Bhakti Sastri PLUS Program

Systematically study Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, and Sri Isopanisad – 4 of the most important bhakti-texts. Our teachers are experienced devotees who have been studying, living by and teaching Prabhupada’s books for many years. Our students are from all over the world and create a worldwide online community with the goal of understanding and deeply imbibing the Gaudiya Vaishnava principles and practices.

• Modules
• Certificates
• Enrollment
• Fees
• Assessment
• VTE Methodology
• 12 Aims of Sastric Study

• Bhakti Sastri Modules

  • Bhagavad-gita 1 (Chapters 1-6) - Karma Yoga (next delivery: January 3, 2022)
  • Bhagavad-gita 2 (Chapters 7-12) - Bhakti Yoga (next delivery: February 28, 2022)
  • Bhagavad-gita 3 (Chapters 13-18) - Transcendental Knowledge (next delivery: April 25, 2022)
  • Sri Isopanisad (next delivery: June 27, 2022)
  • The Nectar of Instruction (next delivery: August 22, 2022)
  • The Nectar of Devotion (next delivery: October 17, 2022)
  Lectures and other materials are delivered over Bhaktivedanta College Online Campus (BCOC). For more details, check the FAQ section.

• Certificates

  We recognize and issue few levels of awards for the Bhakti Sastri degree:
  
  1. Bhaktivedanta College individual modules' certificate - sent upon request to the student upon the successful completion of the particular module
  
  2. Bhakti Sastri Certificate - issued once a year (January/February) by the ISKCON Board of Examination (the only body in ISKCON that can issue BS diplomas) to students who successfully pass the full Bhakti Sastri course and:
  
  • 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.
  
  
  Students can receive the confirmation of successfully completed course as needed before the diploma is issued.

• Enrollment

  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. You can enroll for:
  • one module of your choice (every module is an independent unit) or
  • full Bhakti Sastri course (you immediately enroll for all 6 modules)
  Enrollment is done over the buttons below
  Before enrolling, please review our postponing and refund policies.
       Bhagavad-gita 1           Bhagavad-gita 2           Bhagavad-gita 3             Sri Isopanisad        Nectar of Instruction    Nectar of Devotion  
  OR enroll complete program and get 15% discount
     Enroll Complete Program   
  IMPORTANT: If you register for all 6 modules, you will be AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED into the modules on the day of their commencement one after another, as they come according to the schedule.

• Fees

  Fee for each module is €99. If you immediately enroll for all 6 modules, you get the following benefits:
  • a 15% tuition-fee deduction - pay €505, instead of €594
  • a 15% deduction if, after receiving a Bhakti Sastri PLUS degree, you decide to study the Bhaktivaibhava course with us - pay €150 instead of €199 (applicable for those enrolled into BS+ after December 2015)
  • Disciples Course free of charge; if you've already passed the course with us, you can give it to someone else as a gift
  • a special gift - two breathtaking audio CDs recorded by the Bhaktivedanta College students!

• Assessment

  The whole assessment is done online, through our learning platform (submission of essays, doing quizzes and exam, replying to the forum questions). The final mark for each Bhakti Sastri module is made:
  • 15% of the mark for participation in the discussion forums throughout the module
  • 30% of the mark for VTE essays (two or three, minimum 60% mark for each is required for pass)
  • 15% of the mark for quizzes (five or more)
  • 40% the mark for the closed-book exam (minimum 65% is required for pass)
  Student has to get at least 65% in total to pass the course. Closed-book exam consists of minimum 20 questions (out of which 2-3 questions are recalling verses) which have to be answered within 60 or 120 minutes. For taking the exam, a student has to secure a proctor, a person who sits with him/her during the exam and monitors regularity. Final grades are sent to students individually approximately 30 days after the closed-book exam period is over. In case of failing, student gets one more chance to pass the course if the final mark can be risen above 65% by doing VTE essays OR closed-book exam better. If there is again a fail, student can re-take the whole module in accordance with our second attempt policy.
• The VTE’s over-arching purpose in promoting the systematic study of shastra (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 shastra. Here you will find an introduction to and overview of those 12 aims of shastric study.
•   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 shastric study, and by demonstrating shastra’s relevance to everyday life);
    • equipping them with the appropriate learning skills.

  • 12. Shastra 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.