About Seminary
About Seminary
About Seminary
About Bhaktivedānta Theological Seminary

The Bhaktivedānta Theological Seminary is one of the schools of the Bhaktivedānta Academy's Adult Education faculty. A tertiary education program, it provides philosophical training for adult nonresidential students through the traditional Vedic educational methods.

The Theological Seminary strives to educate students in all aspects of the Gaudīya Vaiṣṇava Siddhānta, so that they are able to effectively establish the supremacy of Lord Caitanya's philosophy and the teachings of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Special emphasis is given to realization through practical application of this knowledge (nidhidhyāsana). This is important so that the student can become śāstra-cakṣus, which Śrīla Prabhupāda defines as a person who acts exactly according to the tenets of scripture. Furthermore, the Seminary endeavors to assist students in developing their ability to view the śāstra as per the principles of sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana and to apply this vision in all aspects of life. The students are also introduced and familiarized with all branches of Gaudīya and Vedic knowledge studied in the Bhaktivedānta Academy.

The Seminary has offered Divinity degrees since 2010 at the Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral, and Post-Doctoral level. These degrees correspond to the Bhakti-śāstrī, Bhakti-vaibhava, Bhakti-vedānta and Bhakti-sārvabhauma courses of education that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave instructions for ISKCON to establish. In the Seminary’s educational program the Śāstra-cakṣus corresponds to Bhakti-śāstrī, Darśana-cakṣus corresponds to Bhakti-vaibhava, Vedānta-cakṣus corresponds to the Bhakti-vedānta and Prema-cakṣus corresponds to Bhakti-sārvabhauma.

While the campus is located in ISKCON Mayapur, India, long-distance education facilities are provided through Correspondence Studies program. On-campus students have the opportunity to interact in the classroom, whereas correspondence students download and listen to recordings of the same lectures.

H.H. Bhaktividyā Pūrṇa Svāmī was instrumental in developing the program and curriculum and was giving most of the lectures during the first run of the 12-year course. Those lectures are the ones that we have published here.

Recent Comments