Each student approaches a topic in different ways. In our course selection, we offer two stages of approach, depending on where you may be situated in your study of Jaiva Dharma.
The Overview Course
If you have not yet delved into this amazing book, and might feel somewhat intimidated by it, the Overview Course, although brief in size, is a good place to start. You’ll get a good idea of the main topics and how they fit together. You'll also gain appreciation for the unprecedented genius with which Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura presented Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Gaudiya Vaisnava Siddhanta.
The Overview Course covers the following:
- The Meaning of the Title
- Analysis of the Table of Contents
- The Divisions, and the Main Teachings Within them
- Chapter Flow
- Glossaries of the GVP 5th Edition
- Structure Quiz
The Full Course
The Full Course is for those who have already journeyed into Jaiva Dharma, either fully or part way, including those who’ve already gone through the “Overview Course.” If this is you, then you already know that Jaiva Dharma is not a "one-time-read through" kind of book. It is rather, an ever-revealing handbook and dear companion for the bhakti sadhaka, on his or her sacred journey to Goloka Dhama. The study of this text is itself sadhana, and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is ever gracious in assisting the sincere student to advance in devotion to Krishna by revealing its purports to us in a manner similar to the playing of a beautiful symphony.
The Full Course has within it various self-paced study tasks to help you absorb the teachings in sequence. Each step leads to the next, chapter by chapter, until the end of each division. Jaiva Dharma has 3 divisions. After completing the chapter study series of each division, you'll be required to write a brief summary of that division before moving on to the next.
The course structure unfolds like this:
- Division 1: The Fundamentals of Nitya and Naimittika Dharma
- Introduction Video and Mangalacarana
- Chapters 1-12 (studied individually and in succession)
- Chapter Introduction
- Chapter Study from the Jaiva Dharma text
- "True or False" questions
- "Multiple Choice" questions
- The "Learning Resources" block contains articles, essays and copies of the Jaiva Dharma Glossaries (Terms, Personalities and Places), all in pdf format for quick viewing. Where appropriate, charts and diagrams are found in this block as well.
- Comprehensive Chapter Quizzes (self-assessed)
- Division Summary
- Division 2: The Fundamentals of Sambandha. Abhideya and Prayojana
- Chapters 13-25 (studied individually and in succession)
- Chapter Introduction
- Chapter Study from the Jaiva Dharma text
- "True or False" questions
- "Multiple Choice" questions
- The "Learning Resources" block contains articles, essays and copies of the Jaiva Dharma Glossaries (Terms, Personalities and Places), all in pdf format for quick viewing. Where appropriate, charts and diagrams are found in this block as well.
- Comprehensive Chapter Quizzes (self-assessed)
- Division Summary
- Chapters 13-25 (studied individually and in succession)
- Division 3: Rasa-tattva
- Chapters 26-40 (TBA)
- Certificate of Completion
We remain humbly aware that the best teaching techniques, tools and tricks won't in themselves bring about the internal awakening required to realize transcendental reality. Nevertheless, in the form of this website, we are offering our menial service to Hari, Guru, and to those Vaisnavas who share a common affinity for the brilliant lotus feet of Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode. His teachings come down to us through his divine lineage of masters, the Rupanuga-Bhaktivinoda-dhara.