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Mayapur Institute of Higher Education (MIHE)

 

http://www.mayapur.org/mihe

 

When I joined the movement in 1977, "Chant, dance and be happy" was the

motto on all the devotees' lips. It was like the implicit contract we signed

when we joined: if we chanted and danced, we would be happy. As the years

rolled by I found out about the fine print in the contract: to "chant, dance

and be happy" we had to go through a lot of hardships. So it wasn't always

easy to remain enthusiastic and determined in my service. The upheavals and

changes in our movement sometimes bewildered me, but in 1989 I discovered

something that makes chanting, dancing, and being happy a lot easier. I

discovered the Vrindavana Institute of Higher Education (VIHE).

 

After that, I'd work hard at my service all year and then go to Vrndavana to

take the VIHE courses on Srila Prabhupada's books, offered by senior

Vaisnavas. Taking these seminars gave me such deep realizations and

inspirations that I would return to my service of preaching and book

distribution with greatly renewed enthusiasm and determination. After

relishing the nectar in Srila Prabhupada's books, I had no choice but to

distribute it. I attended VIHE seminars seven times, and they really helped

me keep going in my service year after year.

 

Now we have developed the Mayapur Institute of Higher Education in

cooperation with the VIHE, under the direction of the Ministry of

Educational Development. We hope the MIHE addresses current needs, similar

to those I experienced in the 1980s, and fulfills a desire Srila Prabhupada

expressed in a 1971 letter:

 

"...throughout the whole world there is no institution to

impart education in the matter of spiritual understanding.

So we are going to open a big center in Mayapur where this

education will be internationally imparted. Students from

all parts of the world will go there to take education in

this important subject."

 

I have listed below the schedule, the statement of purpose, the courses, the

fees, and information how to contact MIHE.

 

Please take special note of the VTE (Vaisnava Training and Education)

Bhakti-sastri courses. This year VTE is offering courses on The Nectar of

Devotion, The Nectar of Instruction, and the Isopanisad, which make up the

first trimester of the VTE Bhakti-sastri program. This means you could

complete the first trimester of the VTE Bhakti-sastri program during the

MIHE 2000 semester, take the second trimester during the MIHE 2001 semester,

and take the third trimester during the MIHE 2002 semester and then get your

Bhakti-sastri degree after passing the appropriate exams. (Please check the

MIHE Website for more information about the VTE Bhakti-sastri program and

the standards of assessment.) The MIHE is making the Bhakti-sastri degree

easily accessible to the ISKCON world.

 

I urge you to log on to the MIHE Website and read more about the course

offerings. There you can fill out an online application form. The next step

is to come to Mayapur for the courses.

 

We are looking forward to churning the nectar in your association in Sri

Mayapur Dhama at the inaugural semester of the Mayapur Institute of Higher

Education. Come to Mayapur and "Chant, dance, and be happy."

 

Your servant,

Janmastami dasa

MIHE Administation

 

 

MIHE Schedule

 

Feb. 4th MIHE starts its first week of classes

Feb. 11th Second week of classes

Feb. 17th Nityananda Prabhu's Appearance Anniversary

Feb. 18th Third week of classes

Feb. 23rd GBC meetings begin

Feb. 24th Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's Appearance Day

Feb. 25th Fourth week of classes

Mar. 2nd GBC meetings end

Mar. 3rd Fifth week of classes & Festival seminars

Mar. 4th VTE TTC1 and Communications for Preachers Begin

Mar. 8th Gaura Mandala Parikrama Begins and Continuation of

VTE TTC1 & Communications for Preachers

Mar. 13th VTE TTC2 Begins

Mar. 14th Gaura Mandala Parikrama Ends

Mar. 15th Various Festival programs

Mar. 20th Gaura Purnima

 

Each week of classes lasts five days, followed by a two-day break.

 

 

 

MIHE Mission Statement

 

Provide an ideal facility and atmosphere in Mayapur that will help devotees:

 

1) increase their abilities to associate lovingly with Vaisnavas;

2) develop a higher taste for studying Srila Prabhupada's books;

3) systematically strengthen their sadhana and sastric knowledge;

4) develop practical skills in preaching, worshiping, and living;

5) enhance their appreciation of Sri Mayapur Dhama;

6) deepen their Krsna conscious realizations; and

7) develop deeper appreciation for Srila Prabhupada's wonderful gifts.

 

 

 

MIHE Courses

 

Bhakti Caitanya Swami

Introduction to Srila Jiva Goswami's "Tattva-sandarbha" (3rd week)

 

Bhakti Caru Swami

The History of Our Vaisnava Heritage (1st and 2nd weeks)

 

Bhakti-tirtha Swami

Workshop for Strengthening Vaisnava Communities (5th week)

 

Jayapataka Swami and Kaunteya Dasa

Bhakti-vrksa Preaching Workshop (the first four weeks)

 

Jayapataka Swami

Sri Caitanya Lila (5th week)

 

Praladananda Swami

>From Sraddha to Prema (5th week)

 

Aghabhid Dasa

The Nectar of Devotion / VTE Bhakti-sastri (for men; five weeks)

 

Anantarupa Dasa

Astrology and Varnashram Dharma (3rd & 4th weeks)

 

Anuttama Dasa & Anuradha Devi Dasi

Communications for Preachers (Starts in the 5th week and continues until

March 9th).

 

Deena Bandhu Dasa

Braja Lila (3rd and 4th weeks)

 

Felio Tsacrios

Yoga for Health and Vitality in the Iyengar Tradition

(5 weeks - separate classes for men and women)

 

Gopiparandhana Dasa

Srila Sukadeva Goswami's First Instructions -

The First Chapters of the Second Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (5th week)

 

Jananivasa Dasa, Pankajanghri Dasa, and Nrsimha Kavaca Dasa

The Pancaratrika Process of Deity Worship (3rd & 4th weeks)

 

Kalakantha Dasa

Writing for "Back to Godhead" (6 hours on February 9th)

and

The Basics of ISKCON Fundraising (6 hours on February 16th)

 

Kurma Dasa

Vedic Cooking Workshops (interactive demonstrations and hands-on practice)

(the first four weeks)

and

Readings and discussion from his book "The Great Transcendental Adventure"

(the first four weeks)

 

Mahamaya-Devi Dasi

Readings and discussion from her soon-to-be-published memoir, entitled

"Srila Prabhupada is Coming!" (4th week)

 

Manjari-Devi Dasi

Navadvipa Dhama (5th week)

 

Narayani-Devi Dasi

Living the Bhagavad-gita - Chapters 7 and 8 (3rd and 4th weeks)

 

Prana Dasa

Sri Isopanisad / VTE Bhakti-sastri (for men; the first two weeks)

 

Prasanta Devi Dasi

Sri Isopanisad / VTE Bhakti-sastri (for women; the first two weeks)

 

Rasamandala Dasa

The Vaisnava Training and Education Teacher Training Course I

(March 4th-11th)

and

The Vaisnava Training and Education Teacher Training Course II

(March 13th-18th)

 

Rati-Manjari-Devi Dasi

The Nectar of Devotion / VTE Bhakti-sastri (for women; five weeks)

 

Sacidulal Dasa

The Nectar of Instruction / VTE Bhakti-sastri (the first two weeks)

 

Vidvan Gauranga Dasa

Srila Narada's Instructions to Vyasadeva on the Srimad-Bhagavatam

(3rd & 4th weeks)

 

We need you to select the courses you wish to take by submitting an online

application form by January 20th at http://www.mayapur.org/mihe

 

Please do this as soon as possible to reserve space for yourself in the

courses of your choice.

 

MIHE Fees

 

No fees are expected from present or former gurukula students and active

teachers from any ISKCON school.

 

Rs. 6500 (US $160) for a full schedule. This covers as many classes as

desired and materials, except for the VTE Teacher Training courses taught by

Rasamandala Prabhu. The fee for the Teacher Training courses is an

additional Rs. 2800 (US $65) per course.

 

Fees are lower for students who take fewer classes. Thus students may remit

fees for as many courses as they may take.* Fees are payable at

registration. Discounts may be available in special circumstances, but your

temple authority must arrange this discount in advance with the MIHE

Administration, prior to your arrival in Mayapur.

 

*Fees may be remitted on a course-by-course basis:

 

Registration fee Rs. 350

One day 6 hour seminar Rs. 350

One-week courses Rs. 450

Two-week courses Rs. 750

Three-week courses Rs. 1050

Four-week courses Rs. 1350

Five-week courses Rs. 1650

VTE Teacher Training Rs. 2800

 

 

For more information, please contact:

 

MIHE

c/o ISKCON Mayapur

P.O. Box 10443, Kalighat, Calcutta 700026 W. Bengal, INDIA

Phone: (03472) 45 423

E-mail: janmastami.sdg (AT) bbt (DOT) se

Website: http://www.mayapur.org/mihe