{Unfinished manuscript}
Tava Pache Pache
After-words to the Nectar of Instruction
(rev. 2009 Jan 25)
This copy dited to %%%
{ } Indicates work to do


Preface
After looking for a long time, we have found in His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a professor from whom we can learn everything without duplicity or doubt. Placing ourselves as street dogs running in the dust behind his lotus-feet we want to write these After Words to his 'Nectar of Instruction', an authorized English presentation of Srila Rupa Goswami's 15th century classic, 'Upadesamrta'. We will go through the NOI Text by Text adding our words, but before that let us start with a few essential comments.

We are putting the NOI at the center of our entire American Bhagavata Curriculum. We want our American Bhagavata Curriculum (ABC) to be acceptable both for certificates in ISKCON as well as our wider academic organization, NIOS. This ABC ranges from Kindergarten to Doctor of Literature and beyond. However, let us start this first Text by Text read-through in terms of the ISKCON Bhakti-sastri certificate. This certificate is equivalent to a High School or Secondary School Diploma, and is generally required for all candidates for Second Initiation in ISKCON. After this we will go through Text by Text, again, for the ISKCON Bhakti-vaibhava or Bachelor's Degree certificate, which is generally required for all candidates for Sannyasa initiation. There is so much to learn.
We expect this 'Tava Pache Pache' to go through many subsequent editions as we run behind Srila Prabhupada becoming wiser and wiser.

TWO PRINCIPLES
Can we say that two fundamental aspects of education are process and association? We go to school, we do our lessons, we take our tests. We do this in the association of teachers, fellow students and our own students. At least to start with, our association is clear. We, Hanumatpresaka Swami, and you, our esteemed reader are reading Srila Prabhupada's books together. We have to expand this but this is a good way to start, no? You, us and Srila Prabhupada.
But what of the process? This can also expand as we mature, but right now we have to pick what books we are going to study and a calendar. For the Bhakti-sastri certificate we must read this NOI and the first quarter or Rupa Goswami's next book, the Bhakti rasamrta sindhu (Nectar of Devotion from Srila Prabhupada), and the Isa and Gita Upanishads. For our NIOS certificate we will expand that to include at least some songs of the Vaisnava Acharyas, the KRSNA book and Srila Prabhupada's excellent 'Light of the Bhagavata'.

What of a Calendar?

Hear the ringing of the bell.
  It calls us to our daily class.
It calls us to our home,
  From where we fell.

Krita-karma Das told me that Srila Prabhupada said that, "You can make plans for serving Krsna, but better just to chant Hare krsna."
Again, we are Sannyasis, so we travel light.

A book-bag, a blanket, a bucket and beads,
   These will satisfy all of your spiritual needs.

So, we carry a big, medium or small book bag with us all the time, and at least you'll find the NOI therein. Chant Hare Krsna and you will want to read the NOI. Read it again and again. Open it at random. Use this TPP to study it systematically. Memorize the entire book and lean to cite it at appropriate times to enlighten others in Krsna Consciousness.
In Text Three, page 34, we will find that Srila Prabhupada requires that we rise early, by 4AM, attend 'Mangala-arati', perform 'Kirtana' and read 'Srimad Bhagavatam'. So, we can also read NOI, should also read NOI early in the morning also, eternally. I don't want to dictate a system to you. Some people would. They are following Adwaita Acharya. We, the esoteric Anjana Suta Academy (ASA), are following Lord Nityananda, (more or less). Make you own system, but one that stimulates other members of your Sankirtana Party, your class-mates, teachers, students.
Some examples:
1. Keep a bookmark in the NOI. Maybe a picture of Krsna, or Radharani availble from the ASA books store. Now you gotta get up by 4AM, but in the future you will almost certainly be getting up earlier to get rounds done before Mangala-arati, so take a break after a few rounds and stretch (dance) a little bit and then read a little bit from the position of your bookmarker and get back to Japa.
2. Read one Text a day starting like from Full-moon and from New-Moon. That's like 11-Texts so it will take you to Ekadasi. (Of course, you have to adjust for the Preface and the Appendicies).
3. After Mangala-arati, after you have 16 or 19-rounds done, then walk around the Temple room using the NOI like a Vaisnava verse book and read, recite, memorize and contemplate the different Gita, Bhagavatam and other verses that Srila Prabhupada cites.
4. Since its small and always with you, read the NOI during the day while you're out. Make it your noon-time class. Read it after your noon gayatri or Japa before lunch. Or before the evening program. like 4:30PM.
Get your own habits, but get it done. Read it, recite it frequently in different ways, and then as it dictates expand your reading to other books. Or maybe it will be the only book you ever need.
This TPP will prepare you to pass the ISKCON Bhakti-sastri examination.

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NOI PREFACE.
When we get to Bhakti-vaibhava we will comment even upon things that occur before the Preface, but now let's jump right into the Preface.

N E  C    T        A                R!

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Monkey and Piggy:  Ooo!   Ooo!   Teacher!  Teacher!
Hanumatpresaka Swami: Yes, what is it?
M/P: What about the other Bhakti Sastri books? When do we study those?
HpS: Well, why not study Isa and Gita Upanisads during the regular Temple class in the evening, and Nectar of Devotion during some of the morning Bhagavatam classes? Of course, the KRSNA book as often as possible, but always after hot milk before resting for the night.
M/P: Have you got a BG study guide for us??!
HpS: Don't worry, it will all come up naturally as we read NOI.
M/P:  Oh! Yippee!  Oh! Goody!

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SRILA PRABHUPADA'S PREFACE
In the Preface to a book we find the purpose of the book, the circumstances under which it is being produced and the qualifications of the author and those expected of the reader. The Introduction introduces the material in the book. The Preface to the NOI is short and we find both the Preface and the Introduction in the same section. What does it introduce? It introduces the content of Text One, we must control our senses. Our paragrah and page number references are from the 1975 BBT Australia edition.
Of course, in the Bhakti-vaibhava level these After-words we will go into this mine of nectar, the NOI Preface, in more detail. At this Bhakti-sastri level let us just say a few things about wha to look for in the Preface.. The first is our purpose, in Bhakti-sastri, to become qualified to help Lord Caitanya in His mission by eagerly studying the literatures of the six Goswamis headed by Rupa Goswami. We want to learn to teach.
But how shall we learn? We can see that Srila Prabhupada mentions a disciplic succession in the Preface. The elements of knowledge are coming down to us. How many personalities are mentioned?
Lord Krsna
Srimati Radharani
Lord Caitanya
Rupa Goswami
Six Goswamis
Narottama Das Thakura
Gaudiya-vaisnavas
Us, being Srila Prabhupada and those who want to become goswamis and then pure devotees of Krsna.
There is so much more in the Preface. What other things do you find? What impetuous to more hearing and chanting do you find?
For sure, at this point we should add the Sad-Goswami-astaka, "Krishnotkirtana-gana-nartana..." to our song book for Bhakti-sastri examination. At Bhakti-sastri (BS) we should be able to follow it from memory and by Bhakti-vaibhava (BVB) we should be able to lead it from memory.
Prabhupada also glorifies the Upadesamrta by putting it on the same level as the Siksastaka of Lord Caitanya. Let us memorize Texts One and Three from the Siksastaka for BS because those are the two Texts that Prabhupada cites in the NOI. The Siksastaka is available in Caitanya-caritamrta 3.20, Adi-lila.Chapter-twenty
Finally, Prabhupada mentions other works by Rupa Goswami. This is how we form our ABC curriculum: Upadesamrta, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu and Vidagdha and Lalita-madhava.
1. Summarize the Preface
2. True or False (T/F) and explain: Love is above the law. Therefore since I chant Hare Krsna on my harmonium when I am inspired and keep a picture of a great devotee on the wall and am developing "advanced mellows of spiritual love" I don't have to stop smoking, drinking or fornicationg with Susan.
3. What other questions does the Preface inspire?

TEXT ONE
In the ABC Primary course, Bhakta xxx we give a general outline of NOI. This first Text says that we must control our senses by engaging them in the service of the maser of the senses, Krsna, Hrsikesa. Then Texts Two and Three respectively give three things that will make it hard or easy to do this.
The Purport to Text One is basically divided into two parts as are other Purports. The first part is Srila Prabhupada's purport and the second part is his summary of Srila Bhakti-siddhanta Sarasvati's Anuvrtti comentary on NOI. We have a book published by Srila Narayana Maharaja which includes the complete Anuvrtti of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada.
We count sixteen paragraphs in the Purport. The first three paragraphs discuss the general principle of Vegam, pushes, by the senses and the chief of the senses, the mind. In BVB we can compare this disscussion of being pushed by the senses and Karma with the way that the same subject is introduced in the Nectar of Devotion (Bhakti-rasamrta sindhu). Now just read this carefully as we did in Bxxx but take more note. In BVB we will also look at the original Srimad Bhagavatam Chapter, SB6.1. There we will find more details of the argument and structure of these ideas. This is useful for seeing how these apply under different circumstances in our lives and the lives of innocent people that Krsna sends to us for education.
On Page Four, Srila Prabhupada starts to elucidate each Vegam one after another. Write down the paragraph numbers in your NOI and underline or highlight which Vegam is being discussed. Is there one paragraph for each Vegam?
Paragraph Six comes to the conclusion of the Text, become Guru. Has Srila Prabhupada elucidated the details of each Vegam sufficiently in the Purport so that we can understand what is required to be "fully practiced in the methods of Krsna conscious control"? Do we have a detailed standard here to exam ourselves and others to see if we are ready to accept disciples all over the world?
In Paragraph Seven, Page Seven, Srila Prabhupada starts to summarize the Anuvrtti of Srila Prabhupada, Bhakti-sidhhanta. We are so fortunate to come in contact with this Parampara, Disciplic Suceesion. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta divides the six pushes into three groups. What are these? Prabhupada discusses them in one paragraph after another. For Mana-vegam we find a further division into two categories. Have you applied this? You are about to go to the bank to make a deposit for the Temple and then someone tells you to stop and help unload a shipment of wax that just arrived for the candle factory. You become angry,  virodha-yukta-krodha, but then you remember NOI and your intelligence tells your mind, "Calm down. Give up your attachment (avirodha-priti) to this plan. We can go to the bank later", and your are free from the push of anger.
In paragraph three is the Siksastaka phrase we have to memorize, "Trnad api...". We should also memorize the song by Bhaktivnode Thakura in paragraph eleven, "Sarira avidya jala...". This may be the only Mantra we remember at the time of death (Haw. Haw. Haw!). In BVB we will memorize the song by Jagadananda Pandita in paragraph eleven. Page thirteen, paragraph sixteen is again the conclusion, become Goswami. Men may take the formal title and Ashrama of Sannyasa but ladies, children, grhasthas, everyone must become a goswami in fact.%%%

TEXT TWO
{ Add Gita, correct Paragraph lists }
Now we will see six things that will make it difficult to perform Text One, engage the senses in the service of the Master of the Senses, Hrsikesa.
(What is the relevance of SB 2.8.21 to this Text?)
Of the six faults, we see that Srila Prabhupada focuses again and again on Atyahara, over-collecting or over eating.
We count twenty-two paragraphs in Text Two. In Paragraph One, page fifteen, Srila Prabhupada starts with a very universal statment of the purpose of human life, high thinking and simple living. He declares this again later in the Text. We should use this essential slogan again and again, print banners with it.
Then we see he goes back to Vegam, we are all pushed to work, but how? There is a scientific answer in paragraphs one to four by explaining the Bahir-anga-shakti, external energy: What is this Bahir-anga-shakti? How it pushes us through the three sufferings. The Maha-atmas and the Dura-atmas as members of the superior or inferior Shaktis.
In paragraph five we see the main Klesa, Vegam or push. What is it? Birth, death, disease and old-age. Fear of these pushes us to work.

Paragraph six, page seventeen, passes from Atyahara to Prayasas, over-endeavor. This is need for Atyahara, over-collecting. Basically from paragraph one to ten, page 20, Prabhupada is discussing Atyahara and Prayasas. Paragraph 10 discusses Prajalpa, gossip. Paragraph eleven discusses Jana-sanga, bad association, and specifically introduces ISKCON as good association.
The Anuvrtti section begins in paragraph twelve and it also emphasizes Atyahara with the exception of Paragraph fourteen wherein Srila Prabhupada gives detailed descrption of Niyama-agraha. What rules and regulations does he empahsize in Paragrah fourteen? Fasting, even from water, on Ekadasi is Niyama-agraha?
Paragraph 15 is Jana-sanga, bad association, but this boils down to associating with people who are greedy, Laulyam for mundane things, and thus Prayasa, endeavor for, and accumulate too many mundane things.
Finally, in the last paragraphs, 21 and 22, Srila Prabhupada again emphasizes ISKCON as
-good association for scientific training, Varna-ashrama-dharma, with
-the goal to obtain Mukti, liberation, as necessary to
serve Krsna in Vrndavana.
ISKCON Ki Jai!
On the way to Paragraph 22 we see the analogy of the Cobbler beaten by shoes and the $100 lying in the street. What are these? So simple but if you repeat these in your classes, encounters, then you will see that the words of the Acharya have special effect.
Also, also, also, Srila Prabhupada quotes the first Text of Isopanishad in Paragraph 19. In general this NOI Text Two is G-R-E-A-T for teaching in economics classes and so forth. We really have fundamental content and directin to offer even Nobel Laureates in economics.
Furthermore, in Paragraph 20 we find an allusion to the Innvocation mantra of Isopanishad, "by the complete arrangement of the Lord". Our perspective is that economically this world is complete and everyone has a quota, Innvocation and Text One of the Isopanishad.
At this point we should introduce the necessity of studying the entire Isopanishad and the Bhagavad-gita. We take these all as Appendages to our main line of study, Rupa-siksa: NOI, NOD and Vidagdha and Lalita-madhava.
In the Table of Appendicies at the end of this TPP please find our ASA study guides for the Isopanisad and the Bhagavad-gita.

O.K. Tha, tha, thats all folks!

Is O.K. our After Words?

Do you see that numbering the paragraphs and highlighting the text is essential?

Hare Krsna!  Hare Rama!
  Let us join the dances of Radha-Shyama.

TEXT THREE
We've had six things that will surely prevent us from engaging the senses in the service of the Master of the Senses, Hrsikesa. Now we see six things that will make it very easy. Reading and reading Srila Prabhupada's books, and listening to lectures, we come to the conclusion that this is the Upadesamrta text that Srila Prabhupada most often quotes, so it is worth memorizing early. However, although we see Prabhupada paraphrasing the text in English we don't always see him quoting the Sanskrit.
As often, in his purport, Srila Prabhupada starts with a summary of the Text. He quote BRS 1.1.11. This is Rupa Goswami Prabhupada's precise, precise, precise definition of what is Uttama-bhakti, highest service. In our Bhakti-sastri NOD study we can go into this NOD Text in great detail. Prabhupada of course quotes it again and again. Here it is quite appropriate since we are talking about the six things that will guarantee pure devotional service. The word that Srila Prabhupada takes up from BRS1.1.11 with enthusiasm is the word Silanam, no? This means cultivation. So Bhakti, enthusiasm means action, cultivation. Think about it. The relation between the BRS and Upadesmrta is very intimate and so are Srila Prabhupada's puroports.
Paragraphs 1-4 develope these ideas and then 5-11 explain the six favorable things one after another. In Text 12 we see Srila Prabhupada summarizing all six and startijng the Anuvrtti commentarys.
O.K. Devotional service is Silanam, activity, but what activities? See paragraph two. And which of these actvities are first (Paragraph three). Paragraph four gives details of from whom to hear, again specifically mentioning ISKCON!
There are so many details and leads here that we can begin to follow in greater detail in the BVB course. Of course we will put our NOD Study Guides in the Table of Appendicies, but think you can wait to start that after we read through this NOI first time. The Isa and Gita-upanisads we can start simultaneous to this NOI and NOD readings. One set in the morning and one set in the evening.

Monkey/Piggy: Lordy, Lordy we will die!

ASA: That's the idea, quite your sty, it's time to fly.

Paragraphs 5-7 define enthusiasm. These are practical guides. If you have lost enthusiasm where can you find it? Pf 7 gives excellent summary defintion of enthusiasm. You can always find it in your intelligence.
Pf 8 = patience and confidence, Dhairyat and Niscayad.
Pf 9 = tat-tat-karma... Srila Prabhupada puts the 4-principles and 16-rounds right on the table. If we don't follow these our progress will be checked...
Pf 10-11 = Finally, and again give up bad association, and sato-vrteh follow the example of the Acharyas. Do you see that Srila Prabhhupada takes the time to list the names of the Six Goswamis again, like in the Preface. He seems to enjoy this very profoundly.

THE FIFTH REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE?
Here he adds another regulative principle: "We require everyone to rise early...".
Let us take a step back and look at this phrase. This is one of the most important phrases in the NOI for us. We have heard that Srila Prabhupada commented that the only excuse for not comming to Mangala-arati is an inability to crawl. Krsna will always reward us for coming to Mangala-arati. In the Krsna book it explains that Krsna stopped the Rasa-lila when Mangala-arati time came. He was sleeping peacfully embraced by Srimati Rukmini devi, but still he got up for Mangala-arati.
Srila Prabhupada lists Mangala-arati, Kirtana, reading Srimad Bhagavata and so forth. So we take this as the basic, minimum morning program. Recitation of ten-offences to the Holy Names, Siksastakam, Tulasi prayers, Guru-puja kirtana, we take a very nice but optional depending on your other service; but up and Mangala-arati, Kirtana 1-1/2 hours before sunrise, Japa and 1-hour class we take as really essential if we want to chant our roudns properly, and follow the four regulative principles.
Again we will present more ideas at the BVB level, but here we are just trying to say that the NOI is a guide book, a manual for practically engaging our senses (and our mind and intelligence).
Put your alarm clock across the room by the light switch with a glass of water. Before you go to sleep instruct your intelligence that when the alarm goes off and you stagger across the room to turn it off, you can't touch it until the light is on. Then after you turn off the alarm you must force your self to drink the whole glass of water, and then chant Hare Krsna, bath, etc. This works for us. It is our discipline. Now we are getting up at 2AM for many years and have most or all of our rounds done before Managala arati.  Then Managala-arati is so, so, so intense. Your while day becomes Mangala, auspicious. However, it took us a few years to come to this standard so fin our what works for you, but at least up by 4AM five days a week, at least, and on the other days...   ...   you will suffer.

We see the Anuvrtti beginning in Paragraph 12 and apparently continuing to the end of the Purport, Paragraph 18. Here there is mention of Atyahara, but it seems that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta is emphasizing acquistion of Yoga-siddhis, mystical powers, as a real danger in Atyahara. Nowadays, people don't have that temptation. Nowadays we are tempted by Hamburgers and Milkshakes, but at the time of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati people really performed Hatha-yoga and had mystical powers. In India, even to this day and rarely other places some people have to be careful of this aspect of Atyhara, acquiring too many mystical powers.
Monkey and Piggy - Weird.
HpS - Yes, but real for some people.
Besides Atyahara which of the six favorable principles is emphasized? Confidence? Underline the word in the book.
Also, Srila Prabhupada mentions two citations from Canto Seven, but no one has been able to find these. Maybe they are from the prayers of the demingods to Krsna in the womb or the prayers of Lord Brahma to Gopal in Vrndavana. We especially mention this, because at BVB of BVedanta level we should look up each text and read it in its original context.
Monkey/Piggy: You read the Purports to the bone. That's what Srila Prabhupada suggested; but you also seem to engage in some specualation:
HpS: Yes, we are not presenting this as the commentary of an Uttama-adhikari. We have doubts about some of our own ideas. We write for our own purification, your stimulation and to offer real illumination, glorification of Srila Prabhupada's books.

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So we've finished the first part of the Upadesamrta, Texts One to Three; engage your senses in the service of the Master of the senses, avoiding and adopting the things that will help or hinder.
Next we go into Sanga, association, the real essential element in sense control. We also have started our Isa and Gita Upanisad, and Nectar of Devotion studys as NOI Appendages.
Time to take a break.
Re-read and review everything.
Chant Hare Krsna, Dance and take Prasadam!

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