Book Reading Club: Assessment 1
Based on the book: The Nectar of Instruction (NOI)
It was a wonderful experience being associated with a global book reading club over skype with like-minded people from Singapore, London, India since September 2019. As a first book reading activity, we completed “The Nectar of Instruction”
Multiple choice questions: (1 Mark each)
- What is the main problem faced by a conditioned soul?
a. Birth b. Food grain c. Shelter d. Death
e. Clothing f. Old Age g. Disease h. Companionship
Ans : a,d,f,g
2. Scriptures given by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.
a. Śikṣāṣṭaka b. Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu c. Bhagavad Gita
d. Upadeśāmṛta e. Vidagdha-mādhava f. All of the above
Ans :b, d, e
3. How should one reside at Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa
a. following the principles laid down by the Acharya
b. one should bathe there regularly
c. give up all material conceptions
d. under the direction and protection of an expert devotee
e. practice bhakti as per our own likes and dislikes
Ans : b,c
4. We are what we eat. As suggested in NOI with regards to food one should
a. eat at scheduled times b. not eat in restaurants or sweetmeat shops
c. eat/honor only Prasādam d. cook and offer for satisfying the tongue
e. can eat any food which is without non-veg, onion and garlic
Ans : a,b,c
5. For advancement of spiritual life, the qualification to get initiated (dīkṣā)
a. one must be serious about accepting dīkṣā
b. he must be prepared to practice austerity, celibacy and control of the mind and body
c. must engage in material enjoyment
d. should approach a spiritual master
e. inquiries one makes should strictly pertain to transcendental science
f. very much inquisitive to learn from the bona fide spiritual
g. one must play cards, fish, watch television, read heaps of newspapers, magazines and novels, solve crossword puzzles and debate about useless socio-political schemes.
Ans : a,b,d,e,f
Short and Descriptive questions:
6. Under whose supervision is the Krsna consciousness movement conducted? (1 Mark)
Ans : The Krsna consciousness movement is conducted under the supervision of Srila Rupa Gosvami.
7. What is the purpose of reading Upadeśāmṛta (Nectar of Instruction)? (2 Mark)
Ans:
“The Nectar of Instruction” is the key to enlightenment for all seekers on the path of spiritual perfection.
To guide our activities and to help us become pure Vaiñëavas
Above purpose is fulfilled by the book in the below-mentioned two ways –
• By teaching one to stop serving mind and senses and become a gosvämé
o First duty of all spiritualists
o Without this — No spiritual advancement possible
o This book helps one to promote oneself to sattva-guna — This makes the path very clear
• By teaching one how to start serving Krsna and become a pure devotee — the highest success
8. Who is the topmost devotee of Kṛṣṇa and which is the topmost holy place? (2 Mark)
Ans :
Srimati Radharani is the topmost devotee of Krsna
Radha Kunda is the topmost holy place,
9. What does Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura instruct in order to understand the transcendental loving affairs of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. (5 Marks)
Ans:
Srila Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has advised us to live only in the association of Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees (bhakta-sane vāsa). One should always engage in the service of the Lord in the association of the Lord’s devotees. Association with those engaged in a similar line of business is very conducive to advancement in that business. Consequently, materialistic persons form various associations and clubs to enhance their endeavors. One has to live in the company of pure devotees and execute the regulative principles laid down by the previous ācāryas. If one lives in the association of devotees, there is little chance of associating with non-devotees.
10. List the threefold miseries in Sanskrit and English. Give examples (5 Marks)
Ans: There are threefold miseries as below:
- Adhidaivika-kleśa :
Miseries arising from natural catastrophes over which one has no control
Ex: sufferings caused by the demigods, such as droughts, earthquakes and storms
2. Adhibhautika-kleśa :
Miseries inflicted by other living beings
Ex: sufferings caused by other living entities like insects or enemies
3. Adhyātmika-kleśa :
Miseries which arise from the mind and body
Ex: sufferings caused by one’s own body and mind, such as mental and physical infirmities
11. What is the purpose of human life and how can we achieve it? (5 Marks)
Ans:
The purpose of human life is to get out of the threefold miserable conditions, which are concomitant with material existence and inquire about the Absolute Truth.
One should, therefore, be eager to understand the science of the soul (ātma-tattva). Unless one comes to the platform of ātma-tattva, by which one understands that the soul and not the body is oneself, one remains on the platform of ignorance.
12. Define go-däsa and gosvämi. (5 Marks)
Go-dasa :
One whose senses are not controlled is to be called as Go-dasa
Go-> senses
Dasa -> Servant
Go-dasa -> Servant of the senses.
Go-dāsas engage in the service of the senses or in the service of the material world. They have no other engagement.
Also known as Adanta-go
An adānta-go/Go-dasa cannot become a servant of Kṛṣṇa.
Gosvami :
One who can control these six items — speech, mind, anger, tongue, belly and genitals — is to be called gosvāmī.
Go-> senses
Svāmī -> master
Gosvāmī -> Master of the senses.
13. Name the Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana and who is their spiritual master? (2 Marks)
Ans:
Six Gosvamis of Vrndavana :
(1)Rupa Goswami
(2)Sanatana Goswami
(3)Jiva Goswami
(4)Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami
(5)Gopala Bhatta Goswami
(6)Raghunatha dasa Goswami
Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was their spiritual master
14. Explain the nine processes of devotional service in Sanskrit / English. (5 Marks)
Ans:
The nine processes of devotional service are as follows:
1. hearing the name and glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
2. chanting His glories
3. remembering the Lord
4. serving the Lord’s feet
5. worshiping the Deity
6. offering obeisances unto the Lord
7. acting as the Lord’s servant
8. making friends with the Lord
9. surrendering oneself fully to the Lord
15. List the symptoms of an uttama-adhikäré. (5 Marks)
The uttama-adhikārī, or highest devotee, is one who is very advanced in devotional service.
An uttama-adhikārī is -
1.Self realized
2.Strict in following 4 regulative principles
3.Not interested in blaspheming others,
4.Heart is completely clean,
5.Seriously engaged in devotional service
6.offenceless
7.Attained the realized state of unalloyed Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
8.Expands Krsna Consciousness
16. Explain the different stages of perfection of life. (5 Marks)
Ans:
- Sräddha — Little faith
• Sädhu-saìga — Association of pure devotees
• Bhajana-kriyä — Practices of hearing and chanting and various devotional activities
• Anartha-nivratti— Cleansing of the heart
• Niñöhä — Firm faith and steadiness
• Ruci — Taste and attraction
• Äsakti — Attachment
• Bhäva — Preliminary stage of transcendental love
• Premä — Fully developed love of Godhead
17. List the 6 things that increase our devotional service. (5 Marks)
Ans: Six things that increase our devotional services are as below:
(1) Being enthusiastic,
(2) Endeavoring with confidence,
(3) Being patient,
(4) Acting according to regulative principles [such as śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇam — hearing, chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa],
(5) Abandoning the association of non-devotees, and
(6) Following in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.
18. List the 6 things that spoil our devotional service. (5 Marks)
Ans: Six things that can spoil our devotional services are as below :
(1) Eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required;
(2) Over-endeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain;
(3) Talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters;
(4) Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically;
(5) Associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness; and
(6) Being greedy for mundane achievements.
19. Explain in detail how to treat various devotees. (5 Marks)
Ans :
The prākṛta-sahajiyās generally chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, yet they are attached to women, money and intoxication. Although such persons may chant the holy name of the Lord, they are not yet properly purified. Such people should be respected within one’s mind, but their association should be avoided. Those who are innocent but simply carried away by bad association should be shown favor if they are eager to receive proper instructions from pure devotees, but those neophyte devotees who are actually initiated by the bona fide spiritual master and are seriously engaged in carrying out the orders of the spiritual master should be offered respectful obeisances.
Out of many such Vaiṣṇavas, one may be found to be very seriously engaged in the service of the Lord and strictly following all the regulative principles, chanting the prescribed number of rounds on Japa beads and always thinking of how to expand the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Such a Vaiṣṇava should be accepted as an uttama-adhikārī, a highly advanced devotee, and his association should always be sought.
20. How to recognize the 3 classes of devotees? (5 Marks)
Ans:
Only uttama-adhikäré can clearly recognize an uttama-adhikäré
Kanistha adhikäré cannot distinguish at all
Madhyama-adhikäré distinguishes at 4 levels
i. Lord as the object of love
ii. Devotee as the object of friendship
iii. Innocent as the object of mercy
iv. Envious as the object of avoidance
21. Explain in detail the dealings of loving exchanges between the devotees? (5 Marks)
Ans : The International Society for Krishna Consciousness has been established to facilitate below six kinds of loving exchanges between devotees:
(1) giving charity to the devotees
(2) accepting from the devotees whatever they may offer in return
(3) opening one’s mind to the devotees
(4) inquiring from them about the confidential service of the Lord
(5) honoring prasāda, or spiritual food, given by the devotees, and
(6) feeding the devotees with prasāda
22. Why should we take to chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and how can we develop taste for chanting Krishna’s name? (10 Marks)
Ans :
To cleanse the mind and heart from all misconceptions, one should take to this chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. This is both easy and beneficial. By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one is immediately freed from the blazing fire of material existence.
There are three stages in chanting the holy name of the Lord — the offensive stage, the stage of lessening offenses, and the pure stage. When a neophyte takes to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, he generally commits many offenses. There are ten basic offenses, and if the devotee avoids these, he can glimpse the next stage, which is situated between offensive chanting and pure chanting. When one attains the pure stage, he is immediately liberated. This is called bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpanam. As soon as one is liberated from the blazing fire of material existence, he can relish the taste of transcendental life.
The conclusion is that in order to get freed from the material disease, one must take to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is especially meant for creating an atmosphere in which people can take to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. One must begin with faith, and when this faith is increased by chanting, a person can become a member of the Society.
23. What will happen if one accepts a non uttama-adhikārī as a Spiritual master (3 Marks)
Ans:
If one accepts a non-uttama adhikari as a Spiritual master, he/she cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance. Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikārī as a spiritual master.
24. How can one control the six urges? (5 Marks)
- Controlling Tongue :
As for the urges of the tongue, we all experience that the tongue wants to eat palatable dishes. Generally we should not allow the tongue to eat according to its choice, but should control the tongue by supplying prasāda. The devotee’s attitude is that he will eat only when Kṛṣṇa gives him prasāda. That is the way to control the urge of the tongue.
2.Controlling Belly :
One should take prasāda at scheduled times and should not eat in restaurants or sweetmeat shops simply to satisfy the whims of the tongue or belly. If we stick to the principle of taking only prasāda, the urges of the belly and tongue can be controlled.
3. Controlling Genitals:
The urges of the genitals, the sex impulse, can be controlled when not used unnecessarily. The genitals should be used to beget a Kṛṣṇa conscious child, otherwise they should not be used. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement encourages marriage not for the satisfaction of the genitals but for the begetting of Kṛṣṇa conscious children.
4. Controlling Speech :
One must control his speaking power. Every one of us has the power of speech; as soon as we get an opportunity we begin to speak. If we do not speak about Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we speak about all sorts of nonsense. Many people are talking nonsensically and writing volumes of useless books, and all this is the result of the urge to speak. To counteract this tendency, we have to divert our talking to the subject of Kṛṣṇa
5.Controlling Mind:
The restlessness or fickleness of the mind (mano-vega) is controlled when one can fix his mind on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. if Kṛṣṇa is present in the mind, there is no possibility of the mind’s being agitated by māyā’s influence. The yogic process of negating all material thoughts will not help. To try to create a vacuum in the mind is artificial. The vacuum will not remain. However, if one always thinks of Kṛṣṇa and how to serve Kṛṣṇa best, one’s mind will naturally be controlled.
6. Controlling Anger:
Anger can be controlled. We cannot stop anger altogether, but if we simply become angry with those who blaspheme the Lord or the devotees of the Lord, we control our anger in Kṛṣṇa consciousness
25. Do you think taking shelter of a bonafide Spiritual Master is a must to learn the science of Krishna? Explain why or why not? (5 Marks)
Yes.Taking shelter of bonafide Spiritual Master is a must to learn the science of Krishna.
A person in full Krishna consciousness acts by the dictation of Krishna. In the beginning of Krishna consciousness, dictation is received through the transparent medium of the spiritual master. When one is sufficiently trained and acts in submissive faith and love for Krishna under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, the dovetailing process becomes more firm and accurate.
In all phases of life, one has to perform devotional activities under the direction of the spiritual master in order to attain perfection in bhakti-yoga. It is not that one has to confine or narrow one’s activities. Kṛṣṇa is all-pervading. Therefore nothing is independent of Kṛṣṇa, as Kṛṣṇa, Himself states in Bhagavad-gītā (9.4):
mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ
jagad avyakta-mūrtinā-
mat-sthāni Sarva-bhūtāni
na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ
“By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.” Under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, one has to make everything favorable for Kṛṣṇa’s service.
26. Explain with example the offense one should avoid to progress in spiritual life as mentioned by Parīkṣit Mahārāja (5 Marks)
Ans:
Many spiritual practitioners chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and at the same time commit many forbidden things, thinking that their chanting will counteract their offenses. Of the ten types of offenses one can commit while chanting the holy name of the Lord, this offense is called nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ, committing sinful activities on the strength of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Similarly, certain Christians go to church to confess their sins, thinking that confessing their sins before a priest and performing some penance will relieve them from the results of their weekly sins. As soon as Saturday is over and Sunday comes, they again begin their sinful activities, expecting to be forgiven the next Saturday. This kind of offense one should avoid to progress in spiritual life as mentioned by Parīkṣit Mahārāja
Example: He compared atonement to an elephant’s bathing. The elephant may take a very nice bath in the river, but as soon as it comes onto the bank, it throws dirt all over its body. What, then, is the value of its bathing?
Personal application:
- What are the lessons learnt from the teachings of NOI and how do you plan to apply it in your life?
Ans: My Key Learning from NOI :
I have learnt how to control my mind and senses, overcome the obstacles to devotional service, improve my personal qualities and habits, practice the regulative devotional principles, develop living and meaningful relationships with devotees, disidentify myself with my material body, increase my taste for chanting the Holy Names, appreciate the Lord’s glorious pastimes and activities, and understand why certain places are the holiest in the world.
Planning how to apply :
Already doing :
1.Attending weekly Bhagvad Gita classes every Saturday at IYF Gurugram Center
2.Attending weekly Temple Programs at ISKCON Gurugram on Sunday morning
3.Recently started participating in Book reading club by ISKM Skype global group
4.16 rounds of chanting and following regulative principles
5.Association of devotees
To be done regularly from now (Oct 2019) :
1.Reading/listening BG/SB lectures
2.To more sincere in sadhna (prayer timing : to be more in time )
3.To reduce high desire of achieving qualifications related to technologies that may not be relevant to my work/job
2. Did you benefit from the teachings of the Krishna Consciousness movement?
Yes . I have experienced immense benefits from Krishna Consciousness movement since I have been associated in 2011. It helped me taking tough decisions in tough times without any stress. I am able to focus and prioritize things much better .
a. If yes, do you want to help others as well benefit from this movement and how do you plan to spread Krishna Consciousness movement?
Yes. I would like to help others as well to take benefit from this movement by practicing “Art of sharing Krsna Consciousness” as below-
- Inviting people to different associations of devotees in my area(Gurugram,India)
- Inspiring them to read /listen to Prabhupada’s books/lectures, follow regulative principles
- Learning recommended scriptures, Experiencing association and serving the community to Krsna Consciousness
b. If no, why you think it is not helpful?
