate of attendance
After successfully passing the two quizzes, students will receive a digital certificate of attendance to their email addresses. To request the certificate of attendance please contact us at studentcare@bhaktivedantacollege.com.
Ananda Vrndavan devi dasi
When Ananda Vrndavan dd, the instructor of this course, started with her bhakti yoga practice, she was immediately attracted by the vast knowledge available in the books of Srila Prabhupada, and other acaryas and sadhus from our disciplic succession. She spent the last 20 years reading, studying, translating, editing, proofreading, promoting, sharing and distributing books and the jewels of knowledge available in them to practitioners and non-practitioners alike.
Registration
Madhurya Kadambini course can be attended without any special prerequisites. Students do need to have basic knowledge of the bhakti-yoga philosophy in order to understand the topics presented in the course. In the self-study mode, students can start and finish whenever they want as they immediately get access to all course materials.
By clicking the enrollment button, you will be required to create a profile on BCOC – Bhaktivedanta College Online Campus (if you don’t have one already) and then proceed with the payment.
