NOD Close Book Questions

1. For who is Nectar of Devotion specifically presented?

It is presented for people who are now engaged in the Krishna consciousness
movement.
2. Give the English meaning of the words: rüpänugas, rasa, capala-sukha, bhoga-tyäga and
amåta.
Rupanugas - Followers in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Goswami
Rasa - Mellow/ relationship
Capala-sukha - Flickering happiness
Bhoga-tyaga - A position of alternating sense enjoyment and renunciation
Amrita - eternal, nectar
3. What is Lord Caitanya’s universal principle?
Educate and elevate anyone and everyone to the exalted level of Goswami.
4. What is the example Srila Rüpa Goswämé set for devotees and for humanity in general?
proper way to distribute wealth- 50 for krishna conscious persons brahmanas
or vaisnavas, 25 for family, 25 for emergency
5. Where did Srila Rüpa Gosvämé first meet Lord Caitanya?
Prayag, Allahabad, India
6. List the twelve rasas in Sanskrit or English.
Neutral, śānta
servitorship, dāsya
friendship, sakhya
Parenthood, vātsalya
Conjugal love, madhurya
comedy, hāsya
Compassion, dayā
fear, bhayānaka
chivalry, vīra
ghastliness, bībhatsa
wonder, Adbhuta
devastation, raudra

7. Give the English meaning of the terms pravrtti and nirvrtti.

positive or favorable action
negative or unfavorable action
8. Give the English meaning of the word anusilana.
continuous cultivation of pure devotional service by following in the footsteps
of the previous acharyas
9. What does the term jnäna-karmädi refer to?
Knowledge based on fruitive action. Any knowledge not leading to pure
devotional service.
10. List, in Sanskrit or English, the six characteristics of pure devotional service.
1. Brings immediate relief from all kinds of material distresses (Kleshaghni)
2. all auspiciousness (Subhada)
3. Derides even the happiness of liberation (Moksa-laghutakrt)
4. Is rarely achieved (Sudurlabha)
5. Automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure (Sandrananda
visesatma)
6. Is the only means to attract Krishna (Sri Krishnakarshini)
11. List, in Sanskrit or English, the four effects that are due to sinful activities.
 1) the effect which is not yet fructified
2) the effect which is lying as seed
3) the effect which is already mature
4) the effect which is almost mature
12. List four examples Prabhupäda gives of ‘mature’ sinful reactions.
Chronic disease
Legal implication
Born into a low or degraded family
Being uneducated or ugly.
13. What does the comparison between mystic perfections and modern scientific
improvements indicate?
There is no difference between the two and they are both mundane.
14. Why does Krishna rarely agree to offer a soul devotional service?
Because through pure devotional service, Krishna Himself becomes
purchased by the devotee.
15. List the three sources of happiness according to the analysis of Srila Rüpa Goswämé.
sense/material enjoyment,
merging with the Supreme Brahman,
Krsna consciousness.
16. What is the meaning of the words madana-mohana-mohini.
the attractor of the attractor of Cupid.
Krishna is so attractive that he can attract thousands of cupids. But Radharani
is so much more attractive that even she attracts the attractor of cupid.
17. Name the three main categories of devotional service.
regulated/ devotion in practice (sadhana bhakti),
ecstasy (bhava bhakti),
in pure love (prema bhakti.)
18. List the two types of sädhana-bhakti in both English and Sanskrit.
Regulative- Vaidhi Bhakti
Spontaneous- Raganuga Bhakti
19. What is the most basic of all regulative principles?
Always remember Krishna and never forget Krishna!!
20. What is the benefit of feeding one who preaches the message of the Bhagavad-gita?
The preacher of the Gita is very dear to Lord Krishna and by feeding such a
preacher, they are feeding the Supreme Lord directly
He simultaneously feeds the Supreme Lord directly.
21. List the four examples given of the neophyte devotees who begin devotional service
for relief in the matter of their respective self-satisfaction.
those in distress - Gajendra
those in need of money/ material opulence -Dhruva Maharaja
the inquisitive - Sages of Naimisaranya
the wise - Four Kumaras
22. Without being elevated to what position can one stick to the principle of worshiping
the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
Jnani
23. List, in Sanskrit or English, the five kinds of liberation.
Sarupya - same form/features as Krishna
Salokya - reside on the same planet
Sarsti - have the same opulences as Krishna
 Samipya - to live as a companion of Krishna
Sayujya - become one with Krishna.
24. Liberated persons who have achieved these four stages of liberation may also be
promoted where?
goloka vrindavan
25. What is the mystery of the Vaishnava (devotional) cult?
If one is regularly discharging devotional service, one will not fall down. If one
does fall down even circumstantially, one does not have to perform
prayascitta/ attonement. He simply executes the rules and regulations and is
again reinstated, and this is sufficient.
26. List the first 10 of the 64 items of sädhana in English or Sanskrit.
l) accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual master
2) becoming initiated by the spiritual master and learning how to discharge
devotional service from him
3) obeying the orders of the spiritual master with faith and devotion
4) following in the footsteps of great acaryas (teachers) under the direction of
the spiritual master
5) inquiring from the spiritual master how to advance in Krishna
Consciousness
6) being prepared to give up anything material for the satisfaction Sri Krishna
7) residing in a sacred place of pilgrimage like Dvaraka or Vrndavana
8) dealing with the material world only as far as necessary
9) observing the fasting day on Ekadasi
10) worshiping sacred trees like the banyan tree and others.
27. Out of the first 20 items of sädhana, which are considered the most important?
accepting the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, taking initiation from him
and serving him with respect and reverence
28. List the five most potent items of sädhana.
Worshipping the Deity,
hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam,
associating among devotees,
chanting the holy names
residing in a holy place
29. What is the crucial point for advancement in spiritual life?
Accept a bonafide spiritual master.
30. Why can the followers of Buddha not be accepted as devotees?
Buddhists deny the supremacy of personality of God.
31. What is the real reason for observing fasting on Ekädashi?
minimize the demands of the body and increase service to Krishna hearing
and chanting.
32. List the two kinds of nondevotees whose association should be avoided.
One class is against the supremacy of Krishna, and another class is too
materialistic.
33. Define seväparädhah and nämäparädhah.
Offenses while performing service to the Deities and offenses while chanting
the holy name.
34. How can an offender unto the Lord Himself be delivered?
taking shelter of the holy name
35. What is the result of decorating one’s body with sandalwood pulp?
 delivered from all sinful reactions, and after his death he goes directly to
Kṛṣṇaloka to live in association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
36. Who are the impersonalists who became devotees after smelling the remnants of
flowers and incense in the temple?
The 4 Kumaras
37. Define laulyam and lälasämayi.
Laulyam - excessive eagerness for meeting and serving the Lord in a
particular way
lalasamayi - great eagerness and desire to go to one’s natural position.
38. What is the result of drinking caranamrta, even for sinful people?
Be eligible to enter the kingdom of God.
39. Define Daya-bhak
Refers to a son's becoming the lawful inheritor of the property of the father.
40. Which two of the nine types of devotional service are rarely seen?
Devotional service in friendship and self-surrender.
41. A person who keeps Vaishanava literature at home always has what?
Lord Nārāyaṇa always residing in his house.
42. What is even higher than the worship of the Lord?
Worship of the Lord's devotees
43. A small attachment for any one of the five potent items can arouse what, even in a
neophyte?
devotional ecstasy
44. List the examples of devotees who achieved perfection by practicing simply one
process of nava-vidhä-bhakti.
Maharaj Pariksit - hearing
Sukadeva Goswami - speaking
Prahlad Maharaj - remembering
Lakshmi Devi - serving
Maharaj Prthu - worshippping he Deity
Akrura - prayer
Hanuman - following the orders
Arjuna - friendship
Bali Maharaj - full self-surrender.
45. Where can spontaneous devotional service easily be seen?
Krishna's direct associates in Vrindavana
46. What is the meaning rägä?
Deep attachment
47. Define rägätmikä-bhakti and rägänuga-bhakti.
Ragatmika-bhakti: is bhakti that distinctly, uniquely and spontaneously
manifest in brajvasis.
Raganuga-bhakti: Bhakti that manifest in devotees who follows the footsteps
of Ragatmika Bhaktas.
48. At what stage is it possible to achieve eagerness to follow in the footsteps of the
denizens of Vraja?
after anarta nvrti
49. Define präkrta-sahajiyä.
Pseudo sect of Vaishnavism. Like the followers of Siddha Pranali process,
they manufacture their own way of devotional service. They imagine that they
have become associates of the Lord simply by thinking of themselves like
that. This external behavior is not at all according to the regulative principles.
50. Briefly describe the two categories of conjugal love.
Direct - directly attached to krsna in conjugal love is technically called keli.
This keli performance means to directly join with the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
Indirect - relish simply by hearing the conjugal love affairs of the Lord with the
gopīs.
51. What is the first symptom of pure love for the Personality of Godhead?
ecstacy
52. List the nine characteristics of a person who has developed ecstatic love for Krishna.
1. He is always anxious to utilize his time in the devotional service of the Lord.
He does not like to be idle. He wants service always, twenty-four hours a day,
without deviation. (Avyartha-kalatvam)
2. He is always reserved and perseverant. (ksanti)
3. He is always detached from all material attraction. (Virakti)
4. He does not long for any material respect in return for his activities. (Mana-
sunyata)
5. He is always certain that Kṛṣṇa will bestow His mercy upon him. (Asa-
bandha)
6. He is always very eager to serve the Lord faithfully. (Samutkantha)
7. He is very much attached to the chanting of the holy names of the Lord.
(Nama gane sada ruci)
8. He is always eager to describe the transcendental qualities of the Lord.
(Asaktis tad-gunakhyane)
9. He is very pleased to live in a place where the Lord's pastimes are
performed, e.g., Mathurā, Vṛndāvana or Dvārakā. (Pritis tad-vasati sthale)
53. List in Sanskrit or English the two types of prema-bhakti.
Mahatmya jnana prema: prema imbued with knowledge of the Lord's
greatness.
Kevala prema: automatically attracted to krishna without any extraneous
consideration.
54. List in Sanskrit or English the nine stages from Sraddha to prema.
Shraddha - faith
Sadhu Sanga - association
Bhajana Kriya - devotional service
Anartha Nvrtti - eliminating unwanted behaviors
Nistha - unshakeable resolve/ fixed
Ruci - strong taste
Asakti - attachment
Bhava - ecstasy
Prema - pure love.

Analogies

1. Nectar of Devotion will teach us how to turn the one switch that will
immediately brighten everything, everywhere.
krishna consciousness is like the light that illuminates our whole life and makes
every aspect of our life bright
2. The sharks that dwell in the ocean do not care for the rivers which are
gliding down into it. The devotees eternally live in the ocean of devotional
service, and they do not care for the rivers.
devotees are like the sharks who swim and play in the ocean of transcendental
loving service to Krishna and have no interest in merging with Him as the rivers
or impersonalists do.
The sharks who dwell in the ocean do not care for the rivers that are gliding down
into it. The devotees eternally live in the ocean of devotional service, and they do
not care for the rivers. In other words, those who are pure devotees always remain
in the ocean of transcendental loving service to the Lord and have no business
with the other processes, which are compared to the rivers that only gradually
come to the ocean.
3. In the midst of the ocean, volcanic eruptions can do very little harm, and
similarly,
the volcanic erruptions are like the speculative philosophy of impersonalists that
dont phase the devotees. those who are against devotional service to the Lord and
who put forward many philosophical theses about the ultimate transcendental
realization cannot disturb this great ocean of devotional service.
In the midst of the ocean, volcanic eruptions can do very little harm, and similarly,
those who are against devotional service to the Lord and who put forward many
philosophical theses about the ultimate transcendental realization cannot disturb
this great ocean of devotional service.
4. There are many, many snakes on the ground of the forest, and when a fire
takes place, it burns the dried foliage, and the snakes are immediately
attacked. Animals that have four legs can flee from the fire, or can at least
try to flee, but the snakes are immediately killed. Similarly,
the blazing fire of Krishna consciousness is so strong that the snakes of ignorance
are immediately killed.
5. The personal attendants and maidservants of a queen follow the queen
with all respect and obeisances, similarly
as the personal attendants and maidservants of a queen follow the queen with all
respect and obeisances, similarly the joys of religiousness, economic
development, sense gratification and liberation follow the devotional service of
the Lord.
6. There are certain prescribed methods for employing our senses and mind
in such a way that our dormant consciousness for loving Krishna will be
invoked,
For example, a child learns or practices to walk. This walking is not unnatural.
The walking capacity is there originally in the child, and simply by a little practice
he walks very nicely. Similarly, devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the
natural instinct of every living entity.
7. Any person who is properly initiated into the Vaisnava cult certainly
becomes a brahmana,
any person who is properly initiated into the Vaiṣṇava cult certainly becomes a
brāhmaṇa, as much as the metal known as kaṁsa (bell metal) is turned into gold
by the mixture of mercury. A bona fide spiritual master, under the guidance of
authorities, can turn anyone to the Vaiṣṇava cult so that naturally he may come to
the topmost position of a brāhmaṇa.
8. Even if one is forced to live within a cage of iron or in the midst of a blazing
fire,
 he should accept this position rather than live with nondevotees who are through
and through against the supremacy of the Lord.
9. One should prefer to embrace a snake, a tiger or an alligator rather than
associate with persons who are worshipers of various demigods and who are
impelled by material desire.
10. When the mango fruit becomes ripened it is the greatest gift of that tree,
a mango tree is considered very valuable because it produces the king of all fruits,
the mango. When the mango fruit becomes ripened it is the greatest gift of that
tree, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is similarly held to be the ripened fruit of the Vedic
tree. And as ripened fruit becomes more relishable when first touched by the beak
of a parrot, or śuka, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has become more relishable by being
delivered through the transcendental mouth of Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
11. Association is very important. It acts just like a crystal stone, which will
reflect anything which is put before it. Similarly,
with pure hurts, we reflect the good qualities of devotees
if we associate with the flowerlike devotees of the Lord, and if our hearts are
crystal clear, then certainly the same action will be there.
12. Sometimes, it is found that a person who never attended school or college
may be recognized as a great scholar, or an honorary degree from great
universities may be offered to him. But this does not mean that one should
avoid school and expect to automatically receive an honorary degree from
some university. Similarly,
one should devoutly execute the regulative principles of devotional service and at
the same time hope for Krishnas favor or for His devotee's favor.