Quotes: sadhu-sanga (Srimad Bhagavatam)
(садху дает Господь) ШБ 10.51.53: “О Ачьюта, когда материальное существование скитающейся по миру души подходит к концу, она встречается с Твоими преданными. Общаясь с ними, человек обретает привязанность к Тебе, конечной цели Твоих преданных, повелителю всех причин и следствий”.
(общение определяюще) ШБ 3.23.55: “Общение, в которое люди вступают ради удовлетворения своих чувств, лишь порабощает их. Но то же самое общение со святой личностью приводит человека на путь освобождения, даже если он не подозревает, с кем общается”.
(критка преданных) 4.4.17 [Sati said] If one hears an irresponsible person blaspheme the guardian of devotion (dharmāvitarya or dharma-rakṣaka), one should block his ears and go away if unable to punish him. But if one is able to kill, then one should by force cut out the blasphemer's tongue and kill the offender, and after that one should give up his own life.
(связь с Госаодом) Стих 11.11.48 Враждебные цари, подобные Шишупале, Паундраке и Шалве, всегда, даже в то время, когда они лежали, сидели или занимались другими делами, с завистью думали о Господе Кришне, о Его игривых движениях, любовных взглядах обращенных на преданных и других Его привлекательных качествах. Так будучи всегда поглощенными мыслями о Кришне, они достигли духовного освобождения в обители Господа. Что же тогда говорить тех, кто постоянно с любовью думает о Господе?
(общение с преданным побеждает Кришну) Стихи 11.12.1-2 Верховная Личность Бога сказал: Мой дорогой Уддхава, общаясь с Моими преданными, человек может разрушить свою привязанность к объектам материального чувственного наслаждения. Такое очищающее общение ставит Меня в зависимость от Моего преданного. Человек может следовать системе аштанга-йоги, заниматься философским анализом элементов материальной природы, практиковать ненасилие — ахимсу и другие принципы праведности, воспевать ведические гимны, налагать на себя покаяния, принимать отречённый образ жизни, выполнять жертвенные церемонии и копать колодцы, сажать деревья и заниматься общественно полезной деятельностью, давать милостыню, соблюдать суровые обеты, поклоняться полубогам, воспевать сокровенные мантры, посещать святые места или принимать главные или второстепенные наставления Писаний, но, даже занимаясь всем этим, он не подчинит Меня себе
(недстатки) Стих 4.4.12 О двaждырожденный Дaкшa, людям, подобным тебе, достaвляет удовольствие нaходить недостaтки в других. Но Господь Шивa не обрaщaет внимaния нa чужие недостaтки, и, нaоборот, обнaруживaя в человеке сaмые незнaчительные достоинствa, превозносит их. К несчaстью, дaже в этой великой душе тебе удaлось отыскaть недостaтки.
(совместный поис истины) Стих 4.22.19 Когда преданные собираются вместе, их беседы, их вопросы и ответы, позволяют говорящему и слушателям прийти к убедительным выводам. Такие встречи помогают всем, кто участвует в них, обрести истинное счастье.
(сат и асат санга) 11.26.26 Therefore an intelligent person should dissociate himself from evil company and associate with saintly persons, for the wise and pious saints sever one's deep attachment to material existence and one gets liberation by their teachings. Стих 3.23.55 Тот, кто действительно хочет обрести освобождение, должен избегать общения с материалистичными людьми, а тот, кто уже обрел его, — подавать им пример. Служащие Господу должны быть так же милостивы, как Он Сам, ибо Он всегда сострадателен к падшим душам.
(мгновение общения) 11.2.30 O sinless ones! We therefore inquire from you about that which is supremely auspicious for all living beings, for in this world association with saints even for a half a moment is the most valuable treasure in human society.
(выше всего) 1.18.13 Elevation to the heavenly planets and liberation from material existence cannot be compared to even a moment's association with a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. What then can be said of material benedictions, which are for those who are destined to die?
(пыль со стоп садху выше) 5.12.12 My dear King Rahūgaṇa, unless one has the opportunity to smear his body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realize the Absolute Truth. One cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy, by worshiping the Deity, by taking sannyāsa, by perfectly following the rules of the gṛhastha āśrama, nor can one attain the truth by accepting severe penances and austerities, by studying the Vedas, nor by worshiping the gods of water and sun. Only by bathing in the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee is the Absolute Truth revealed.
Strengthening attachment to the Personality of Godhead and devotees through prasanga
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.
Purport: The process of advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service is described here. The first point is that one must seek the association of persons who are Kṛṣṇa conscious and who engage in devotional service. Without such association one cannot make advancement. Simply by theoretical knowledge or study one cannot make any appreciable advancement. One must give up the association of materialistic persons and seek the association of devotees because without the association of devotees one cannot understand the activities of the Lord. Generally, people are convinced of the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth. Because they do not associate with devotees, they cannot understand that the Absolute Truth can be a person and have personal activities. This is a very difficult subject matter, and 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. Nondevotees cannot appreciate Kṛṣṇa consciousness by reading the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or any other Vedic literature wherein the activities of the Lord are described; they think that these activities are fictional, manufactured stories because spiritual life is not explained to them in the proper mood. To understand the personal activities of the Lord, one has to seek the association of devotees, and by such association, when one contemplates and tries to understand the transcendental activities of the Lord, the path to liberation is open, and he is freed. One who has firm faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes fixed, and his attraction for association with the Lord and the devotees increases. Association with devotees means association with the Lord. The devotee who makes this association develops the consciousness for rendering service to the Lord, and then, being situated in the transcendental position of devotional service, he gradually becomes perfect.
The value of serving devotees at all levels
The devotees of Kṛṣṇa engaged in His personal service are always very cautious, because they know that becoming personal servitors of Lord Kṛṣṇa is not an ordinary thing. A person who offers respect even to the ants engaged in the service of the Lord becomes eternally happy, so what is there to say of one who offers Kṛṣṇa direct service? Raktaka once said within himself, "Not only is Kṛṣṇa my worshipable and servable Lord, but also the girl friends of Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs, are equally worshipable and servable by me. And not only the gopīs, but anyone who is engaged in the service of the Lord is also worshipable and servable by me. I know that I must be very careful not to become overly proud that I am one of the servitors and devotees of the Lord." From this statement one can understand that the pure devotees, those who are actually engaged in the service of the Lord, are always very cautious and are never overly proud of their service.
The specifics of dealing with devotees for intermediate level devotees
Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.28. November 15, 1976, Vrndavana.
Kanistha-adhikari, he worships the Deity, but he does not know how to do good to others, neither he knows who is devotee. In the kanistha-adhikara, in the lower stage of devotional service, one cannot distinguish. But he should be engaged fully in Deity worship so that gradually he will develop his maha-bhagavata stage. And madhyama-adhikari means he knows how to make others hari-jana, or devotee.
isvare tad-adhinesu
balisesu dvisatsu ca
prema-maitri-krpa upeksa
yah karoti sa madhyamah
[SB 11.2.46]
He not only worships the Deity wholeheartedly... That is prema. Isvare prema. But beyond that, tad adhinesu -- he knows how to respect the devotees, tad adhinesu. Isvara adhinesu, that means other devotees. Then he becomes madhyama-adhikari. If he simply takes care of the Deity worship and if he does not offer respectful behavior to another devotee, he is kanistha-adhikari. He is in the lower stage. So isvare tad adhinesu. He must see that "Here is a devotee." He must have power to see that "Here is a devotee."
So how to deal with devotee? Maitri: to make friendship with him. Isvare prema. And to the devotees, friendship; not with others, friendship. Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised. When He was asked by a grhastha devotee how to behave like a Vaisnava, what is the behavior of a Vaisnava, He immediately answered that the standard Vaisnavism is asat-sanga-tyaga, -- ei vaisnava-acara [Cc Madhya 22.87]: "He must give up the company of asat, nondevotees." Asato ma sad gamah: don't associate with nondevotee. If you want to make progress, don't associate. Associate does not mean to talk with a nondevotee is association. No. That we have to do. As gentlemen, as devotee, we can. But not intimately.
Associate means dadati pratigrhnati bhunkte bhojayate caiva, guhyam akhyati prcchati ca [Upadesamrta 4]. These are intimate relationship, dealing: giving something to your friend, accepting something from your friend, feeding your friend, accept food from him, and disclose your mind to your friend and understand his mind. Sad-vidham priti-laksanam. So with devotee we should deal in six ways, sad-vidham priti. Isvare prema tad-adhinesu maitri. This is friendly behavior.
Direct exchanging of love
Room Conversation. January 30, 1974, Tokyo
Spiritual master is the representative of God. So if you cannot love your spiritual master, how you can love God? If you love me, you love my dog. Suppose you love somebody, and in his presence you kick his dog. Will he be pleased? He will immediately, "You rascal, you don't come here. Get out!" Therefore it is common saying, "If you love me, love my dog, first." So if you love God's dog, then God automatically becomes pleased. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado [Sri Sri Gurv-astaka]. If he is pleased, then God automatically is pleased -- even if you're wrong. This is the way. These boys, they are doing that. I am an Indian; I've come from foreign country. I did not bring any riches for them, or bribe them. Why they are following? Out of love.
But if you live alone in the railway station, how you can follow? Huh? Just like a boy and girl, love: "Yes, you live three thousand miles away, and I live three thousand miles away, and still we love." What is that love? Love, there are six symptoms,
dadati pratigrhnati
guhyam akhyati prcchati
bhunkte bhojayate caiva
sad-vidham priti-laksanam
[Upadesamrta 4]
These symptoms of love means one must give and take. One must disclose his mind and take instruction. One must give him to eat, and one must take something from him to eat. These are the six symptoms of love. Give and take. Just like you have given me this flower, so you have given. So if I instructed, "You take it," that is give and take. If I offer you prasadam, you should bring some foodstuff. You should disclose your mind, and you should say that "This is my problem; you should hear me." This is a symptom of love. Everything is there.
... That's all. This is love. "I go away from Guru Maharaja and live four hundred miles away, and I love Guru Maharaja." This is not..t Nonsense. You show some symptoms of love, that "My Guru Maharaja wants to do this. Oh, I must help him." Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted, prithivite achhe yata nagaradi gram: "As many towns and villages are there, everywhere must there be -- I mean to say -- broadcasting My missionary activities." So my Guru Maharaja attempted that. Everyone should attempt.
