Hare Krsna,
SB 3.25.25:
satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido
bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ
taj-joṣaṇād āśv apavarga-vartmani
śraddhā ratir bhaktir anukramiṣyati
In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin.
I vividly remember a few years ago when I was new to the Krsna consciousness movement I asked devotees in the temple what verse in our scriptures exemplifies best definition of good association with devotees. Many verses were cited as reference, and this verse (satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido) was one of them.
Over the years I had been meditating on what constitutes first-class devotee association. My personal realization is that just like with anything associated with the three material modes, association of devotees can also be categorized as per the three material modes of nature. There is association in the mode of ignorance, association in the mode of passion, and association in the mode of goodness. Association in the mode of ignorance refers to the association where the subject matter of discussion is related to criticism of people, things, and places, or devising sinister plans to cheat others – devotees and non-devotees alike. Association in the mode of passion indicates the association where the subject matter of discussion is related to fruitive motives such as family, wealth, health, job, financial security, politics, and so on. The primary motive is ‘what do I get out of any activity that we are performing?’ Association in the mode of goodness is related to hearing and discussing Krsna katha (hearing, chanting, remembering, etc.). We sometimes engage in this association out of sheer duty rather than pure devotional sentiment. We may not have much taste for hearing and chanting but we engage in such association because this is what is prescribed by guru, sadhu and sastra.
Please note that I am not saying that association of devotees by itself is either of ignorance, passion, or goodness. Association is pure, but because the people or sadhakas who are associating fall under the three modes of material nature, the association seem to be tainted with the three modes.
Higher than the above three types of association are the association of pure goodness. This type of association is completely beyond the three modes. The objective is to attain pure love of God through association with pure devotees. This verse – SB 3.25.25 – best defines the mood and quality of highest type of association. In the association of such pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead become very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge, one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin.
It is interesting that in the purport to this verse, Srila Prabhupada highlights devotion to the personal form of the Lord as the essence. He says that we must seek the association of pure devotees to understand the personal activities of the Lord. Basically, he is encouraging us to move from impersonal to personal conception of God. Only when will true desire to render devotional service to the Lord arise in our hearts. Srila Prabhupada says that unless one has personal understanding of the Absolute Truth, there is no meaning to devotion. Service or devotion cannot be offered to anything impersonal. Service must be offered to a person. This understanding will only come from pure devotees.
Tying this to the nine stages of devotion, the starting point of such association is faith. First faith has to be cultivated. From excellent association of the devotees, hearing Krsna’s pastimes become nectar for the ears. From inferior association as I mentioned above, there is only bhajana-kriya (performance of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa), but the hearing do not become nectar. However, from excellent association the hearing cause anartha-nivåtti (the diminishing of all unwanted habits). Then we reach the stage of niñöha (firm faith). Those topics then produce ruci (taste); they become very pleasing to the ear and heart. From taste arises asakti (attachment) and then bhava (emotion of affection) for the Lord, who destroys material existence, appears. Then prema (pure love of God) follows.
“In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.‘ (CC Madhya 23.14-15)
The weekly Sadhusanga review sessions that we participate in is association of highest quality. I have personally experienced that in such association with all of you, there is a gradual development of taste within my heart for hearing the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead which are very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. I am extremely grateful to our dear exalted teachers who are pure devotees themselves and to my fellow classmates for giving me such association. Acquiring such association is nothing but pure blessings of Krsna and my spiritual master.
All glories to all of you! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 