Bhakti Sastri Examination ISKCON Chowpatty

The Nectar of Instruction

Name: ___________________________

Total marks: 150 Time: 2 1/2 hours (150 minutes)

Answers to Section A (MCQ & fill in the blanks) should be written on the
question paper itself. Other answers should be written on blank sheets
provided.

A. Encircle the right answer or fill in the blank wherever

applicable.
Total marks 15.

1. A follower of the KC movement should become a perfect………..

a. Devotee
c. Gosvämé

b. Servant
d. Yogé

2. The Kåñëa consciousness movement is conducted under the supervision of:

a) Lord Brahma c) Çréla Prabhupäda
b) Rupa Gosvämé d) Lord Shiva

3. In all spiritual affairs what is one’s first duty?

a) Take initiation c)
Memorize Sanskrit verses

b) Chant mantras d) Control

one’s mind and senses

4. The preacher of kåñëa-kathä is always beyond the clutches of……...

a) Mäyä c)
Illusion
b) Death d)
Three modes
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Bhakti Sastri Examination ISKCON Chowpatty

5. The Prasäda prayers (çaréra avidyä-jäl, jaòendriya tähe käl) were

composed by:
a) Çréla Baladeva Vidyäbhuçana c) Çréla Bhaktivinoda
Öhäkura
b) Çréla Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé d) Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé

6. Lord Caitanya describes vaiñëava-aparädha as ________________________.

7. This world of mäyä is called duräçraya, which means
_____________________.
8. A sinful activity can be counteracted by a pious activity. True or
false? ____________

9. The Caitanya-caritämåta compares Kåñëa and Mäyä to:

a) Sun and Darkness c) Knowledge and
Ignorance
b)Good and Evil d) Piety and Sin

10. ____________ is the first step in acquiring transcendental knowledge.

a) Logical thinking c) Praying

b) Hearing d) Observation

11. One should know for certain that without ____________ ,one cannot be
a proper candidate for advancement in Krishna Consciousness

a) Taking Initiation c) Getting

bhakti Sastri degree

b) Chanting Hare Krishna offenselessly d) Going to Dham yatras

12.. Çuddha-bhakti, the activity of the soul proper—in other words,

engagement in the transcendental loving service of the Lord—is
performed in………...
a. liberated condition c. ISKCON
b. spiritual world d.
vrindavan

13. The gosvämé title is actually the monopoly of ………….

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Bhakti Sastri Examination ISKCON Chowpatty
a) sannyasis
c) pure devotees

b) goswami families d)
brahmanas

14. What is the foundation for Ahankära, false ego within the heart
a) Päpa
c) Tamo Guna

b) Karma
d) Avidyä

15. An example of a devotee in däsya-rasa is:

a) Raktaka
c) Çrédämä
b) Madhumaìgala d)
None of these

B. Short-answer questions: Answer each question in 4-5

sentences. Total marks 100.

1. Give a thematic overview of the Nectar of Instruction (What does

each verse talk about?).
2. Name the Six Gosvämés of Vrindavan. Why should we follow them? (
Preface)
3. What are the six urges that we need to control to become a Gosvämé?
(Text 1)
4. Explain the 3 levels of intelligence giving example. (Text 1)
5. Briefly explain the urges of the mind according to Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkur?(Text1)
6. Give three examples of the urges of anger being rightly applied
(Text 1)
7. Explain how both the capitalists and communists are indulging in
atyähära. ( Text 2)
8. Explain the two types of niyamägraha. ( Text 2)

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Bhakti Sastri Examination ISKCON Chowpatty
9. What are the three common types of laulyam, or greed? ( Text 2)
10. What does Çréla Prabhupäda try to explain by giving the example
of a dictaphone? (Text 3)
11. What examples are given by Çréla Prabhupäda while explaining the
necessity for patience and confidence in order to successfully
execute devotional service? ( Text 3)
12. What are the six kinds of loving exchanges? Quote the
appropriate verse. (Text 4)
13. What are the various effects of chanting of the holy names as
explained in Çikñäñtaka? (Text 4)
14. Why should we strictly avoid Mayävädés and atheists? (Text 4)
15. Who is a kaniñöha-adhikäré, or a devotee on the lowest platform?
( Text 5)
16. Explain the concept of Dékñä/spiritual initiation. (Text 5)
17. What are the qualifications for being fit for the process of
initiation? ( Text 5)
18. Define çraddhä, or faith, based on Caitanya-caritämåta. (Text 5)
19. List the seven possible offenses one must avoid committing
against devotees. ( Text 6)
20. Explain the translation to text 7 in your own words.
21. What are the various individual and the collective causes of
our disease (of having no taste in the holy name, etc.)? (Text 7)
22. What are the symptoms of a person situated on the bhäva
platform? ( Text 7)
23. What is the essence of all advice? (Text 8)
24. As per text 8 purport, why is it necessary to train one’s mind?
25. Explain Rüpa Gosvämé’s advice tiñöhan vraje in NOI 8.

C. Verse and Translation. Total marks 15.

a. Text 1: vaco vegam…
b. Text 2: atyaharah….
c. Text 3: utsaha…

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Bhakti Sastri Examination ISKCON Chowpatty
D. Case-study Questions: Answer in about 100 words (any 2)
.Total Marks 20

1. True to his name, Mr. Prasad loves Krishna Prasad but wonders why
his health is getting affected negatively despite eating only
prasadam five times a day and that too cooked in pure ghee and at
different rich people’s houses where he goes for late night
preaching programs. His sugar has shot up and his cholesterol
levels are at an abnormal high. Also he has difficulty staying
awake during morning Japa and finds himself agitated by lusty
desires. He is wondering if Krishna consciousness process is wrong
because Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself recommended and ate
prasadam and served devotees lot of Prasad in His pastimes. Can
you educate Mr. Prasad?

2. Recently the government has appointed a committee to consider

whether to confer the title of ‘Mahatma’ to Shri Rahul Singh and
declare a national holiday on his birthday. Mr. Singh was a well-
known political leader who recently died of AIDS while on vacation
with friends in Mauritius. Decades ago, as a leader of opposition,
he had vigorously pushed the Government to import contraception &
abortion procedure technology into India. He claimed that this
would empower the women and check the population explosion. This
and many other popular measures had eventually allowed to him to
enjoy 3 terms as the Cabinet Health Minister. Now you are part of
the selection committee. What would be your views?

3. Your friend Mrs. Sharmila Thadani runs a successful boutique in

south Mumbai and is well travelled. She is attracted to Krishna
from childhood. Her idea of spirituality is to simply visit any
traditional Krishna temple and gaze at the Deity for hours and
soak in the peace and tranquility of the temple atmosphere. During
her travels abroad she frequently comes across ISKCON devotees
enthusiastically distributing the Bhagavad Gita. She strongly
dislikes this as she believes the Gita is a book meant only for
Hindus. Nor does she understand why the ISKCON devotes hold public
lectures and kirtan programs and canvass people to become life
members. Based on your study of NOI what would you advice her?