Vaishnava Sadachara: Spiritual etiquette

This course is an introduction to spiritual etiquette based on Sri Caitanya Caritamrita and Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa scriptures, lectures of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and seminars of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami.

The aim of this course is to introduce us to the study of interactions in the sastra and their significance in shaping our person. Most importantly, to understand how the way we act or can act creates an impression in our mind and heart - akin to samskaras.

The Dharmashastra, Sanskrit texts on law and conduct, in their description of good behaviour state how it is both established and followed by the brahmana or an adherent of the Vedic injunctions. Although followers of Sanatana Dharma strive to practice on a platform of unconditional devotional service, the nitty-gritty of behaviours, or more precisely, Vaishnava behaviour still remains a matter central to everyday life. Spiritual etiquette puts spiritual seekers on a common platform showing a pathway to harmonious relationships.

An individual makes the society and our individual impressions create our broader surrounding. On the whole through Vaishnava Sadachara we can learn how to soften our hearts to allow the abode of love for God beautifully thrive therein.

You will learn:

• Etymology of sadācāra
• What does Vaiṣṇava etiquette/behaviour mean?
• Literature on Vaiṣṇava Sadācāra
• Relevance in daily life

Free entry

About facilitator

Devasri Radhika Devi Dasi was born in Calcutta in 1992 and was introduced to Krishna-consciousness in her childhood. She met her spiritual   master, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, in the year 2003. In 2008, at the   age of 16, she completed Bhakti Sastri and from a very young age has been   actively learning from and serving different ISKCON projects. In 2015, she received Harinama initiation from HH BCS and served as his secretary from 2015-2017. In 2022, she received brahmin initiation from her second spiritual master His Holiness Krishna Kshetra Swami. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Legal Anthropology at Universität Bern after having completed her M.A. in South Asian Studies at Universität Heidelberg, Germany - wherein she was also elected as President (Fachrat) of the student body. She was also associated with the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and Rule of Law as a research assistant. Prior to this, in 2015, she graduated from NUJS - a premier law school in India and successfully cleared the All-India Bar Examination (AIBE) in 2017 to become a registered member with the Bar Council of India.

In 2019, she briefly also served as secretary to the GBC Sastric   Advisory Council. In 2021, she joined the editorial team for Spiritual Connections – a magazine started by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, inspiring its revival and has been serving as secretary to Srila Bhakti Charu Swami Samadhi Committee. From September, 2020 – October, 2022, she also undertook the learning and experience of living in an ashram at ISKCON Zürich and served as the Temple Commander. She is currently involved in overseeing and improving Tulasi Care at the temple, although now serving as a congregation devotee. Since 2021, she is also an integral part of the ISKCON Constitution Committee.