What is SIKSHA PROGRAM?
The Siksha(Bhakti Steps) is a system for encouraging devotees by recognizing their chanting and spiritual standards. It is a way to help devotees consolidate and increase their spiritual practices. Also offers a system to identify those who are serious about advancing in Krishna consciousness. It is supported by an ISKCON GBC resolution since 1997.
Benefits
- Recognition – Congregational members feel accepted as practicing devotees and feel that they are making progress. They feel appreciated for their devotional efforts. This inspires them to advance more and more.
- Gradual Progress – The Bhakti-steps Program offers congregational devotees a step-by-step approach to sadhana–bhakti. It is rather discouraging—and it is philosophically incorrect—to make people feel that, one can only advance in Krsna consciousness if he strictly follows the four regulative principles and chants sixteen rounds. Most people cannot immediately aim at following all the standards required for initiation. It is easier to fix the mind on the next target (from one to four rounds, from four to eight, from being vegetarian to eating only prasada, and so on).
- Not Based on Financial Contributions – Sometimes people feel appreciated by the temple only when they give money. Those who cannot give financial contributions sometimes feel neglected. The Bhakti-steps Program is not linked with donations and it is open to everyone, independently of monetary conditions.
- Prevents Defections – Srila Prabhupada established high standards for initiation in the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. Organizations and individuals outside ISKCON often take advantage of ISKCON’s congregation by offering lower-commitment initiations. These cheap initiations allure many members of our congregation away from ISKCON. Through the Bhakti-steps Program the congregation develops a strong feeling of belonging to Srila Prabhupada’s movement. Their affiliation with ISKCON is reaffirmed by their acceptance of ISKCON’s Bhakti-steps Program.
ISKCON Law Book Chapter 15.2.1 Guidelines:
- ISKCON Leaders and GBC Members (with the exception of ISKCON initiating spiritual masters who cannot perform this ceremony except when it is for an approved guru-asraya (sheltered) or approved aspirant disciple) shall, within their area of authority, be permitted to publicly bestow acceptance and recognition to members of its congregation for devotional achievements and progress in devotional service.
- Local temples and congregational preaching units should implement programs for aiding the congregational members to enhance their standing, and for training them to qualify for the higher levels. This should include following a recommended study course for the different levels (Adult Education and Congregational Preaching Monitors shall recommend.)
- Standard certificates shall be issued worldwide. (The proforma certificates shall be created and circulated by the Corresponding Secretary in consultation with the Congregational Preaching Monitor.)
- The recognition shall be granted in any of the following categories (giving these is optional, as also the bestowal ceremony according to local time, place and circumstance)