Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

Therere many examples of very fallen persons purified by devotees beginning with Jagai and Madhai.
One can serve devotees indirectly too, e.g. by contributing to the mission, talking about it, etc.

I am sorry, but this doesnt really answer my question; unless I am missing something.

Iow, Im not aware of such circumstances since therere various types of association.

I have not thought of there being different types of association. I am not sure what exactly they are, either.

How does one choose which type of association to pursue?

"contributing to the mission, talking about it, etc."
Therere many devotees who cant associate personally with others due to a distance, a poor health, a lack of travel money, a lack of time, etc.
Thanks to internet and other modern means of communication theyre not completely bereft of sanga. One chooses acc to desa, kala and patra.

[quote][cite] VEDA:[/cite] One chooses acc to desa, kala and patra.[/quote]

I dont understand how to apply that criterion.

Then you need an advice in every specific case, best from someone close to you who knows the complete situation. Iow, a siksa guru.

One needs to pursue association of devotees who are more advanced (as in service) and equals (as in friendship) and by showing kindness (to those who are less intelligent or less advanced). Knowing how to associate with devotees is a qualification in itself, an adhikara.

[quote][cite] VEDA:[/cite]Then you need an advice in every specific case, best from someone close to you who knows the complete situation. Iow, a siksa guru.[/quote]

There is noone like that in my life.

[quote][cite] ccd:[/cite]One needs to pursue association of devotees who are more advanced (as in service) and equals (as in friendship) and by showing kindness (to those who are less intelligent or less advanced). Knowing how to associate with devotees is a qualification in itself, an adhikara.[/quote]

So what is someone who does not have such qualification supposed to do?

Than you do what Veda told you - consult those who have and form your association.

But this itself is under question as well! In fact, esp. this is under question.

I actually do not think you should avoid anyone -- to answer your question, it is just a matter how much you want to open your mind to them or how much you want to be formal. But if you see others as more advanced just serve them, there is hardly any service in "avoiding" them.

I dont know how to say this politely, so I am just going to speak directly.

From the beginning on, my main impression of devotees has been that they want to be seen as more than "just people", that they are supposed to be seen as special, a category apart, and that I need to acknowledge their absolute superiority over myself in every matter. That they are like royals, and I am a mere commoner - meaning that there would always be a fundamental disconnect between myself and devotees.

At first, this exclusivism didnt bother me, I was used to a similar attitude from Christians.

But it has begun to seriously disturb me lately. One devotee suggested that we be friends (again), another revealed his mind to me. Both are senior to me. That got me really confused.

For the most part so far, I have made the conscious effort to keep up the royal/commoner difference, keeping myself distant and superficially emotional, thinking myself expendable and that the devotees are "just being nice because they are nice people, but that niceness has nothing to do with me". That while I have to open up, they are free to remain aloof. I have tried to be involved without actually getting involved.

But I am sick of this dynamics.

However, I dont know any other way to behave toward devotees.

Oh, well you can just surrender completely, give up all the attachments, move to the holy dhama and is this way you have absolutely no problem with dynamics. I would do it if I was you;-)

Other peoples burdens are always lighter than ones own, arent they ... :)