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Nectar Of Devotion Chp 19:

Devotional Service in Pure Love of God: Association with pure devotees.

 

THE WHOLE PROCESS OF ADVANCEMENT IN THE ASSOCIATION OF PURE DEVOTEES

 

"There are many societies and associations of pure devotees, and if someone

with just a little faith begins to associate with such societies, his

advancement to pure devotional service is rapid. The influence of a pure

devotee is such that if someone comes to associate with him with a little

faith, one gets the chance of hearing about the Lord from authoritative

scriptures like Bhagavad-g…t€ and ®r…mad-Bh€gavatam. Thus, by the mercy of

the Lord, who is situated in everyone’s heart, one gradually develops his

faith in the descriptions of such authoritative scriptures. This is the

first stage of association with pure devotees. In the second stage, after

one becomes a little advanced and mature, he automatically offers to follow

the principles of devotional service under the guidance of the pure devotee

and accepts him as the spiritual master. In the next stage, under the

guidance of the spiritual master, the devotee executes regulative devotional

service, and as a result of such activities, he becomes freed from all

unwanted occupations. When he is freed from unwanted occupations, his faith

becomes steadily fixed, and he develops a transcendental taste for

devotional service, then attachment, then ecstasies, and in the last stage

there is pure love of Godhead. These are the different stages of the

development of pure love." (Srila Prabhupada)