Summary: A question is often raised by householders Vaishnavas - How do I avoid the contaminations of bad association I find in the work place? Here Bhakti Vinode Thakur details some principles that are to be applied for all ashrams. His explanation centers on making a clear distinction between love and duty. While the prohibition side is there (intimacy with non-Vaishnavas should be strictly avoided), the opposite is implied, i.e. That exchanges with devotees should be done with love, with deep caring for the Vaishnava who we are serving. Without this dimension of love and genuine caring, there will be no real association, and thus no transformation within the character of the individual.

Reading Assignment

Association

Summary: In all ages, the singular importance of saintly association is ALWAYS stressed, and is highly effective, in fact essential, in bringing relief from the awful symptoms of degradation within the modes of nature.

Reading Assignment

a) QUALITIES OF THE AGE OF KALI (Purport to S.B. 1.16.21, Srila Prabhupada)

Summary: Here is some valuable instruction from Caitanya caritamrta and from Hari Sauri's diary (written while serving as Srila Prabhupada's servant) on the risk of accepting food cooked by non-devotees, even vegetarian! Combine these instructions with the Kellogg's research I sent out recently...why risk taking unknown things?

Reading Assignment

a) Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 6.278

TRANSLATION When one eats food offered by a materialistic man, one's mind becomes contaminated, and when the mind is contaminated, one is unable to think of Krsna properly.

Below you will find an interesting exchange with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada, when questioned about the effects of vaisnava association upon non-devotees, and in general on the apparent relationship between "Devotees and Karma". Very interesting!

Reading Assignment a) by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada

Question: When a devotee is born in a family, does that family benefit from his or her birth?

The principle of association is what determines elevation or degredation of character and consciousnes. "We take on the qualities of those with whom we associate", Srila Prabhupada often taught us. This is confirmed by Rupa Goswami in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. We should *very carefully* select our association. And we should meticulously seek quality exchanges with those provide good association for us. For those who we become well-wishers of, but who may be victims of Kali yuga's influence in various way, the very best benefit we can offer them is to become good association for them -- by the grace and mercy of those more elevated than ourselves. Below are direct quotes from Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu on this topic.

Reading Assignment

Reading Assignment: Krishna's Peace Mission
Mahabharata by Krishna Dharma

Scene: Krishna has arrived in Hastinapur, on a mission to offer peace to the Kurus.

After consoling Queen Kunti, Krishna went to the palace of Duryodhana. Duryodhana came down from his elevated seat and welcomed Krishna warmly. He showed him to a large throne covered with exquisite silk carpet and soft white cushions. When Krishna was seated, the Kuru prince personally worshipped him and offered him the traditional gift of a cow. His brothers, along with the other Kings, also came and worshipped Krishna.

Reading Assignment

Summary: The definition of what association means, and what association a householder devotee in particular is advised to carefully avoid, who is required by circumstance to mix with worldly persons, is identified. In principle, devotees are advised to seek the association of those more advanced. Bhakti devi will not manifest herself without devotee association of some type. We all need the association of devotees. On the other hand, bad association must be carefully avoided. To be most precise, Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur has provided a list of seven types of bad association. I did not copy that portion of the text which elaborates upon each type of bad association because of its length.

Summary: The First Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam corresponds to the lotus feet of the sound representation form of Krishna. At the lotus feet of the Lord we will find all of the Lord's devotees. We will also find complete instructions as to how to best approach these lotus feet in pure consciousness. By incorporating these instructions within our lives, we will attain the Lord's shelter, His eternal service, and His eternal abode. Early on in the 1st Canto Narada narrates his own story, how he personally became transformed from 'rags to riches', or from worldly insignificance to a superlative exalted state of spiritual perfection. The details of his transformation are of great pertinence to our own efforts on the bhakti path.

Reading Assignment a) From Srila Prabhupada nectar book by HH Satsvarupa Das Goswami, b) "Liberalism & duplicity" by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

a)"Srila Prabhupada Nectar Book" - by HH Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami