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

  • Sri Isopanisad (next delivery: July 2, 2018)
  • The Nectar of Instruction (next delivery: August 27, 2018)
  • The Nectar of Devotion (next delivery: October 22, 2018)
  • Bhagavad-gita 1 (Chapters 1-6) - Karma Yoga (next delivery: January 7, 2019)
  • Bhagavad-gita 2 (Chapters 7-12) - Bhakti Yoga (next delivery: March 4, 2019)
  • Bhagavad-gita 3 (Chapters 13-18) - Transcendental Knowledge (next delivery: April 29, 2019)

  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 Bhakti Sastri Module digital certificate - sent upon request to the student upon the successful completion of the module

  2. Bhaktivedanta College full Bhakti Sastri digital certificate - sent to the student upon the successful completion of all 6 modules of Bhakti Sastri.

  3. VTE Bhakti Sastri Certificate - issued once a year (January/February) by the ISKCON Board of Examination 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.

• 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

  

  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 €339 instead of €399 (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
  • one module from our Certificate in Vaishnava Studies free of charge after meeting criteria for receiving a Bhakti Sastri PLUS degree
  • a special gift - two breathtaking audio CDs recorded by the Bhaktivedanta College students!

• Assessment

  

  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 40% 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.