This course will be in two modules; Module - 1 will cover Adi Lila & Madhya Lila, Antya Lila will be discussed in Module 2. Module 1 will be starting from 01st Feb and will be till 31st March, Module 2 will be from 08th May till 02nd June 2023.

Introduction

Let us dwell and immerse ourselves in Sri Caitanya Caritamrita by reading which one is sure to attain the love for the divine couple Sri Sri Radha Krsna. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Krishna Himself, who came to deliver us by giving us Krishna bhakti, got immersed Himself in love for Krishna. In this way, the path of bhakti is so attractive for any practioner.

Cc.Adi.3.20

āpani karimu bhakta-bhāva aṅgīkāre
āpani ācari’ bhakti śikhāimu sabāre

“I shall accept the role of a devotee, and I shall teach devotional service by practicing it Myself.

Cc.Antya.15.

ei-mata mahāprabhu rātri-divase
ātma-sphūrti nāhi kṛṣṇa-bhāvāveśe

Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu forgot Himself throughout the entire day and night, being merged in an ocean of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

Course Content

Welcome to this Postgraduate Study in Spirituality.

The various religions of the world all stem from one divine source and aim to progress the practitioner to this perfect stage of pure love of Godhead. Though they vary in culture, ritual and expression, their core spiritual principles are universal. Since the same message was imparted in different historical periods, the externals were adapted while the essence was preserved. You could call it “old book in a new cover page”.

At the same time, religions are not completely identical. Each tradition emphasizes different aspects of the Absolute Truth and approaches God with varying degrees of intimacy and closeness. This is where the Vedic scriptures offer something unique. They are replete with fascinating narratives which describe the sacred intricacies of God’s existence: His personality, associates, relationships, and daily activities. The sheer volume of detailed information is unfathomable.

Within the Vedic canon, Srila Prabhupada stressed the study of three scriptures in particular:

·        Bhagavad-Gita is considered a foundational study in spiritual conclusions. It is the word of God, and firmly establishes essential philosophical truths.

·        Srimad-Bhagavatam is considered a graduate study; the narrations of God that describe the enchanting character of Krishna and His saintly devotees.

·        Sri Caitanya-Caritamrita is considered the postgraduate study in spirituality. It reveals the mind of God – the inner life of Krishna, and the appreciation and attraction He feels when He is conquered by the love of His devotees. Krishna das Kaviraj Gosvmai’s biography is indeed an anthology of pure devotion, lucidly describing the selfless disposition of great Vaishnavas.

Caitanya-Caritamrita also reveals the deep compassion and munificence of God when He appears as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In our age of spiritual apathy and material allure, His propagation of nama-sankirtan offers living entities a lifeline to experience the profound happiness that comes from a relationship with God. Studying this most accurate, authentic, and philosophical biography of Sri Caitanya will surely inspire one to take full advantage of this priceless gift.

Target Audience

·        Lord Caitanya appeared to collect all lost Souls. All fallen kali yuga jivas are eligible to study.

·        All Jivas especially those desiring to serve God, becomes his devotees, surrender to him.

Course Requirement

Eagerness to hear about Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Assessment Plan

Multiple Choice Questions for each chapter/lesson

Important Guidelines for the Students

·        Listen that pre-recorded audio before the session began so you will be fully aware

·        Prepare yourself to take full advantage night before the class

·        Try your best to be present in live session if not follow the recorded discussion

·        Do not feel discouraged to complete the course, if needed help contact the teacher ASAP

List 5 -10 key points, what will students gain from this course?

·        Devotees will relish daily the nectar of Sri Caitanya-Caritamrita and

·        They will hear the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, for by doing so one can merge in transcendental bliss and establish a personal relationship with different bhaktas and with Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya.

·        They will attain full knowledge of devotional service (Antya-Lila 5.89).

·        This small contribution does not fully describe each episode of the Caitanya-Caritamrita, since Srila Prabhupada’s translation does that perfectly. The key objectives are as follows:

o   To present an easy-to-follow overview of Shri Chaitanya’s life

o   To provide a roadmap and framework for anyone who desires to explore the Caitanya-Caritamrita in greater detail.

o   Learn how to discriminate right and wrong

o   Determination to follow right and avoid wrong

o   Minimization of sinful reaction

o   Build inner strength to face any obstacles on the path of one’s bhakti

Why should one attend this course?

·        By attending this course, all misconceptions about the Goal of Life will disappear.

·        How to do proper sadhana to achieve Krishna prema in this life, in every circumstances.

·        How to adjust and deal with Anartha obstacles in bhakti path.

·        Prevent a sadhaka from all offenses and move forward in bhakti.

What problems of the students are we solving through the course?

·        Student will learn about how to ascertain, detect, recognize that the Svayam Bhagavan Avatari is Lord Caitanya and who are the different Avatars of Bhagavan.

·        How to deal with Conflicts amongst the devotees

·        How to recognize and choose the right and avoid the wrong recipes for success

·        Students will develop a personal GPS according to Srila Rupa’s siddhānta and recognize and chalk out a strategic plan where what level of devotion they are in now where they want to reach and how to go there.

·        Students will get tips to instantly detect and make decision and move forward in bhakti

·        Student will learn how to engage, by seeing that difference of free will, between impulse and response.

·        Means to see what will bind to the material world and what will liberate

Cc.Madhya.16.201:-Phala Sruti. The fruit one will attain by studying this course.

alaukika līlā kare śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya

yei ihā śune tāṅra janma, deha dhanya
“Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes are all uncommon. Whoever listens to His activities becomes glorious, and his life becomes perfect.”