If You Associate With Good Association, Then You Become Good
This article explores the transformative power of spiritual company as presented in the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda. In the material world, the living entity is heavily influenced by their environment, adopting the qualities of the people they surround themselves with. True spiritual progress cannot be achieved in isolation or amidst materialistic individuals. By actively seeking out and remaining in the good association of devotees, a conditioned soul can reform their bad habits, awaken their dormant spiritual knowledge, and steadily progress on the path back to Godhead.
The Transformative Power of Association
The human mind is highly susceptible to the influence of its surroundings. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that just as bad habits are acquired through improper company, they can be easily discarded by keeping good association. A person is known by their company, and therefore, one's conscience and character are directly molded by those they associate with. By actively seeking the company of devotees, individuals can reform their nature and elevate themselves from ignorance to the mode of goodness.
- If you associate with good association, then you become good. And if you associate with bad association, then you become bad. Therefore we are establishing Krsna conscious society.
- As silver becomes shiny by being polished, the heart of a materialistic person is cleansed of lusty desires by the good association of devotees.
- If one is in good association he can develop the mode of goodness, and if in bad association he may develop the mode of darkness or ignorance. Nothing is stereotyped. One can change his habit by good or bad association.
- The conscience is created by association. By good association, conscience is the good conscience and by bad association, a bad conscience is created. So there is no such standard as conscience. Conscience means discriminating power.
Awakening Transcendental Knowledge
Theoretical study alone is insufficient for grasping spiritual truths. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the intricacies of the Absolute Truth only become clear when discussed among self-realized souls. In the material world, conditioned living entities are distracted by repetitive sense gratification, but the association of saintly persons acts as a catalyst for genuine self-realization. By submissively hearing in this environment, one's dormant knowledge of the Supreme Lord is naturally awakened.
- In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said that the transcendental subject matter becomes clear in the association of the devotees. Without good association, one cannot achieve transcendental knowledge.
- By gradual development of Krsna consciousness in good association, the living entity can understand that due to forgetfulness of Krsna he has become conditioned by the laws of material nature.
- A conditioned soul is always engaged in some type of sense gratification, but when he understands by good association that it is only a repetition of the same thing, and he is awakened to his real Krsna consciousness.
- Anyone who can see three things - the body, the proprietor of the body, or individual soul, and the friend of the individual soul, combined together by good association-is actually in knowledge.
Developing Pure Devotional Service
The ultimate goal of human life is to revive one's loving relationship with God. This revival is systematically nurtured in the company of Vaiṣṇavas. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that when a person associates with those who exclusively accept Kṛṣṇa as the worshipable Deity, they naturally develop an attachment for hearing, chanting, and rendering devotional service. This transcendental company provides the spiritual strength necessary to cut off material attachments and remain fixed on the path back to Godhead.
- If, due to some righteous activities which provoke devotional service, one is influenced by the service attitude and takes shelter of the good association of pure devotees, he develops attachment for hearing and chanting.
- There are many so-called religions devoted to the worship of various demigods, but here (in SB 5.5.10-13) good association means association with one who simply accepts Krsna as his worshipable Deity.
- Through good association, one begins to hear and chant and observe the regulative principles of devotional service with faith, attachment and devotion and thus becomes engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord.
- Those who are sadhu, or realized, will be able to sever his attachment to material association. This is the great advantage to good association. For instance, Krsna speaks Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna just to cut off his attachment to this material affection.
Reforming Bad Habits
Many destructive behaviors, such as intoxication and meat-eating, are not inherent to the soul but are acquired through contact with degraded environments. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that just as these unwanted habits (anarthas) are learned through bad association, they can be easily unlearned by participating in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. By reforming one's character in a purified atmosphere, even a deeply conditioned soul can overcome their artificial vices and become a perfect, enlightened human being.
- In the beginning of life nobody smokes or nobody becomes intoxicated. It is learned by bad association. Similarly, it can be given up by good association. They are called anarthas. Anartha means unwanted bad habits.
- As for samskara, or reformation, this is possible by good association, for by good association one develops good habits, and habit becomes second nature.
- It is a fact that even a person born of good parents can turn into a demon by bad association. Birth is not always the criterion of goodness; unless and until one is trained in the culture of good association, one cannot become good.
- We are trying to form character and God consciousness, Krsna consciousness. So therefore it is not that this society is opened for exploiting others. This society is for giving good association to the misguided people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the quality of one's life is inextricably linked to the quality of their association. Materialistic company inevitably draws the mind toward temporary sense gratification and unwanted habits, keeping the soul bound in ignorance. However, by taking shelter of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and associating with sincere devotees, one can rapidly cleanse the heart of all contamination. This good association not only awakens transcendental knowledge but provides the practical strength to engage in pure devotional service, ultimately leading the successful seeker back home, back to Godhead.
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 Good Association. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.