Madhurya Kaḍambinī
Unlock the timeless wisdom of "Madhurya Kadambini", a profound spiritual masterpiece by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and devotion.
Course Duration
18 hours
18 hours
Videos
90 minutes
90 minutes
No. Of Sessions
12
12
Sessions per week
4
4
Language
English
Eligibility
N/A
Schedule of Classes
Starts on
-
19:00 - 20:30 CET
Regular classes onMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
About the Teacher
HH Bhakti Prabhava Swami
About the Teacher
HH Bhakti Prabhava Swami, born in Brussels in Belgium, in 1960, met devotees in Ghent in the summer of 1992. From 1992 to 1996 he was active in Nama Hatta preaching in Ghent (Flanders) and joined the Radhadesh temple in 1996. In 1994 he met His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami who accepted him as his disciple and gave him first initiation on 12. March 1998 and second initiation on 25. August 1999. On the 31st of May 2015 he was awarded sannyasa initiation by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami. Right after his first initiation he became the first secretary for the newly formed European RGB. He organized the first European Leaders Meetings (ELM) and went on several missions for the European RGB. In 2004 Bhakti Prabhava Swami was requested to become Secretary for the Global GBC Body and the Secretary for the GBC Executive Committee. He fulfilled that role until September 2009. During that period, he attended all GBC meetings and all GBC mid‐year meetings as GBC Corresponding Secretary. He organized the first GBC midyear meeting held at Prabhupadesh in Italy on October 6‐9, 2006.
Since 2004, he has traveled each year for a few months with His Holiness Prahladananda Swami as his assistant in various East European countries.
In 2004, he opened a new ISKCON center in Brussels, and from 1999 to 2004 he served as legal director for New Mayapura in France. In March 2006 he received a Global Excellence Award for Acting in the Interest of ISKCON.
From 1996 to 2007 he engaged in management of the Radhadesh projects, mainly taking care of supervising the administration, tax defense and legal matters as Chartered Accountant. He also served as chartered accountant, legal director, trustee, teacher and student in the Bhaktivedanta College.
In 2008, he followed the Spiritual Leadership seminar in Ujjain facilitated by His Grace Anuttama Prabhu. Studied at the University of Wales from 2004 to 2016 and earned an MA (2010) and a PhD in the Study of Religion in June 2016.
He also graduated from Bhakti Sastri (MI) , Bhaktivaibhava (VIHE) and Bhaktivedanta (VIHE) from 2001 to 2011.
Since 2012 he is serving as Bhakti Sastri and Bhaktivaibhava teacher, conducting (on-site and on-line teaching) programmes for the College of Vedic Studies. Since 2019, he also serves as Bhaktivaibhava / Bhaktivedanta teacher for the Mayapur Institute and the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE).
Bhakti Prabhava Swami is a member of the ISKCON Board for Examination, a member of the Sastric Advisory Council (SAC) and a member of various committees of the Ministry for Sannyasa. He also serves as an Advisory Board Member and Teacher for the ISKCON Bhagavat Mahavidyalaya in Europe and North America.
Bhakti Prabhava Swami has been preaching internationally since 1996, presenting seminars and lectures in Belgium and in other countries when invited.
Course Overview
Session 1: Introduction
Aims and objectives of the course
Elevation to anandamaya consciousness
Bhakti is independent
Session 2:
The mercy of the Lord and His devotees
The cause of bhakti is bhakti
Bhakti is always distinct from karma and jnana
Bhakti does not depend on purity and faith
Session 3:
The wish-yielding creeper of pure bhakti
The first lead: klesa agni
Five kinds of klesas
Session 4:
The second lead: subha
Introducing the stages of advancement in bhakti
Session 5:
Bhajana-kriya: six stages
Anisthita and Nisthita Bhakti
Session 6:
What are anarthas? Types of anarthas.
Session 7:
Offenses
Disrespect of Vaishnavas
Disrespect for scriptures
Other forms of disrespect
The importance of being correctly situated in sambhanda-jnana
Session 8:
Eradication of anarthas
Stages of nistha and ruci
Session 9:
Stage of asakti, bhava and prema
Sessions 10,11,12
Parallels with Harinama Cintamani (part 1, 2 and 3)
Objectives of the course:
To acquaint students with the characteristics of the stages of devotional service from sraddha to prema.
To help students assess their own position within the stages of devotional service.
To think about how to remove obstacles in the path of devotional service and advance to the next stage.
To understand the parallels between the general stages of devotional service and the practice of chanting the holy names of Lord Sri Krishna.
To increase the participants' faith in the scientific process of devotional service.