Association with Kṛṣṇa - The Purifying Power of the Absolute
The conditioned soul suffers in the material world simply because of a lack of connection with its original source. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the supreme solution to all miseries is to constantly associate with Kṛṣṇa, a process made easily accessible through the absolute nature of the Lord's holy name and instructions.
The Absolute Nature of Association
In the material world, a person and their name are two different things. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that because the Supreme Lord is absolute, one can directly associate with Him simply by vibrating His holy name or hearing His transcendental pastimes.
- I wish to point out that this chanting of the holy name of God (Hare Krsna) and hearing the truths of the Gita is as good as bodily association with Krsna. That is stated in the Gita. This process is called kirtana.
- By chanting and hearing of Krsna we can actually associate with Him, for He is absolute and nondifferent from His names, qualities, forms and pastimes.
- What is the use of chanting "Krsna"? Krsna chanting means Krsna this word, and Krsna the person, the same. Therefore by constant chanting means constantly associating with Krsna. Then we are becoming purified. Purified. There is no difference.
- You can associate with Krsna and Arjuna every twenty-four hours, by reading Bhagavad-gita. Why you require to go there? It is already here. You see. You read the Bhagavad-gita, and you are immediately in the battlefield of Kuruksetra.
- Such association (by remembering Krsna and spiritual master's words of instructions) with Krsna and the spiritual master should be association by vibration, not physical presence. That is real association.
The Supreme Purifier
Just as darkness cannot exist in the presence of the sun, material contamination cannot exist in the presence of the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that constant association with Kṛṣṇa acts as a powerful disinfectant, instantly washing away the dirty things within the heart.
- Association with Krsna is like association with sunshine. Where there is sunshine, there is no contamination. As long as one is out in the ultraviolet rays of the sun, he will not be diseased.
- As the presence of the sun dissipates darkness, constant engagement in the association of the Lord Sri Krsna frees one from the contamination of the material qualities.
- In western medicine, sunshine is recommended for all kinds of diseases, and according to the Vedas a diseased man should worship the sun for cure. Similarly, if we associate with Krsna in Krsna consciousness, our maladies are cured.
- The more you associate with Krsna, the more you become purified. Hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani vidhunoti (SB 1.2.17). Krsna helps in washing your dirty things within the heart.
- As soon as one associates with Krsna's name, he associates with Krsna. Therefore asat, maya, cannot touch him. If he's purely chanting, without any offense, maya cannot touch him.
Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Guru
The Lord is not merely an abstract energy; He is an active participant in the lives of His devotees. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that when a sincere soul constantly associates with Kṛṣṇa through devotional service, the Lord reciprocates by sitting within the heart and providing divine intelligence.
- As we associate with Krsna, He helps us to understand Him and dispels the darkness of ignorance with the light of knowledge. Krsna is sitting within our hearts acting as guru.
- If one sticks to the principles enunciated by the spiritual master, somehow or other he is in association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since the Lord is in the heart, He can advise a sincere disciple from within.
- If we follow the direction and instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu or Krsna under the guidance of a superior, bona fide spiritual master, then we associate with Krsna or Caitanya Mahaprabhu without any deviation.
- Krsna encouraged Arjuna that "Don't be disappointed, because your mind is always engaged in Me." Arjuna might be anything, but he was always thinking of Krsna. He was always associating with Krsna. He did not know anything else, Krsna.
- He (Krsna) is the owner of the universe, He is the supreme enjoyer, the supreme knower of everything, and that we are always welcome to associate with Him by the grace of His devotees, by the grace of a spiritual master.
The Perfection of Spiritual Bliss
Material pleasure is inherently temporary and ultimately leads to frustration. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that by transferring one's desires to the spiritual platform and associating with the Supreme Joyful, Kṛṣṇa, a devotee experiences an ever-increasing ocean of transcendental happiness.
- If you associate with the supreme joyful, Krsna, automatically you become joyful. This is Krsna consciousness. Automatically. There is no necessity separately how to become joyful. Simply by association.
- Everyone has experience that this material pleasure comes to an end. Spiritual enjoyment, however, does not end; rather, it increases. That is the difference. Therefore we have to associate with Govinda.
- Krsna is always happy, and whoever associates with Him is also happy. Therefore He is known as Govinda.
- We cannot be happy within this cloud-covered material existence. We are spirit by nature. We are sparks, spiritual sparks. We have to associate with Krsna; then we can have our full-fledged.
- This Krsna's qualification, that He's not affected by the material happiness and distress, can be attained by anyone who always keeps his association with Krsna.
The Ultimate Destination: Goloka Vṛndāvana
The highest ambition of a pure devotee is not to merge into a formless void or even to enjoy the opulent majesty of Vaikuṇṭha. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the ultimate perfection is to return to Goloka Vṛndāvana and associate intimately with Kṛṣṇa as a loving servant, friend, or parent.
- Devotees of Lord Visnu may aspire for a position in Vaikunthaloka, but a devotee of Krsna never aspires even for the facilities of Vaikuntha; he wants to return to Goloka Vrndavana and associate with Lord Krsna in His eternal pastimes.
- Our real aim of life - how to go back home, back to Godhead, and associate with Radha Krsna.
- We can experience ananda perfectly in the association of Krsna. We can associate with Krsna as a servant, a friend, a father, a mother or a conjugal lover.
- He (the pure devotee) simply wants to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead like the inhabitants of Vrndavana - Srimati Radharani, the gopis, Krsna's father and mother (Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda), Krsna's friends and Krsna's servants.
- The best process is to train ourselves now, so that at the time of death we may transfer ourselves to the spiritual universe, to Krsnaloka, and there associate with Krsna.
Conclusion
As Śrīla Prabhupāda perfectly illustrates, association with Kṛṣṇa is the absolute remedy for the diseased condition of material existence. Because Kṛṣṇa is non-different from His name, form, and pastimes, the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness allows the conditioned soul to instantly step out of the darkness of illusion and into the brilliant sunshine of the spiritual world. By actively engaging the tongue in chanting and the ears in hearing, the practitioner is continuously purified, gaining direct guidance from the Supreme Lord situated within the heart. By diligently maintaining this divine association throughout life and strictly avoiding the contaminating company of materialists, the devotee prepares their consciousness for the ultimate transition: quitting the temporary material body and entering the eternal, blissful realm of Goloka Vṛndāvana to associate with Kṛṣṇa face to face.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Association with Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.