Module Exam-the Nectar Of Instruction

Bhakti Sastri Examination

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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 b) Rupa Gosvämé

c) d)

Çréla Prabhupäda

Lord Shiva

3. In all spiritual affairs what is one’s first duty? a) Take initiation Memorize Sanskrit verses b) Chant mantras one’s mind and senses

c) d) Control

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

Mäyä

b)

Death

c)

Illusion d)

Three modes 1

Bhakti Sastri Examination

5. The Prasäda

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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

10.

d)

Piety and Sin

____________ is the first step in acquiring transcendental knowledge. a) Logical thinking b)

c) Praying

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 bhakti Sastri degree b) Chanting Hare Krishna offenselessly

c) Getting 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 …………. 2

Bhakti Sastri Examination

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a) sannyasis c) pure devotees b) brahmanas

goswami families

d)

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) 3

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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. 17.

Explain the concept of Dékñä/spiritual initiation. (Text 5) 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. 21.

Explain the translation to text 7 in your own words. 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. 24. 25.

C.

What is the essence of all advice? (Text 8) As per text 8 purport, why is it necessary to train one’s mind? Explain Rüpa Gosvämé’s advice tiñöhan vraje in NOI 8.

Verse and Translation. Total marks 15. a. Text 1: vaco vegam… b. Text 2: atyaharah…. c. Text 3: utsaha… 4

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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 wellknown 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?

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