Requirements for Second Initiation

The following are some basic guidelines for any devotee aspiring for second
initiation:

• . One should be fulfilling all the requirements of a first initiated practitioner, particularly
the chanting of 16 rounds daily, and following the four regulative principles.

 Serious candidates should have read the complete Srimad Bhagavatam, or at least
up to the 6th canto.

 One should actively assist in some preaching activity; one should not be averse to
outreach activities.

 One should perform some service for the deities through the deity department on a
regular basis (e.g. transfers, dressing up Srila Prabhupada etc)

 One should receive a copy of the 'brahmana test' (at anytime after 18 months of first
initiation) and complete it over a period of 3-6 months.

 The sadhana + qualities section of the brahmana assessment should be discussed

with one's mentor at least once a month for a period of 6 months prior to any
Scheduled initiation.

 Finally there will be an interview with the initiation committee and one's mentor
before one receives formal recommendation for Second Initiation.
 Brahmana Test
The purpose of this test is to determine if the prospective candidate for brahmana
initiation actually has a firm grasp of our philosophy. If the candidate displays a good
understanding of the philosophy. And they act in a proper brahminical manner, they
may –receive brahmana initiation.

Those qualified to take the test are as follows:

 Those who have received first initiation more than two years before
 Those who have not deviated from following the 4 regulative principles after 1st
initiation
(Exception only under extraordinary circumstances to be personally cleared by me)
 Those who are certified by their temple presidents as firmly fixed in following the
temple programs.

 Those who are fully engaged in devotional service and who are not averse to
preaching
 Those who are following the proper brahminical standards of cleanliness,
above all chanting their 16 rounds a day and following all the regulative
principles properly.
 It is all right for the candidates to have the questions for study before the test. In
fact, they should get the questions for study before the test. It is recommend that
studying the books to determine the answers to the questions will be a good means
to learn the philosophy. I would recommend that they study these questions at least
3 months before attempting to take this test.

The test should be iven in the followin fashion.

The test is done at home, use references from Srila Prabhupada's books.
(Note: one should not copy paragraphs from any books but use their own initiative)

The questions are as follows.

A) About the material Nature

A-1. Explain in a general way the three modes of material nature. Include a
specific description of the qualities found in the three different modes.

A-2. Is the living entity controlled or free, or is he a combination of both? Explain

how free will and predestination exist simultaneously in the material life
of the conditioned soul.

A-3. What is action, prohibited action, and inaction?

A-4. What are the 8 material elements

 A-5. Describe the five senses for acquiring knowledge, their objects, and the five
working senses.

A-6. What is the function of the mind, the intelligence, and the false ego?

A-7. Explain the basic structure of the universal egg in terms of its different
planetary systems and the covering layers of the universe. How is the earth
situated in this system?

A-8. Describe the different species of life. What are they and how many are there?
How does the spirit soul travel through the forms lower than the human for
second initiation.

A-9 How does the human being change his body at the time of death?
A-10. Explain Karma? How is the living being affected by the law of karma?
A-11 What are the reactions, which occur when one, performs pious and
impious activities? Give some examples of pious and impious activities
and their resultant reactions.
A-12. Explain what are demigods. What are the names and activities of at
least five of them?
A-13. What is varnasrama? What are the duties of each Varna and asrama? What
do you think is your natural position within this system and why? What is the
proper asrama for each Varna and therefore what do you think is your best
situation within the asramas?
A-14. What is kali (or kali yuga) and what are the dualities, which are affecting this
age?
A-15. Write something about the Vedic conception of time in terms of the lifetime
of Brahma. How would one calculate a day of 8rahma according to our
conception of time? Explain the yugas and their duration, as well as a
description of the spiritual processes to be performed in each one.

B) Topics on the soul and Supersoul

B-1. Write as many qualities of the soul you know. Explain how these
qualities are different from the qualities of the material body.

B-2. Explain totally the significance of the 8hagavad-Gita verse dehino'smin yatha
dehe, "as the embodied soul continually passes in this .... " Etc.
 B-3. What is the function of the super soul in reference to the verses isvara sarva
bhutanam, sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistho, and upadrastanumantas ca?
If you don't know the Sanskrit verses, write an answer anyway.

B-4. How does the Supersoul regulate the karma of all the conditioned living
entities?

B-5. What is the function of desire in spiritual life?

B-6. What is sanatana-dharama?

B-7. What is the example of the two birds in the tree, and what is its explanation?

C) Question about Krsna

C-1. Who is Krsna? Why is he described as isvara, purusa, bhagavan, adi-devam.

What other qualities of Krsna can you think of? Try and answer in the context
of the verse, aham sarvasya prabhavah.
C-2. What is the purport of the verse, ye yatha mam prapadyante, " As they
surrender unto me reward .....

C-3. What is the ultimate goal of life?

C-4. What are the qualities of the personal forms of Krsna and Vishnu?

C-5. Explain as many characteristics as possible about the ten incarnation of

Godhead.

C-6. Describe the Panca-Tattava. Who are they and who are they in Krsna-Lila?

C-7 What are the symptoms of an actual incarnation of the Lord and what are
those of a rascal claiming to be one and how would we challenge him to
show he is God?

D) About the disciplic Succession

D-1. What is the disciplic succession and why is it important? What is the name of
our sampradaya and other Vaisnava sampradaya? If you can name the main
sampradaya acharyas
D-2. Name the sampradaya acharyas in our sampradaya from Srila Jagannatha
dasa Babaji to today? If possible, list the whole succession from time of
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Also list from Krsna to Madhvacharya.
 D-3. What is the purport of the verse, tad viddhi pranipatena, just try to learn the
truth from a ...
D-4. What is a diksa guru, siksa guru, and a vartamana pradarsaka guru?

D-5. What is the special import of the words, 'founder-acharya'

D-6. Describe how Srila Prabhupada came to the west and started the
Krsna Consciousness Movement?

E) Questions about our personal lives

E-1. What are the regulative principles and why is it bad to break them?

E-2. Describe the importance of chanting 16 rounds every day and the effects of
not chanting?

E-3. What are the important things to remember to do before and after eating?

E-4. When is one contaminated and must take a bath?

E-5. What is the acceptable form of cleanliness in the temple?

E-6. What is the correct mode of relationship between the men and women in the
temple? Answer in regards to temple interactions and other interactions non-
service oriented.

E-7. What is the importance of sankirtana?

E-8. Explain why this movement is called the sankirtana movement. What is
the importance of a temple in this regard?

E-9. Who are the deities and what are some important points in their service?

F) Extra important points to be answered

F-1. Explain the process of karma yoga, jnana yoga, mystic yoga and bhakti
yoga.
F-2 What is impersonalism? Why is this concept inferior and who originated
this system?
F-3. What is the philosophy of voidism, why is it false and who started it?
F-4. Explain the dissatisfaction of vyasadeva and what was done to correct it.

F-5. Explain the circumstances around the speaking of the Bhagavad-gita.

F-6. Write down in Sanskrit and your own language (or English) as many
verses as possible, but no less than 15 verses.
 Brahminicallnitiation Assessment

Sadhana worksheet
Part A
1) Japa
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

a) Am I able to keep focused on my chanting? How easily is my mind distracted?

b) Which of the ten offences do I find most difficult and challenging?

2) Rising in the morning

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

a) Is it easy for me to rise in the morning? Do I need 'just five more minutes'?

3) Attendance of morning Programme

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

a) How often do I attend mangal arati and tulasi puja? (Average per week)

b) How often do I chant majority of my rounds (10 rounds +) during Japa period?
(Average per week)

c) How often do I attend Deity greetings, Srila Prabhupada's guru puja and class?
(average per week)

4) Personal Study

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

a) Am I studying regularly Srila Prabhupada's books?

b) On average, I study ;
  15 min
 30 min
 45min
 60min
 90 min +
 everyday

Part B

1) Which part of the morning programme do you find most difficult to attend?

2) Which areas do you feel yourself weak in?

3) Why is this?

4) What do you feel you need to do to improve yourself?

5) What aspects of your devotional service do you enjoy most?

6) What would you like to see more of in your weekly programme and why?
 Brahminica lnitiation Assessment

Qualities Worksheet
1) An Appropriate service Attitude
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Am I ever reluctant in performing my service? Do I anticipate What is needed even
before I am asked?

2) A Healthy respect of Authority

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Am I happy in offering respect to older devotees? Am I prone to criticise people simply
because they hold a position of authority?

3) A spirit of open and honest philosophical enquiry

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Do I enjoy exploring the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness from different
perspectives? Am I willing to be introspective and/or challenged about its application in
my life?

4) A mood of dependence on Krishna

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Do I perceive Krishna's hand when things don't go according to plan? Do I consciously

try to develop a mood of dependence?

5) A sense of personal responsibility

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Do I tend to blame circumstances for my own shortcomings? Do I willingly accept full
responsibility for making my life a success? Do I expect other people to solve my
problems?

6) Moral integrity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Do I justify acting improperly in the name of service? Am I honest with myself and
others? Am I duplicitous in my behavior?

7) Peacefulness

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Do I easily get agitated? How equipoised am I in trying circumstances?

8) Self Control

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Whilst speaking, eating or sleeping etc, how much am I in control, how often do I give in
to subtle pushing?

9) Austerity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

How much am I inclined towards austerity and simplicity?

10) Purity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

a) How conscious am I of clean thoughts and clean actions?

b) How clean are my home, my worktable, and my cupboard?

11 ) Tolerance

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

How tolerant am I in provoking situations? What will it take to make me lose my temper?

12) Religiousness + Wisdom

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Do I have firm faith in process of Krsna Consciousness? Do I have firm faith in the
scriptures?