Divine Words of His Divine Grace
Srila Bhakti Rakshak Srila Dhar Dev Goswami
So, whatever awakening we have in consciousness, we shall utilize that by placing ourselves in the care of Godly persons; only then there is value of devotion to God. Those who know the value of devotion to God, they are our near relations. They will appreciate this inner awakening, and they will take care of my devotional self”. This is the ultimate benefit of sadhu-sangha”: when medicine or our own attempts cannot heal us, the doctor advises us to make a change.
Then the air and the water will naturally come to help improve our health. So, also, the atmosphere of saintly persons improves our spiritual health. Anyway, to always remain in the company of devotees in the same sampradaya the same line but superior devotees, by taking the lower position such association is most desirable for any person aspiring to progress spiritually.
Srila Rupa Goswami has given the gist of the advice in Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu:
“We are to associate with those superior to us, but in the same line of the Gaudiya Vaisnava devotees in Krsna Consciousness. They also carry the same conception of the spiritual Truth, but superior to me. If I engage my self even as a sweeper in that camp, it will be highly valuable for my future spiritual life.”
The association of the divine agents of the Supreme Lord. This is laid out beautifully as the devotees sing:
“diya pada-chaya sodha he amare” – “give me the shade of your lotus feet and purify me”
from Ohe Vaishnava Thakura by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
The divine principle of Anugatya always to take shelter of our senior Vaisnavas who are superior in realization to us and who can give us the direct service of Srimati Radharani and Her prananatha, Sri Krsnacandra in Vraja.
