Mayapur: Exciting New Directions

by Janmastami dasa There are now over 1900 ISKCON devotees throughout the world who have Bhakti-sastri degrees. This is undoubtedly very pleasing to Srila Prabhupada, who vigorously encouraged his leaders to establish the sastric degree program. Now the Mayapur Institute for Higher Education and Training (MIHET) has developed a unique facility for Bhakti-sastri graduates to easily take the next step up the systematic sastric study ladder with the Bhaktivaibhava Course by reducing time away from their prabhu-datta-desas by 50%.
(If you have not completed Bhakti-sastri, please click here for an enlivening opportunity.) Beginning on November 21, 2007, the MIHET will launch an exciting new version of the VTE Bhaktivaibhava Course. The MIHET Sastric Curriculum Development Team in close consultation with the VTE (Vaisnava Training & Education, Oxford) designed this course according to the VTE’s principles of effective education with the idea of facilitating devotees with service responsibilities within ISKCON. This course will have clear aims and objectives specifically designed to enliven, inspire and empower students. Facilitators for the 2007 – 2008 MIHET VTE Bhaktivaibhava Course, Cantos 1 – 3 (Please go here for scheduling details.) Atul Krishna dasa BVV Narasimha Swami Hari Sauri dasa Kadamba Kanana Swami Lokanath Swami Madhavananda dasa Nirguna dasa Praneshwar dasa Tara dasa
The VTE has established the Overall Purpose of Systematic Sastric Study as follows: “To nurture the evolution of a brahminical, Krishna-conscious leadership, whose members are expert in the study and assimilation of sastric knowledge and are proficient in its application–in their own lives, in helping others, and in perpetuating the mission of Srila Prabhupada.” The specific aims of the VTE Bhaktivaibhava Course are not only building upon the aims and objectives of the VTE Bhakti-sastri Course, but are also preparing students for further development in the future VTE Bhaktivedanta and VTE Bhakti-sarvabhauma Courses.
The VTE Bhaktivaibhava Course consists of two 26-week modules. Each module has a Preliminary Self-study Section and a Campus Study Section of 13 weeks each.
Module 1 (Cantos 1 – 3)	November 21, 2007 – February 29, 2008
Preliminary Self-study Section	Distance Learning (Completed prior to attending course)	13 Weeks
Campus Study Section	11 Weeks of Classes, 2 weeks of Assessment	13 Weeks
Module 2 (Cantos 4 – 6)	November 9, 2008 – February 17, 2009
Preliminary Self-study Section	Distance Learning (Completed prior to attending course)	13 Weeks
Campus Study Section	11 Weeks of Classes, 2 week of Assessment	13 Weeks

Preliminary Self-study Section

Students will study much of the material before they come to Mayapur, enabling them to spend less time away from their preaching fields and optimize their learning while in Mayapur. The Preliminary Self-study Section will include:

• Guidelines on how to study the Srimad-Bhagavatam
• Additional quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s lectures on the Srimad-Bhagavatam
• Guidelines on compiling portfolios related to the various aims
• Guidelines on writing chapter overviews
• Focused reading assignments with Content Specific and Generic Questions
• Essay writing guidelines
• Lists of the memorization verses

Students will use notes compiled during the Preliminary Self-study Section during the corresponding On Campus Section. Students in the Preliminary Self-study Section will submit two essays (Understanding and Personal Application), and receive results by email. Passing the two essays qualifies a student to enter the subsequent On Campus Section. Students may acquire the Preliminary Self-study Section materials for Module 1 here.

On Campus Section

The 13 weeks of study on the campus in Mayapur will involve the following: 7 Classes Per Week:    5 Structured Learning    2 Thematic Discussions (77 Classes and 2 Weeks of assessment) With this system, students will have the opportunity to hear from fully trained VTE facilitators in the morning structured learning classes and from the most senior ISKCON sannyasis and leaders in the evening thematic discussions.

This course has a very developed system of assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the students based upon the aims and objectives of the course, thus dramatically enhancing the students’ learning and growth.

Our sannyasi teachers will lead parikramas throuhout Navadvipa Dhama for our Bhakti-sastri and Bhaktivaibhava students on weekends from November 24, 2007 to February 2, 2008. More details on parikramas are here.