‘Bhakti Sastri (English)’ course material

Introduction

The course material required for Bhakti Sastri course is listed below. These are on-demand video sessions that are available 24/7 wherever you are. Learn online at your own pace, whenever and wherever it's convenient for you. While there are deadlines, you can learn at hours convenient to your schedule. All video sessions are designed specifically for the distance-learning medium and are taught by Chaitanya Charan Das, an outstanding devotee instructor with many years of classroom teaching. Our video sessions nearly replicate the face-to-face classroom.

For your convenience, all course videos are hosted on YouTube. This will enable you to access on practically any device, including smartphones and tablets. You can even choose the video quality & size depending on your bandwidth speed. You can view the videos even if you have low bandwidth. If you have good bandwidth speed then you can view excellent quality video in full HD (1080i with a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, 1920×1080, 2.1 megapixel). Thus, you can watch the videos on big monitors or you can even project the videos on screen using overhead projector. This is especially useful for studying in groups (eg. bhakti vriksha / councilor meetings).

For more details on how to adjust the video quality, please click here.

Methodology

Scrutinizingly study each video. For every video, we have given links to corresponding content on Vedabase. While you watch each video please make notes. At the end of each video, you have to send us (ccd.bhakticourses@gmail.com) brief summary notes.

Question & answers

Email relevant questions regarding the content of the video to ccd.bhakticourses@gmail.com. Please mention the video number & topic of the video in the title of email. An email will be send to you when the answer is posted. All answers will be displayed on Q & A section of each video session. Your identity can be kept confidential if you so desire. Please post only one question per email.

1. Sri Isopanishad (ISO)

Video	Topics
001	Introduction: An overview of the Vedic literature	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
002	Invocation: How everything is perfect and complete	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
003	Mantra 1: How to understand and apply the Lord's proprietorship of everything	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
004	Mantra 2: How karma can be spiritualized	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
005	Mantra 3: How modern civilization is soul-killing	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
006	Mantra 4: Why the Ishvara is inconceivable	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
007	Mantra 5: Understanding Deity Worship as an example of the Lord's inconceivability	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
008	Mantra 6: How spiritual vision develops in the three levels of devotees	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
009	Mantra 7: Rise from mistaken oneness to real oneness	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
010	Mantra 8: How the Ishvara integrates inconceivable attributes	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
011	Mantra 9: Three kinds of so-called knowledge	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
012	Mantra 10: The contrasting results of vidya and avidya	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
013	Mantra 11: Integrate spiritual and material knowledge while living in the world	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
014	Mantra 12 part 1: How Demigod Worship harmonizes with Krishna worship	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
015	Mantra 12 part 2: How to understand and deal with impersonalists – Brahmavadis and Mayavadis	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
016	Mantra 13 part 1: Logical and scriptural examination – Do all paths lead to the same goal?	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
017	Mantra 13 part 2: How Krishna consciousness and service to humanity concur and differ	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
018	Mantra 14: Devotional service grants immortality	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
019	Mantra 15: How Bhagavan is the highest manifestation of the Absolute Truth	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
020	Mantra 16: Prayers to the Absolute Truth culminate in devotional service	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
021	Mantra 17: How devotional service prepares us for passing the exam of death	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
022	Mantra 18: How the omnipotent Lord guides the devotee to perfection	Video	Vedabase	Q & A

2. Nectar of Instruction (NOI)

Video	Topics
023	Preface and overview of The Nectar of Instruction	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
024	Text 1 part 1: Combating the urges of speech, mind and anger	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
025	Text 1 part 2: Combating the urges of tongue, belly and genitals	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
026	Text 2 part 1: Avoiding atyahara and prayasa	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
027	Text 2 part 2: Avoiding prajalpa and niyamagraha	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
028	Text 2 part 3: Avoiding jana-sanga and laulya	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
029	Text 3 part 1: Cultivating enthusiasm and determination on the path of bhakti	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
030	Text 3 part 2: Cultivating patience and following the regulative principles	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
031	Text 3 part 3: Giving up bad association and following in the right footsteps	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
032	Text 4 part 1: How giving and receiving gifts and prasad nourishes our bhakti	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
033	Text 4 part 2: Having heart-to-heart discussions with devotees	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
034	Text 5 part 1: Associating properly with the three levels of devotees	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
035	Text 5 part 2: Associating carefully with advanced devotees	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
036	Text 6: Avoid seeing devotees with material vision	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
037	Text 7: Practice devotional service not for its taste but for its healing potency	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
038	Text 8: How Prabhupada through ISKCON has implemented Rupa Goswami's Upadesha-sara	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
039	Text 9: Understanding the reality and the glory of the spiritual world with its transcendental hierarchy	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
040	Text 10: The exalted love of Radharani	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
041	Text 11: How love reigns supreme in Goloka Vrindavana	Video	Vedabase	Q & A

3. Bhagavad Gita – Chapters 01 to 06 (BG1)

Video	Topics
042	Bhagavad Gita – Introduction	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
043	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01 Verse 01 to 07: Kurukshetra’s pious setting and Sanjaya’s mystical vision	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
044	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01 Text 08 to 14: Karna – Absent yet present on the battlefield	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
045	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01 Text 15 to 25: Bhima’s herculean appetite and strength	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
046	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01 Text 26 to 36: Arjuna’s first three reasons for not fighting – compassion, enjoyment and sinful reaction	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
047	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01 Text 37 to 46: How destruction of dynasty leads to all-round devastation	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
048	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 01 to 05: The spiritual meaning of arya and its current negative connotations	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
049	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 06 to 12: Verbalization without internalization	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
050	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 13 to 17: How the soul is indestructible Part 1	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
051	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 18 to 21: How the Gita’s understanding of the soul and reincarnation is superior to that given in other religions?	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
052	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 22 to 28: Clarifying the characteristics of the soul 2	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
053	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 29 to 37: How Krishna counters Arjuna’s no enjoyment	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
054	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 38 to 46: Contrasting karma yoga with karma kanda	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
055	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 47 to 53: Two definitions of yoga and its general understanding	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
056	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 54 to 59: Seek the happiness that is beyond pleasure and pain	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
057	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 60 to 63: Control, Concentration, Conquest Three stages in self-majesty	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
058	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 63 to 70: Rising from material enjoyment to spiritual fulfillment	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
059	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 71 To Chapter 03 Text 03: Understanding Prabhupada’s strategy in presenting the Gita	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
060	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03 Text 03 to 09: Three reasons why karma yoga is preferable to jnana yoga	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
061	Bhagavad Gita 03 Chapter Text 10 to 13: Is the concept of demigods controlling natural phenomena like rains scientifically tenable	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
062	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03 Text 14 to 19: Yajnas differentiate humans from animals	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
063	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03 Text 21 to 26: Are all the activities of Krishna exemplary	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
064	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03 Text 27 to 32: What does the “modes are the doers” mean	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
065	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03 Text 33 to 36: Two mis quoted verse fragments from the Gita	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
066	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03 Text 37 to 40: What does the “modes are the doers” mean	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
067	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03 Text 40 to 43: Intelligence saves us from becoming willing captives of Lust	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
068	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 04 Text 01 to 06: How Krishna teaches and restores spiritual knowledge	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
069	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 04 Text 7 to 10: What does understanding Krishan tattvatah mean	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
070	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 04 Text 11 to 13: How Krishna reciprocates with different people	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
071	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 04 Text 14 to 23: How the karma of a karma yogi doesnt cause bondag	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
072	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 04 Text 24 to 33: The universal principle and purpose underlying various yajnas	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
073	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 04 Text 34 to 38: How to receive and relish spiritual knowledge	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
074	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 04 Text 38 to 42: Categorize spiritual knowledge to develop faith and learn to suspend doubts	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
075	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 05 Text 01 to 07: Unity of purposes underlies the diversity of processes	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
076	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 05 Text 08 to 14: Understanding how the three doers interact	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
077	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 05 Text 15 to 18: The four inner faculties that we need to on invest in Krishna to become illumined by Knowledge	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
078	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 05 Text 19 to 24: Become a seasoned fighter in the war against temptations	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
079	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 05 Text 25 to 29: Fill the mind with the positive to rid it of the negative	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
080	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 06 Text 01 to 08: Sannyasa and yoga both require freedom from material desires which in turn requires a controlled mind	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
081	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 06 Text 08 to 14: Applying yoga principles in the path of Bhakti	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
082	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 06 Text 14 to 18: Understanding 5 aspects of yama and niyama and 5 stages in mind control	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
083	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 06 Text 18 to 23: Samadhi as understood in ashtanga yoga and in bhakti-yoga	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
084	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 06 Text 24 to 32: The yogi sees the all pervasive and the personal Absolute Truth as one	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
085	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 06 Text 33 to 36: The mind’s four deadly characteristics	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
086	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 06 Text 37 to 45: How the deviated yogi eventually attains perfection	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
087	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 06 Text 46 to Chapter 07 Text 01: Attachment to Krishna is the ultimate perfection of yoga	Video	Vedabase	Q & A

4. Bhagavad Gita – Chapters 07 to 12 (BG2)

Video	Topics
088	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 07 Text 02 to 07: How Krishna is the source of everything	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
089	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 07 Text 08 to 12: How Krishna pervades everything as its essence	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
090	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 07 Text 13 to 18: Why we need to surrender to Krishna and those who do and do not surrender	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
091	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 07 Text 19 to 24: Those who surrender to Krishnetara – devatas and brahman	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
092	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 07 Text 25 to 30: Why we can’t understand Krishna’s position – and how we can understand	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
093	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 08 Text 01 to 07: How destruction of dynasty leads to all-round devastation	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
094	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 08 Text 08 to 13: Remembrance of Krishna is essential for attaining perfection through the path of yoga	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
095	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 08 Text 14 to 22: Contemplating on the temporariness of material nature gives us the impetus for fixing the mind on Krishna	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
096	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 08 Text 23 to 28: Differnt kinds of maps for looking at reality serve different purposes – focus on the devotional map	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
097	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 09 Text 01 to 02: Realization comes when we use our anumana to harmonize our pratyaksha with shabda	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
098	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 09 Text 03 to 10: Krishna dispassionately and inconceivably oversees the substenance creation and destruction of the material world	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
099	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 09 Text 11 to 14: Mayavadis and pure devotees are situated at opposite ends on the spectrum of the understanding Krishna	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
100	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 09 Text 15 to 21: How universal form worship and demigod worship are also Krishna worshipi	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
101	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 09 Text 22 to 28: Devotional serivce not karma kanda	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
102	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 09 Text 29 to 31: Five glories of devotional service	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
103	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 09 Text 31 to 34: How the Gita builds up towards a personal devotion	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
104	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Text 01 to 07: The two effects of knowing Krishna’s greatness	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
105	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Text 08 to 11: The Chatur shloki establishes Krishna’s supreme position and his supremely merciful intervention	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
106	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Text 12 to 18: How Krishna’s glories are endlessly relishable	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
107	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Text 19 to 26: Let the one among the many point us to the one above the many	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
108	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Text 27 to 37: All opulences come from Krishna but all opulences don’t take us to Krishna	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
109	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Text 38 to Chapter 11 Text 04: Relate with the universal principle of Krishna’s	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
110	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Text 05 to 17: We have no frame of reference for understanding how astonishing the Universal Form is	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
111	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Text 17 to 31: The awesome fearsome features of the Universal Form	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
112	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Text 32 to 35: How the devotee is always successful by the Lord’s grace	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
113	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Text 36 to 50: The Universal Form is glorious but the two-handed form is all the more glorious	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
114	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Text 51 to 55: Krishna’s two-handed form is the highest of all forms	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
115	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 Text 01 to 09: How bhakti is preferable to worship of avyakta, be it Brahman or atma	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
116	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 Text 10 to 12: How our acharyas demystify one of the Gita’s most confusing verses	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
117	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 Text 13 to 20: Cultivating the qualities that endear us to Krishna	Video	Vedabase	Q & A

5. Bhagavad Gita – Chapters 13 to 18 (BG3)

Video	Topics
118	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 Text 01 to 03: Understanding the concept of kshetra from multiple perspectives	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
119	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 Text 04 to 12: The components of kshetra and jnana	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
120	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 Text 12 to 19: The inconceivability of the jneya – how it is avijneya	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
121	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 Text 20 to 26: How the purusha gets caught in prakrti and how he can get out	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
122	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 Text 27 to 35: How the jnana chakshu helps us to see and attain brahman	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
123	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14 Text 01 to 07: How the modes bind the soul to matter	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
124	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14 Text 08 to 13: How the modes compete and how we can choose	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
125	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14 Text 14 to 18: The modes and reincarnation – progressive and regressive trajectories	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
126	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14 Text 19 to 27: Transcending the modes – the inner characteristics, outer behavior	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
127	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 Text 01 to 06: Understanding the metaphor of the upside-down tree	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
128	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 Text 07 to 10: Krishna dispassionately and inconceivably oversees the substenance creation and destruction of the material world	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
129	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 Text 11 to 14: Jnana-chakshu to appreciate Krishna’s benevolence at the material level (Part 01)	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
130	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 Text 15 to 20: How the tri-shloki Gita establishes Krishna as the Purushottama	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
131	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Text 01 to 06: The godly qualities that lead to liberation	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
132	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Text 07 to 10: The errors and disasters of demoniac modern times	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
133	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Text 11 to 17: The demoniac’s ruinous obsession with lust and greed	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
134	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Text 18 to 24: Krishna provides scripture to protect us from demoniac passions	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
135	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Text 01 to 04: Bhuta-upasana and Panchopasana	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
136	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Text 05 to 13: See beyond externals to understand how the modes affect even religious-seeming activities	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
137	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Text 14 to 22: Austerity and charity in the three modes	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
138	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Text 23 to 28: Raising of faith from non-scriptural to scriptural to transcendental	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
139	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 01 to 09: Frustration is not the qualification for renunciation	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
140	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 10 to 21: Analysis of action as per sankhya	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
141	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 22 to 28: Action and doer in the three modes	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
142	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 29 to 35: Intelligence and determination in the three modes	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
143	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 36 to 42: Happiness in the three modes	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
144	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 43 to 48: How varnashrama paves the way to transcendence	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
145	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 49 to 57: Rising from karma yoga through jnana yoga to bhakti yoga	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
146	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 58 to 61: How our svabhava controls us	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
147	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 62 to 66: How the Gita’s conclusive message is a call to love	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
148	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 66 to 71: Krishna’s eagerness to share his confidential message	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
149	Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 72 to 78: Gita removes illusion and restores determination	Video	Vedabase	Q & A

6. Nectar of Devotion (NOD)

Video	Topics
150	Nectar of Devotion Preface and Introduction: Bhakti Rasa and Uttama Bhakti	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
151	Nectar of Devotion Introduction & Chapter 01: Uttama Bhakti and Kleshaghni	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
152	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 01: Remaining five characteristics of devotional service	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
153	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 02 & 03: Sadhana Bhakti & Adhikara	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
154	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 04 & 05: Bhakti surpasses liberation & is independent of everything material	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
155	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 06 & 07: The Items of Bhakti Explained	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
156	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 08 & 09: Offenses & Deity Worship	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
157	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 10 & 11: Hearing, remembering and other items of bhakti	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
158	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 12 & 13: Five potent forms of devotional service	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
159	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 14 & 15: From Vaidhi Bhakti to Raganuga Bhakti	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
160	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 16: Raganuga Bhakti	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
161	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 17 & 18: Bhava Bhakti	Video	Vedabase	Q & A
162	Nectar of Devotion Chapter 19: Prema Bhakti	Video	Vedabase	Q & A