BHAKTIVEDANTA COLLEGE First International Vaiñëava University In partnership with UNIVERSITY OF WALES LAMPETER CASE FOR SUPPORT BHAKTIVEDANTA COLLEGE Capital Campaign 2008-13 Beginning to fulfil one of Çréla Prabhupäda’s cherished desires COMPLETING ISKCON’S FIRST VAIÑËAVA COLLEGE “Your idea for the scholastic institution is a very good idea. Now we have so many books, almost 50 books of 400 pages, so this institution can be affili- ated with some nearby university. Then the students will get their Bachelors and post-graduate degrees, Ph.D.” - Letter from Çréla Prabhupäda, 11 September 1975 ”Human life is meant for cultivation of BHAKTIVEDANTA COLLEGE IS: spiritual knowledge, UNIQUE in eternal relation- It is the only ISKCON institution offering English B.A. courses in Vaiñëava theol- ship with the Supreme ogy and practice. Bhaktivedanta College is also presently developing a currucilum Personality of God- for a B.A. course in Business Administration. head, and the executive heads of all states and COMPREHENSIVE all planets are obliged It covers various fields of human knowledge with reference to Vedic texts. to impart this lesson to the citizens by educa- INTERNATIONAL tion, culture and devo- Devotees, mainly from our second generation, are feeling the need for systematic, tion.” (Bhagavad-gétä accredited education. Courses taught in English attract students from all over the 4.1, purport) world. Currently, students represent more than 20 countries. - Çréla Prabhupäda SUPPORTIVE OF ITS STUDENTS The College nurtures and supports its students in academic, personal, and spiritual development. ORIENTED TOWARDS HUMAN VALUES The outstanding personal qualities of those in the first graduating class, and the yearly increase in applications, indicate our success. EXEMPLARY This campus will be the model for future programs of its kind around the world. ACCREDITED The current undergraduate programme is accredited by the University of Wales Lampeter, one of the oldest universities in the United Kingdom. At present, the de- gree, as well as the credits for each course, is officially recognized by 45 countries. FULFILLING EDUCATIONAL NEEDS Devotees aspire for education in a Kåñëa conscious environment. Çréla Prabh- upäda often referred to the decadent atmosphere of today’s educational institu 2 tions. Bhaktivedanta College students are living in the devotional atmosphere of Räòhadesh, following the temple programmes, doing devotional service, and study- ing Vaiñëava philosophy, and within the next year or two, a course in Leadership and Management will also be available. All this serves to nurture and protect the students’ faith and spiritual development. RESPONDING TO ISKCON’S URGENT NEEDS Many of ISKCON’s first-generation preachers, teachers, leaders, and managers will withdraw from frontline service within the next 10 to 15 years. ISKCON’s crucial need is to educate future preachers, teachers, leaders, and managers. ISKCON’s growth thus depends largely on a greater number of devotees taking responsibility for Çréla Prabhupäda’s mission. IN NEED OF A CAMPUS To date, Bhaktivedanta College rents library facilities and two classrooms, as well as living facilities for students, teachers, and staff members from the Räòhadesh community. The College also rents an office and apartments in the neighbour- “Our first business is hood. These facilities will accommodate neither the growing number of students to preach to the devo- in the upcoming undergraduate programme (school-year 2009-10) nor the planned tees and to maintain leadership and management department. the highest standard of Vaiñëava education.” (letter to Hådayänanda MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Gosvämé, 1972) - Çréla Prabhupäda The world situation is compelling. Modern society is in ur- gent need of re-spiritualization. Present leadership cannot offer a positive alternative; as Çréla Prabhupäda repeatedly asserted, Kåñëa consciousness is the only remedy. Bhaktive- danta College can equip new leaders and train teachers who will inspire future generations of children and adults in this science of self-realization. This is Çréla Prabhupäda’s legacy and our responsibility. Yadunandana däsa, In this regard, by 2010, Bhaktivedanta College plans to offer College Principal a distance learning Bachelor’s degree in Business Administra- tion, and as soon as the facilities allow, on site also. The course is tentatively titled ‘Spiritual Economy and Management’. A Masters’ degree in both Vaiñëava Theology and Business Administration is also scheduled. All degrees will be fully accredited. In order to make this possible, additional accommodation, as well as a school building are required. Please take advantage of this unique opportunity to make the operation and ex- pansion of Bhaktivedanta College sustainable. Your generous contribution will help maintain and promote Vedic wisdom worldwide. Time is crucial, as more second-generation devotees are looking for a systematic education to support their contribution to Çréla Prabhupäda’s mission. The devotees need a protected environment in which to develop their knowledge of and faith in Vedic scripture. If you are interested, these pages explain how you may assist in manifesting this vision. 3 “For the present you should continue go- VISION ing to school because education is impor- Bhaktivedanta College strives to help students develop a high level of moral and tant. Without educa- personal character while offering an excellent education in Vedic knowledge, tion nobody has any as well as other relevant subjects. Our aim is to equip our graduates with skills social position and all relevant to today’s changing world and thus enable them to make a significant our students in Kåñëa contribution to society. Consciousness are expected to be preach- ers. So preachers must have sufficient educa- MISSION tion because they have To achieve its vision, Bhaktivedanta College: to meet with so many opposing elements. • Provides a range of courses – philosophical, vocational, and devo- Education should be tional – through which students can develop their potential with continued at the same time chanting should confidence and according to their propensities. be continued. There • Functions as a centre of excellence for the practice and teaching of will be no difficulty.” Vaiñëavism and leadership. (letter to Indirä and Ekäyané — San Fran- • Nurtures and supports students in their personal and spiritual de- cisco, 17 December 1967) velopment. - Çréla Prabhupäda • Trains students to become effective preachers, teachers, leaders and managers in Prabhupäda’s mission. By contributing to Bhaktivedanta College, our patrons and donors may en- hance their own spiritual progress and support the establishment of Kåñëa con- scious education. BHAKTIVEDANTA COLLEGE 4 CASE FOR SUPPORT 2008 – 2013 BHAKTIVEDANTA COLLEGE TODAY Bhaktivedanta College opened in 2002, and since 2004, it has been of- fering a B.A. degree in Vaiñëava The- ology, accredited by the University of Wales Lampeter. The degree is based on the Bologna agreement of the Eu- ropean Union, which has thus far been signed by forty-five countries. In the first year, the curriculum has been tailored to give students the “Courses at Bhaktive- breadth and depth necessary for a solid danta College such basis in teaching and outreach work. as Vaiñëava Vedänta, The College combines formal aca- ISKCON History, and demic courses, ministerial study, and Sanskrit for Scriptural devotional training. Upon successful Study have greatly completion of the first year, students broadened my perspec- receive a Theological Certificate, and tive on Kåñëa con- sciousness and deep- earn 120 academic credits. ened my appreciation The second year offers the same three for our rich tradition. strands of modules. There is however, Teacher Training, Congregational Devel- a greater emphasis on the theological opment, Communica- and philosophical strand, enabling tions, and Leadership students to further learn the intrica- and Management so- cies of Vaiñëava philosophy. Their lidified essential skills concentrated study and practice pro- for me and taught vides students with a depth of under- me to effectively and standing that facilitates their skills in efficiently apply them addressing and teaching virtually any in devotional service. audience. This leads to the accredita- Western Philosophy, tion of a Diploma in Vaiñëava Studies. World Religions, and The credits earned in the Certificate Ethics introduced and Diploma programs are equivalent me to the fascinating to two years of undergraduate study. world of philosophical and spiritual dialec- The third year specializes in an aca- tic and gave me some demic understanding of Vaiñëava scri- orientation in the great ptures. This aims to enable students, traditions.” under a directed program of research, - Kåñëa-kumära Däsa, to enlarge their knowledge and under- Canada standing of the Vaiñëava tradition. 5 THE THREE DIFFERENT STRANDS OFFER THE FOLLOWING COURSES: THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY - list the courses 1) THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 • Classical and • Bhakti-rasämåta- • Canonical Textual Medieval Philosophy sindhu Study: Bhägavata • History of ISKCON • ISKCON and Puräëa • Introduction to Society • Canonical Textual Ethics • Readings from the Study: Çré Caitanya- • Introduction to Äcäryas caritämåita Hinduism • Reason and • Contemporary Social • Sanskrit for Revelation: The Issues in ISKCON Scriptural Study Enlightenment and • Dissertation Module “Bhaktivedanta Col- • Vaiñëava