What is the root of devotional service to Lord Krishna?
“The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is association with advanced devotees (sadhu sanga). Even when one’s dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with devotees (sadhu sanga) is still most essential.” CC Madhya 22.83
You may be familiar with Rupa Goswami‘s explanation of the development of pure devotional service. It starts with a little attraction or faith (sraddha) which brings us to the temple or sanga gatherings. Then we need to engage in sadhu sanga, association with advanced devotees. By such association we should develop strong faith, and commitment to the process of bhakti yoga. Through continual sadhu sanga, we should gradually make advancement in spiritual consciousness, rise above the miseries of material existence, and become increasingly peaceful and happy.
For many people, everything develops as it should. But some of us can remain unhappy, even depressed, and feel as if we are stuck in a spiritual rut? For some of us, association with other devotees may be sullied with petty differences and some of us may feel very discouraged and alienated by such experiences. Why do these difficulties occur?
Srila Prabhupada tells us it is because we are not properly trained in the culture of sadhu sanga. He says, “unless and until one is trained in the culture of good association, one cannot become good.” (SB 3.3.6 purport)
On this web page: https://improvingsanga.wordpress.com/ we examine some of the many instructions that Srila Prabhupada gives on the subject of sadhu sanga.
We encourage everyone to begin regularly discussing at least Bhagavad-Gita As It Is with their family or friends.