Importance of Devotee Association

2017-07-29 Srimad Bhagavatam 11.03.30 - Importance of Devotee Association (download mp3) by Baladev Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 11.3.30parasparanukathanam pavanam bhagavad-yasahmitho ratir mithas tustir nivrttir mitha atmanah Translation: One should learn how to associate with the devotees of the Lord by gathering with them to chant the glories of the Lord. This process is most purifying. As devotees thus develop their loving friendship, they feel mutual happiness and satisfaction. And by thus encouraging one another they are able to give up material sense gratification, which is the cause of all suffering. Purport: According to Srila Sridhara Svami, those who are advanced in Krsna consciousness should not envy one another or quarrel among themselves. Giving up all such mundane feelings, they should gather together and chant the glories of the Supreme Lord for mutual purification. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has pointed out that glorification of the Supreme Lord is especially potent when performed in the association of pure devotees. When devotees engage in sankirtana, chanting the glories of the Lord together, they experience the highest transcendental bliss and satisfaction. Thus they encourage one another to give up material sense gratification, which is based on illicit sexual connections with women. One devotee will say to another, “Oh, you have given up sense gratification. Starting today, I shall also give it up.” One should learn to increase one’s love for the devotees, to satisfy them and to give up sense objects unfavorable to serving Krsna. And one should learn to view the entire universe as paraphernalia for the Lord’s service. By engaging the objects of the senses in Krsna’s service, one automatically becomes detached from them. And as one passes one’s days in the association of the Lord’s devotees, one’s transcendental ecstasy increases more and more, through discussions about the topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Therefore, one who wants to be free from the harassment of maya in the form of sense gratification must constantly associate with pure devotees of the Lord who have no engagement other than chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord and carrying out His mission on earth. Srila Madhvacarya has pointed out that just as one should cultivate friendship with devotees, one must cultivate a spirit of friendship toward the demigods, who manage the universe on the Lord’s behalf. Thus one should live peacefully within this world.