The Nectar of Instruction

There cannot be advancement in spiritual life without becoming a “gosvāmī,” or one who can control the senses. This means that the mind must be controlled. Spiritual life, while being very sweet, must also be embarked upon with great attention by a serious practitioner in order to avoid various pitfalls and offenses. The road to spiritual life is neither speculative nor imaginary, and great care must be taken to accept what is favorable to achieving the topmost goal of life and reject what is not supportive. The Nectar of Instruction was given to us by Śrīla Rupa Gosvāmī as an essential guideline on how to make tangible progress in devotional life. It was originally composed in Sanskrit, and more recently translated into English by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who has also painstakingly written sober, and simultaneously uplifting and encouraging purports. The verses take us from the very beginning stages of the development of devotional service in a systematic way to the highest platform of Bhakti, pure loving service to the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The final verses reverently and intimately introduce us to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the eternal consort of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and her most sacred lake, Rādha Kunda. However, the ecstatic emotions that underlie this presentation cannot be reached without sincere application to the very devotional process that it outlines. This book is most likely the most powerful and succinct presentation of the process of devotional service ever offered in the lineage of devotional teachers, and is meant for the sincere aspiring devotee of the Lord.

143 pages
8 color plates
ISBN: 978-1-60293-010-0
approx. 5” x 8”