livingentity 0 Report post Posted September 10, 2003 The following three verses from Nectar of Instruction very clearly bring out the importance of Devotee association in making spiritual advancement TEXT 3 utsahan niscayad dhairyat tat-tat-karma-pravartanat sanga-tyagat sato vrtteh sadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati TRANSLATION There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam--hearing, chanting and remembering Krsna], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous acaryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service. TEXT 4 dadati pratigrhnati guhyam akhyati prcchati bhunkte bhojayate caiva sad-vidham priti-laksanam TRANSLATION Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one's mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasada and offering prasada are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another. TEXT 5 krsneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta diksasti cet pranatibhis ca bhajantam isam susrusaya bhajana-vijnam ananyam anya- nindadi-sunya-hrdam ipsita-sanga-labdhya TRANSLATION One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Krsna, one should offer humble obeisances to the devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation [diksa] and is engaged in worshiping the Deity, and one should associate with and faithfull serve that Pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted September 10, 2003 Yes, satsanga is very important. Unless we learn to associate with other devotees and share our hopes, desires, feelings etc., we cannot make headways in the spiritual path. But constant practice should not be forgotten either, it is more important. Luv, Special Guest Star Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yasodanandana 0 Report post Posted September 10, 2003 practice is not more important, because it comes from association... if you associate with devotees you take the behaviour of the devotees, if not, all your efforts to mantain japa, sadhana, rules, behaviour wil be very soon useless or we can say that "practice means association" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livingentity 0 Report post Posted September 10, 2003 Vedic scriptures say that no amount of pious activity can generate feelings of devotion for God in a person. Devotion can only be received from one who already has devotion in him, namely a devotee. The most important aspect of devotional advancement is to seek out the association of other devotees and pray for their causeless mercy. Adi Purana; Laghu-bhagavatamrta 2.6 ye me bhakta-janah partha na me bhaktas ca te janah mad-bhaktanam ca ye bhaktas te me bhakta-tama matah TRANSLATION Lord Krsna told Arjuna, 'Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My servant are factually My devotees.' Padma Purana, Laghu-bhagavatamrta 2.4 aradhananam sarvesam visnor aradhanam param tasmat parataram devi tadiyanam samarcanam TRANSLATION Lord Siva told the Goddess Durga, 'My dear Devi, although the Vedas mention the worhship of the demigods, the worhsip of Lord Vishnu is topmost and is ultimately recommended. However above the worship of Lord Vishu is the rendering of service to Vaisnavas who are related to Lord Vishnu. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.13 tulayama lavenapi na svargam napunar-bhavam bhagavat-sangi-sangasya martyanam kim utasisah TRANSLATION The value of a moment's association with the devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which are for those who are meant for death. Sri Vaisnava Pranama vancha-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah TRANSLATION I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Govindaram 1 Report post Posted September 10, 2003 "Devotion can only be received from one who already has devotion in him" Bit like a rod thats put in a fire, it has potential to light fire- <font color="red"> anywhere </font color> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livingentity 0 Report post Posted September 10, 2003 burning! Hare Krsna! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Govindaram 1 Report post Posted September 10, 2003 "Devotion can only be received from one who already has devotion in him" Bit like a rod thats put in a fire, it has potential to light fire- anywhere..so keep the fire burning! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stonehearted 0 Report post Posted September 10, 2003 a "guest": But constant practice should not be forgotten either, it is more important. Constant practice includes association with devotees. Out of all the processes of bhakti which Mahaprabhu explained to Sanatana Gosvami, He pointed out five devotional activities as the most important, the most potent. The first of those is sadhu-sanga. The others are congregational chanting of Krishna's holy names, etc.; hearing about Krishna from the Bhagavatam and other sacred literatures; living in a holy dhama; and serving the Lord in His Sri Murti with attention and faith. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yasodanandana 0 Report post Posted September 10, 2003 "Constant practice includes association with devotees" you do not need the appreciation of a neophite like me... but i have found your message very nice and clear Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Govindaram 1 Report post Posted September 10, 2003 Hare Krishna yasodanandana: you do not need the appreciation of a neophite like me Hey praise is good! Neophite or not... Srila Prabhupada: All Glories to the Assembled devotees Devotees: Hare Krishna!! (from 1 neophite to another (just kidding) /images/graemlins/blush.gif Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Priitaa 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2003 What was that quote? Something like --- '90% of your advancement in Krishna consciousness is dependent upon association.' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stonehearted 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2003 yasodanandana: i have found your message very nice and clear. It's very kind of you to say so; I'm just trying to share a little of what I've heard from my spiritual master. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livingentity 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2003 Without association we will only progress to a certain point and then go stagnant. Prabhupada stresses this association over and over. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yasodanandana 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2003 ramananda roy says to sri chaitanya mahaprabhu: "apart from separation from the devotee of krishna, i know no unbearable unhappiness" madya lila 8.248 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stonehearted 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2003 Excellent! Thanks so much Yasodanandana. I was just thinking of the same verse. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
