Divine Words of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami
We are finite beings that are lost here. We have a long journey ahead with much trouble, but the disappointment and dejection is minimized if we have good association on that long journey.
By talking with them about the Lord, we can go on. We forget the weariness of the journey.
krshna-bhakti-janma-müla haya ‘sådhu-sanga’
krshna-prema janme, teho punar mukhya anga
The root cause of devotion to Krshna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Krshna awakens, the association with devotees is still most essential.
(Cc. Madhya 22.83)
The very origin of devotion to Krshna comes from the association of the sådhu – krshna-prema janme, teho punar mukhya anga. And when we acquire a drop of divine love within our heart then also our hope, solace, consolation, health, everything comes from the association of the devotees. The devotees are all in all, from the beginning up to the end. Our favorable companions can help us in our journey towards the Infinite. They are something solid, something concrete – similar in nature to us.
Only with the interchange of our thought, good, bad, hope, despair – everything they can appreciate and in a group we can go on. Otherwise if we are alone we will think, “Oh, what am I doing? I am wild goose chasing.” A reaction may come and we may leave our bhajana and go away. Our Guru Mahåråja gave much stress on the association of the devotees.
dusa mana! tumi kisera vaishnava?
pratishåra tare, nirjanera ghare,
tava hari-nåma kevala kaitava
O mind, what kind of Vaishnava are you? To gain false prestige you sit in a solitary place, but your chanting of the Holy Name is only cheating.
(Vaishnava ke? 1)
Do you want to take the Holy Name of Krshna in a solitary place?
This is a hoax of Måyå – she will come and take you by your ear. You won’t be able to fight for a long time if you are alone.
Always try to be with others. When you are with so many other devotees you will get strength from one another and a long march will be a very pleasant thing for you. A sincere devotee will always hanker after good association with those who will be able to help him, giving encouragement at every stage. “No, it is very near. Let us go – a little more and then we shall get some clue.” In this way, there will be mutual help.
I was once told that Napoleon reached somewhere with his soldiers in a harsh land and they were standing there for a long time. They were very tired and they wanted to take a seat. They could not go on standing any longer. Then Napoleon put them in a circle and asked them to take their seat. Everyone was giving a seat to another by sitting on another’s lap. In this way, in a circle, everyone got a seat.
That was the ‘Napoleonic Chair.’ Sådhu-sanga is like that. When my mind is a little depressed, the sådhu will come to encourage me. In this way, the journey forwards is very comfortable.
