Prabhupāda Guides His Disciples to Perfect Their Lives through Good Association
To successfully navigate the treacherous ocean of material existence, a practitioner of bhakti-yoga requires a sturdy vessel. Śrīla Prabhupāda established his worldwide society as this very vessel, teaching his disciples that the protective shelter of pure devotee association is the most critical ingredient for perfecting their lives.
The Absolute Necessity of Devotee Association
Advancement in spiritual life is practically impossible in isolation. Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that the primary purpose of opening centers across the globe was simply to give the conditioned souls a chance to associate with those who are actively remembering the Supreme Lord. By staying in this transcendental company, the neophyte gains the required strength to adhere to the regulative principles.
- Association is so important. So if we become serious for developing divine consciousness, then this is the only association - we have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
- The best way to make advancement in Krishna consciousness is by the association of advanced devotees.
- Why we are establishing so many centers? Just to give the people in general the chance of association. It is very important thing, association.
- By the association of devotee we awaken our inquisitiveness about God. Therefore the centers are required. It is not unnecessarily we are opening so many centers. No. It is for the benefit of the human society.
- First faith, then association, then beginning of regulative principles. And if one follows, then the next promotion is to the stage of anartha-nivrtti, disappearance of all misgivings.
Purification Through Transcendental Contact
We absorb the qualities of those we surround ourselves with. Using simple logic, Śrīla Prabhupāda noted that if one mixes with smokers, they will learn to smoke, and if one mixes with devotees, they will naturally learn to love Kṛṣṇa. This sādhu-saṅga acts as a powerful purifying agent, effortlessly cleansing the heart of bad habits and awakening dormant spiritual consciousness.
- By association, good association, everything is possible. Therefore you have to make this association of Krsna consciousness so perfect that anyone who comes in contact with that association, he becomes purified automatically.
- By association with undesirable companions we have learned so many bad habits and similarly by association with pure persons or devotees we can become purified of our acquired bad habits.
- If I mix with smokers' association, then gradually I learn how to smoke. Similarly, if I mix with devotees' association, then I become gradually devotee.
- Just like in our association we don't allow four kinds of sinful activities: illicit sex life, nonvegetarian diet, intoxication, and gambling. So by following the regulative principles one becomes freed from all these sinful activities.
- If we prosecute our devotional activities and keep our association with the devotees, then we can be free from sinful activities. And when you are completely free from sinful activities, then we get nistha. Yes, it is full faith. Nistha means full faith.
Strictly Avoiding Unwanted Company
A growing spiritual creeper is incredibly fragile and can easily be uprooted by negative influences. Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda issued strict warnings to his disciples to avoid the association of materialistic persons, unauthorized scholars, and pseudo-devotees known as sahajiyās. Associating with those who willfully break the regulative principles is considered highly dangerous to one's advancement.
- Anyone who is unwilling to follow our regulated principles, you should not live or associate closely with such a person.
- Jana-sangas ca, to associate with unwanted people. You must associate with devotees, not others. They are called.... laulya, jana-sangas ca.
- I understand that you have been invited by Syama Dasi in Africa. I don't advise that you associate with her because she is sahajiya. To associate with her will hamper pure devotional service.
- If any of our students artificially try to become scholars by associating with unwanted persons they become victimized, for a little learning is dangerous, especially for the Westerners.
- Under the circumstances, we shall fully non-cooperate with this Swami Bon and neither we shall form any kind of association with any person whose aim it is to blaspheme the Lord or his pure devotee.
Associating Through Sound and Literature
Association is not merely physical; it is profoundly experienced through transcendental sound vibration. By loudly chanting the mahā-mantra, one is directly associating with Kṛṣṇa. Furthermore, Śrīla Prabhupāda assured his students that by reading authorized literature like the Bhagavad-gītā and The Nectar of Devotion, they were personally associating with the previous ācāryas and the Supreme Lord Himself.
- My advice to you is that you associate always with Krsna through chanting the Holy Name. If you are always with Krsna there is no question of moroseness or anxiety.
- If you chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, you associate with Krsna. If you associate with fire, you become warm, similarly, if you associate with Krsna, then you become gradually Krsna-ized.
- By offenseless chanting, when we associate with Krsna through His Holy Name, then all inauspicious things are cleared from the heart.
- 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.
- This book, Nectar of Devotion, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, if you read regularly, try to understand, this means you are associating with Srila Rupa Gosvami directly. And if you act accordingly, then you are serving their lotus feet.
The Principle of Vāṇī Over Vapu
As the society expanded internationally, it was impossible for everyone to have the constant physical presence (vapu) of their spiritual master. To bridge this gap, Śrīla Prabhupāda heavily emphasized the principle of vāṇī—association through instructions. He promised that whenever a disciple sincerely executed his orders, they were experiencing his direct, unbroken association.
- They are understanding association with the Spiritual Master is the same as association with His vani or teachings. This is a transcendental fact.
- Two ways of associating - by vani and by vapu.
- We should associate by the vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association.
- You write to say, "I really miss Swamiji and my God-brothers' association so much." But I may remind you that I am always with you. And so wherever I am there, and you are there, all your God-brothers are there.
- You have rightly said that the best way to associate with the spiritual master is to follow his instructions.
Tolerating Difficulties to Remain Sheltered
Because spiritual centers are essentially hospitals treating souls sick with material conditioning, interpersonal friction is inevitable. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly advised his disciples not to become discouraged by disagreements. He stressed that a devotee must be tolerant and mature, resolving issues cooperatively rather than abandoning the life-saving association of the mission.
- Under all circumstances you must remain in the association of devotees. Do not let yourself fall out of this association.
- Do not let yourself fall out of this association. Even if it is very difficult and there may be many problems or disagreements still simply by remaining in the association of devotees and follow our regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds, rising early.
- Sometimes there may be disagreement and quarrel but we should not go away. These inebrieties can be adjusted by the cooperative spirit, tolerance and maturity so I request you to kindly remain in the association of our devotees and work together.
- Our mission is a continued effort and we need not give up the association of devotees simply because there is a difference of opinion how to preach our philosophy.
Conclusion
The sublime network of temples Śrīla Prabhupāda established was meant entirely to facilitate pure spiritual association. By seeking the company of advanced devotees, avoiding detrimental influences, and connecting with Kṛṣṇa through sound and literature, a disciple becomes completely insulated from material nature. Ultimately, by tolerating all difficulties and holding firmly to the instructions of the spiritual master, one secures their path 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 Our Association (Disciples of SP). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.