The foremost duty is to associate with the spiritual master and other Vaisnavas.
(Residence of Sri Atul Chandra Banerjee, Dhanvad, September 30, 1921)
Association with devotees is the main criteria by which a human being develops a propensity for worshiping Lord Hari. By associating with nondevotees, one can make material advancement, and by the influence of associating with devotees, the soul progressively becomes absorbed in the service of Lord Hari. This is the main support and most important asset of human existence. Do not ever become averse to this association. There will definitely be tangible results by associating with devotees. We spend our lives uselessly without the association of devotees. Other duties and works only replace the service of Lord Hari.
Consider this maxim: sreyamsi bahu vighnani, or “for anything beneficial or auspicious, there are always many obstacles” and discuss the following verse (Srimad -Bhagavatam 11.9.29) with great care:
labdhva su-durlabham idam bahu-sambhavante
manusyam artha-dam anityam apiha dhirah
turnam yateta na pated anu-mrtyu yavan
nihsreyasaya visayah khalu sarvatah syat
“After many, many births and deaths, one achieves the rare human form of life, which, although temporary, affords one the opportunity to attain the highest perfection. Thus a sober human being should quickly endeavor for the ultimate perfection of life as long as his body, which is always subject to death, has not fallen down and died. After all, sense gratification is available even in the most abominable species of life, whereas Kṛṣṇa consciousness is possible only for a human being..”
PATRAMRITA Nectar from the Letters of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada
