Bhakti-Steps (Sadhana levels)

The Bhakti-steps Program is a system for encouraging the congregation by recognizing their chanting and their spiritual standards. It is a great way to help congregational devotees to consolidate and increase their spiritual practices. It also offers a system to identify who is serious in advancing in Krsna consciousness, an important consideration especially in forming the first Bhakti-vriskha groups.

The Bhakti-steps Program has five levels, gradually leading to initiation

The levels, in brief, are:

1. Sraddhavan—chanting at least one round of Hare Krsna maha-mantra every day and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. Click here for downloading Sraddhavan Application
2. Krsna-sevaka—chanting at least four rounds of japa, refraining from meat-eating, recognizing Lord Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and avoiding grossly immoral acts. Click here for downloading Krsna Sevaka Application
3. Krsna-sadhaka—chanting at least eight rounds and practicing sadhana-bhakti by worshiping Krsna at home and eating only prasada. Refraining from intoxication, meat-eating, gambling and extra-marital sex. Click here for downloading Krsna Sadhaka Application
4. Srila Prabhupada Asraya—chanting sixteen rounds, following the four regulative principles, consistently practicing sadhana. Click here for downloading Srila Prabhupada Asraya Application
5. Sri-Guru-Carana Asraya—practicing Srila Prabhupada Asraya standard for a minimum of six months, with additional faith in and surrender to an ISKCON initiating spiritual master.

The standards of the first two or three levels can be slightly adjusted according to the place. In Bengal, for instance, where many people find it difficult to give up fish eating, the devotees added one level, between Sraddhavan and Krsna-sevaka, for those who chant four rounds and refrain from meat-eating, but still eat fish.

Advantages of the Bhakti-steps Program

=> 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 process

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.

We have the Bhakti Steps certificates available in English, French, German, Portuguese, Polish and Spanish. Please contact us at cdm@pamho.net if you are interested in presenting them to your members.