PÜRVA-SVÄDHYÄYA (PRELIMINARY SELF STUDY)
Questions for Closed Book Assessment
Preface
1. Under whose supervision is the Kåñëa consciousness movement
conducted?
According to the "Nectar of Instruction" (NoI), the Kåñëa consciousness
movement is conducted under the supervision of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.
Explanation: The NoI is a key text within the Krishna consciousness
movement, and it emphasizes that the teachings and practices of the
movement are based on the guidance of Rūpa Gosvāmī, one of the
prominent disciples of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
2. What is one’s first duty in all spiritual affairs?
According to the "Nectar of Instruction" (NoI), one's first duty in all spiritual
affairs is to control one's mind and senses; without this control, no further
advancement in spiritual life is possible.
3. On what does our advancement in Kåñëa consciousness depend?
According to the "Nectar of Instruction" (NOI), advancement in Krishna
consciousness primarily depends on the "attitude of the follower,"
meaning how dedicated and sincere one is in following the teachings and
practices of devotional service to Krishna, including properly following the
guidance of a spiritual master.
4. Define goswämé.
"Gosvami" means "master of the senses," signifying someone who has
complete control over their senses and mind, essentially a person who has
achieved a high level of spiritual development by subjugating their
sensory desires; "Go" refers to the senses and "Swami" means master.
Text One
5. List three examples, from the text, of anger utilized in the Lord’s service.
three examples of anger utilized in the Lord's service are: Hanuman
setting fire to Lanka out of anger for the abduction of Sita (Lord Rama's
wife), Arjuna's righteous anger on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, and the
example of Caitanya Mahaprabhu who displayed strong anger against
those who were disrespectful towards Krishna; all of these instances
demonstrating anger directed towards protecting the Lord's interests, not
personal gain.
6. Why does the Kåñëa consciousness movement encourage marriage?
The Krsna consciousness movement encourages marriage not for the
satisfaction of the genitals but for the begetting of Krsna conscious
children. As soon as the children are a little grown up, they are sent to our
Gurukula school, where they are trained to become fully Krsna conscious
devotees.
7. Why should one avoid palatable dishes even while eating prasädam?
one should avoid overly palatable dishes even while eating prasadam
because it can lead to sense gratification, distracting the devotee from the
spiritual purpose of partaking in prasadam, which is meant to be offered to
Krishna with devotion and consumed with a mindful attitude, not just for
personal taste pleasure;
8. Define go-däsa.
Prahlada Maharaja has further described the go-dasa as adanta-go, which
refers to one whose senses are not controlled.
Text Two
9. List the three primary energies of the Lord.
three primary energies of the Lord are: internal energy (antaranga-shakti),
marginal energy (tatastha-shakti), and external energy (bahiranga-shakti),
which are also often referred to as the spiritual potency, the living entity
potency, and the illusory potency respectively.
10.Define mahätmä and durätmä.
Mahätma
p Not deluded
p Great souls
p Under the protection of the divine nature
durätmä - Cripple-minded
p Always engaged in satisfying their senses
p Sometimes expand their activities in order to do good for others through some
“ism”
like nationalism, humanitarianism or altruism
p May reject personal sense gratification for the sense gratification of others, like
the
members of their family, community or society—either national or international
(extended sense gratification, from personal to communal to social)
p If one is not a mahätmä, he is a durätmä
p Such mentally crippled durätmäs are put under the control of the Lord’s
external
potency, mahämäyä.
11.List the threefold miseries in Sanskrit and English
1. Adhidaivika-kleça (sufferings caused by the demigods, i.e. earthquakes,
droughts)
2. Adhibhautika-kleça (sufferings caused by other living entities)
3. Adhiatmika-kleça (sufferings caused by one’s own body and mind)
12.Briefly describe the two meanings of niyamägraha.
Niyamāgraha means not to accept the rules and regulation, and another
meaning is simply to accept the rules and regulation without good effect
13.List the three kinds of atyähärés.
Text Three
14.List the nine processes of devotional service in Sanskrit or English.
Shravana: (Hearing)
Kirtanam: (Chanting)
Smarana: (Remembering)
Pada-sevana: (Serving the Lord's feet)
Archanam: (Worshiping the Deity)
Vandanam: (Offering obeisances)
Dasya: (Serving as a servant)
Sakhya: (Friendship with the Lord)
Atma-nivedanam: (Complete surrender)
15.What is the meaning of avaçya rakñibe kåñëa.
Kåñëa protects His devotees. The devotee thinks, avaçya rakñibe kåñëa:
"Kåñëa will surely protect me and give me help for the successful.
16.Briefly describe the two aspects of tat-tat-karma-pravartanät.
strict adherence to the regulative principles of bhakti (devotional service) and
engaging in varied devotional activities according to one's capacity and situation
Text Four
17.Define guhyam äkhyäti påcchati.
This is guhyam akhyati prcchati. When a devotee distributes prasada,
remnants of food offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in order to
maintain our .
18.How should one spend his income?
ideally around 50%, on serving Krishna and his devotees, essentially dedicating
a large part of their earnings to spiritual practices and charitable acts towards
the community of believer.
Text Five
19.How should one deal with the devotee (kaniñöha-adhikäré) who chants the
holy name?
one should always mentally honor a devotee who chants the holy name, even if
they are a beginner ("kaniñöha-adhikäré"), considering the power of the holy
name itself and showing respect for their sincere effort in chanting
it; essentially, treat them with kindness and encouragement to further their
practice.
20.List the four characteristics of a madhyama-adhikäré.
21.List three symptoms of an uttama-adhikäré.
Text Six
22.What is the meaning of nityänanda-vaàça?
23.The spiritual master must not be subjected to the advice from whom?
UNIT 5 ÇRÉ ÉÇOPANIÑAD & NECTAR OF INSTRUCTION
112
Text Seven
24.What is the meaning of jévera 'svarüpa' haya-kåñëera 'nitya-däsa?
25.Define duräçraya.
26.List the three stages in chanting the holy name of the Lord.
27.At what stage can mäyä not disturb a devotee?
Text Eight
28.What is the essence of all advice?
29.List three examples each of perfect devotees in çänta-rasa, däsya-rasa, and
sakhya-rasa.
Text Nine
30.List the hierarchy of the different spiritual places.
31.Why has Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé given much stress to Rädhä-kuëòa?
Text Ten
32.Why are the gopés superior to all devotees?
33.Define vipralambha-sevä.
Text Eleven
34.What is the result of bathing in Rädhä-kuëòa even once?
