# Temple and Association *On the importance of associating with devotees and visiting temples* --- ### Simply by Association > This temple means to give chance to the people in general, *ajñāta-sukṛti.* Anyone who will come to this temple where the Deity is there, and even by imitating others, if one offers obeisances to the Lord, that is taken into account. That is not useless, because Kṛṣṇa says, *mad-yājinaḥ. Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*. This is Kṛṣṇa's desire. He gives the four principles, that "Always think of Me," *man-manā,* "and become My devotee," *mad-bhakta, mad-yājī,* "worship Me," and *mad-yāji... Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru:* "Just offer little obeisances. These four principles will deliver you from this bondage of material existence and," *mām evaiśyasi asaṁśaya,* "without any doubt, you'll come back to Me." So, so simple thing. It is not at all difficult. This child, he can do this. Old man can do this. Learned man can do this, without any knowledge. Even an animal can do it. Very simple. *Bhakti-yoga* is very simple. Therefore, somehow or other, if somebody comes into the temple, and even by imitating one offers obeisances... We have seen so many people, our devotees are offering obeisances, they also think that "It is the etiquette. Let me do that," by association. Therefore it is recommended, *sādhu-saṅga* [Cc Madhya 22.83]. Sādhu-saṅga.* Simply by association, one can be delivered. *Saṁsāra-cakra-kadanāt.* It is so nice thing. — [[spoken/1976/760223sb.may|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.16, Māyāpur, February 23, 1976]] --- ### Divine Consciousness Through Association > Therefore our present duty is how to make the consciousness divine. That should be our business. If you want divine life, if you want spiritual elevation back to Godhead, back to home—that means eternal life, blissful life full of knowledge—then we have to train ourselves in divine consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That you can very easily do by association. *Saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ.* If you keep divine association, then your consciousness is made divine. And if you keep hellish association, demonic association, then your consciousness is trained up in that way. — [[spoken/1969/690220bg.la|Bhagavad-gītā 6.35–45 [Sāṅkhya Yoga System], Los Angeles, February 20, 1969]] --- ### Śraddhā and Association > This *āsakti,* the first thing is *ādau śraddhā* little faith. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very nice let us go to the temple and hear about it. This is called *śraddhā,* this is the beginning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So if one is serious then he can make association with the devotees who are actually practising Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is called *sādhu-saṅga, sādhu* means those who are devotees of Kṛṣṇa, *sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ, bhajate mām ananya-bhāk.* — [[spoken/1972/720220le.vis|Lecture Partially Recorded At Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Maṭh BV Purī Mahārāja, Visakhapatnam, February 20, 1972]] --- ### Opening Centers for Association > So *ādau śraddhā,* so first of all you must have this *śraddhā.* Then because one has got *śraddhā,* naturally his business will be to associate with devotees. "Where devotees are sleeping? How the devotees are working? How they are developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness?" Though associates, so therefore we give chance, opening centers, we give chance for association. "Please come, sit down here and just try to learn something about devotional service, take *prasādam.* In this way our activities are to give chance to the ordinary people for good association. — [[spoken/1971/710222sb.gor|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.30–31, Gorakhpur, February 22, 1971]] --- ### Initiation Means Purification > So this initiation process means purification. It will make you perfectly purified, so that you can also associate with Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone has got the chance. Kṛṣṇa is not partial, He is available to somebody, not available to somebody. No. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā,* — [[spoken/1970/700220in.la|Initiation Lecture, Los Angeles, February 20, 1970]] --- ### Associate with Devotees > And how it is possible to take complete shelter of Kṛṣṇa, which is fearlessness, no anxiety, *vaikuṇṭha? Durlabha manava-janama sat-saṅge.* This is possible if you associate with devotees. If you think that "Now I have become very much advanced. Now I shall live alone and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, imitating Haridāsa Ṭhākura,'' this is nonsense. It is... You cannot imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura. You have to associate with devotees. *Durlabha manava-janam sat sange. Sat-sange. Satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido.* If you remain with the devotees, then by their association, by talking with them, you'll get real understanding of God consciousness. — [[spoken/1972/720527pu.la|Purport to Bhajahū Re Mana, Los Angeles, May 27, 1972]] --- ### Stock Exchange of Devotees > It is very practical to understand. Just like in material world there are many associations, societies. Businessmen, they have got their stock exchange association, those who are dealing in exchange. They have got an association. They go there, and their business facility is very good. Similarly, so many clubs. If you want to drink and enjoy sense, you go to so many clubs and associate with them, and you'll learn how to drink, how to mate very nicely. So association is very important. Therefore our Kṛṣṇa consciousness Society are giving chance people to associate with us, so that he'll be able to understand what is Kṛṣṇa, what is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. — [[spoken/1972/720527pu.la|Purport to Bhajahū Re Mana, Los Angeles, May 27, 1972]] --- ### Bhāgavatās Are Tīrtha > *Bhāgavatās tīrthabhūtaḥ.* They are already purified, holy place of pilgrimage. Therefore, the *bhāgavatas,* they travel all over the world to purify the ordinary human being. — [[spoken/1974/740601sb.gen|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.10, Geneva, June 1, 1974]] --- ### Sat-saṅga Required > Therefore *sat-saṅga* required. This *sat-saṅga, satāṁ prasaṅgāt.* By the association of devotee we awaken our inquisitiveness about God. — [[spoken/1975/750801sb.no|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.50, New Orleans, August 1, 1975]] --- *9 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on temple and association*