“The Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE) in Vrindavan was established to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's desire for an educational institute in Vrindavan.”
“
Discounts are available in special circumstances for devotees from economically depressed countries or temples, and are considered on an individual basis.”Dear Maharajas and Prabhus
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The following is information about the 1999 VIHE Bhakti Sastri courses for men and women in Vrindavana. This information has been sent by mail to all ISKCON temples.
The VIHE Men and Women's 1999 Bhakti Sastri Courses
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* Study Srila Prabhupada's Books in Depth
* Earn a Bhakti Sastri Degree
The VIHE Bhakti Sastri Course teaches Bhagavad-gita, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, and Sri Isopanisad. Classes are given by devotees who have a deep understanding of the subject based on a well-prepared curriculum and study guide from the Ministry of Education. Men and women's classes are taught separately.
Students can attend the Kartika semester of the VIHE.
Dates: August 2 - November 30, 1999, in Sri Vrindavan Dhama
Requirements: Good sadhana, brahminical tendencies, and a proficiency in English. You also must have a recommendation from a senior devotee or authority who knows you well.
Fees: The cost of the entire course including classes, materials and parikramas is Rs. 10,000 (approximately $US 240). This does not include room, prasadam, or Kartika courses.
To apply: Prospective students are required to register and must be approved by the VIHE administration. Registration deadline is June 30.
For more information contact us at:
VIHE c/o Krishna Balarama Mandira, Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg, Raman Reti, Mathura Dist. 281124, U.P., India Phone: (0565) 445-002, (0565) 445-053
E-mail: vihe@com.bbt.se
Web site: www.Iskcon.net/vihe
Thank you.
Your servant
Sundarananda dasa
(VIHE Administration)
Men and Women's 1999 Bhakti Sastri Courses and Kartika Semester
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Please note that some of our policies have changed since our advertisement appeared in the January/February 1999 issue of BTG)
What is the VIHE?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE) in Vrindavan was established to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's desire for an educational institute in Vrindavan. The VIHE in the holy dhama provides an ideal facility and atmosphere for you to improve your sadhana, develop your devotional qualities, engage in serious study, associate with senior devotees and receive training in practical skills relevant to management and preaching.
The VIHE also aims to preserve and disseminate standards Srila Prabhupada set for acting in Krishna consciousness and to deepen devotees' understanding, realization and appreciation of Srila Prabhupada's teachings and movement. Thus, the Krishna conscious culture and values that Srila Prabhupada gave us can be passed on to successive generations.
All courses are well researched and taught by senior devotees who have a deep understanding of the subject.
Where Are We Located?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The VIHE main office is located in room 31 of the gurukula building at the Krishna
Balarama Mandir in Vrindavan, India. Office hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from Mondays
to Saturdays.
Semester Dates
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Men and Women's Bhakti Sastri courses are from August 2 to November 30. Classes are
held 5 to 6 days a week. Men and women's classes are held in separate rooms.
The Kartika semester is from October 11 to November 5.
There is no Gaura Purnima semester in 1999 but short seminars will be held in conjunction
with the Vrindavan temple during the Gaura Purnima Festival. Classes will be held from
March 7 to March 13, (except on the 10th) from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Classes
~~~~~~~
* Bhakti Sastri
Bhagavad-gita (all 18 chapters) - 15 weeks
Nectar of Devotion (first 19 chapters) - 5 weeks
Isopanisad - 2 weeks
Nectar of Instruction - 2 weeks
Optional classes on preaching are sometimes taught.
* Kartika semester
Courses vary from year to year. We offer courses on sastra, preaching, communication,
Deity worship, management, teaching, music, and more. Courses are finalized in August
1999. Contact us or visit our web site at that time to get complete course listings and
descriptions.
Vaisnava Training and Education (VTE) courses are often taught during the Kartika VIHE
semester.
Required Classes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Bhakti Sastri
All Bhakti Sastri classes listed above are mandatory for Bhakti Sastri students. Preaching
related classes and Kartika semester classes are optional.
* Kartika semester
Students attending only the Kartika semester can take as few or as many classes as they
wish and pay accordingly.
Registration Procedures and Deadlines
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Bhakti Sastri
We must receive your request to attend no later than June 30, 1999. Written approval by
your guru or authority must accompany your request. Acceptance in the Bhakti Sastri course
is dependent on approval by the VIHE administration. Those applying after June 30 are not
guaranteed acceptance and must pay a late registration fee of Rs.500 if accepted. Fees are
paid in Vrindavan in room 31 at any time during the year before the deadline of July 31.
Fees will only be accepted once you are approved.
* Kartika semester
You must confirm at least two weeks in advance that you will be attending. This can be
done by letter, e-mail, phone or in person. Include your course choices at this time. We
recommend that you do not take more than a 7* hour per day workload (total hours of
classes and homework). See Course Descriptions on our web site or request a copy from us
for the length of each class and the amount of homework. You can add or drop classes until
the third day of classes. Fees are paid when you register in Vrindavan.
Registration is done for 3 days before classes begin from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. in room 31.
Students who miss this deadline must pay a late registration fee of Rs. 300.
Fees
~~~~
* Bhakti Sastri
Rs. 10,000 (approximately US $240). Includes classes, course books and materials, two
parikramas and a 30 % discount on selected VIHE books and tapes. This does not include
room and board or classes offered at the Kartika VIHE semester.
* Kartika semester
Registration fees: Rs. 550
Two-week courses: Rs. 750 each
One-month courses: Rs. 1400 each
3 parikramas and two feasts: Rs. 550
Full schedule: Rs. 6500 (approximately US $160). This includes the registration fee, 4 or
more classes, course books and materials, 3 parikramas, two feasts, and a 30% discount on
selected VIHE books and tapes.
Bhakti Sastri students who wish to take Kartika semester classes must pay for those
courses, parikramas and feasts separately, but will not be charged the registration fee.
Discounts
~~~~~~~~~
Discounts are available in special circumstances for devotees from economically depressed
countries or temples, and are considered on an individual basis. They should be arranged
for you by an ISKCON authority when you apply (not at the time of registration).
Refund Policy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No refunds are given but payment can be applied to another devotee or another semester.
Requirements
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A proficiency in English, an inclination to learn and study, and good sadhana. Minors must
have notarized parental approval.
Grading
~~~~~~~
* Bhakti Sastri
Bhakti Sastri students who wish to get a Bhakti Sastri degree take an ISKCON Ministry of
Education approved Bhakti Sastri exam. 50% of this grade will be derived from tests taken
during the course.
* Kartika semester
Grading is an option the teacher may choose to use. These grades are only for assessment
and not for degrees. See Kartika semester Course Descriptions pamphlet for details.
Wheelchair Accessibility
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Classrooms are on the first floor. There is no wheelchair accessibility but we have
carried disabled devotees up the stairs and can provide this facility if needed. Please
confirm with us before coming if you require this service.
Weather
~~~~~~~
Very hot: mid April to early October
Very cold: mid December to mid February
Mild: mid October to early December and late February to April
Keep in mind that the temple is outdoors, so bring sufficient warm clothing if you plan to
be here during the cold season.
What You May Want to Bring
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Computer (optional). A computer is useful for having course books on disk, taking notes,
writing essays, access to the folio, etc. We have one computer in the library with the
folio (all of Prabhupada's books, conversations and lectures) and a word processor (Word
for Windows 2.0). If you wish to bring your own computer, you will need to purchase a step
down or Constant Voltage Transformer (CVT) at a cost of about Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000 ($12 to
$24) to protect your computer from being damaged by the alternating voltage that is common
in Vrindavan. We have 2 CVT connections in the library that you can use.
Basic amenities are available in India, but quality and variety can vary considerably from
what is available in the west. Keep this in mind when deciding what to take, especially if
you require certain medications. If you have questions about what to bring, please contact
us.
Where to Stay
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Bhakti Sastri
Rooms are available in the gurukula building for 15 male Bhakti Sastri students by
reservation or on a first come, first served basis. The cost is Rs. 50 per man per day and
three men occupy each room. Desk and chairs are provided. For those who do not get a room
here, we will help you find other ashrams in the area where you can live with other
students. This also applies to the women. We strongly suggest that Bhakti Sastri students
live together. Varying facilities near the temple are available at both lower and higher
prices.
* Kartika semester
Depending on the number of Bhakti Sastri students enrolled, the VIHE may have the above
mentioned accommodations available for a limited number of male Kartika students.
Accommodations are available by reservation or on a first come, first served basis.
Otherwise, there are many rooms and apartments available near the temple ranging from Rs.
50 to Rs. 850 per day. Contact us or visit our web site for a list of such rooms and
apartments.
Most ashrams are adequate but simple. Bedding is often not supplied.
The VIHE also has the above mentioned accommodations available for 15 men from December
through July. Accommodations are available by reservation or on a first come, first served
basis.
It is compulsory by Indian law that all foreigners fill out a "C-Form" at the
ashram where they are staying within 24 hours of their arrival and that they register with
immigration if they will be staying in India for 6 months or longer.
Where to Eat
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Temple prasadam is available at Rs. 40 per day (prices are subject to change). The temple
also runs a restaurant and snack bar. For those who wish to cook for themselves, all
required ingredients are available in the temple vicinity.
Classes in Foreign Languages
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If your temple, country or zone has a sufficient number of non English speaking devotees
wishing to attend the VIHE, please contact us about arranging special classes translated
into your language.
Become Part of the VIHE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are interested in becoming part of the VIHE, either in Vrindavan or starting one in
your country, please contact us.
© CHAKRA 6-Mar-99
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