Faith—Sadhu-Sanga

Sadhu-Sange Krsna-nama ei matra cai
samsara jinite ar kono vastu nai

(Jagadananda Pandit – Prema-vivarta).

“To chant Krsna-Nama without the association of the sadhus means also to have to proceed with difficulty. Therefore in one word the solution is in sadhu sanga. We are to secure the company of a standard realized soul, then everything will fall into place, and the king of the sadhu's is Sri Guru.”
(Swami B.R Sridhar)





Krsna yadi krpa kare kona bhagyavane
guru-antaryami-rupe kikyaya apane

'From Krsna comes inspiration to attain the transcendental world. He will send a sadhu, a Guru, a Vaisnava, and through them we will receive some light and strength — easily we shall be able to practise with their help, and attain our destination'

(Swami B.S. Govinda - Divine Guidance, pg. 21)





kona bhagye kona jivera 'sraddha' yadi haya
tabe sei jiva ‘sadhu-sanga’ ye karaya

“If, by good fortune, a living entity develops faith in Krsna, he begins to associate with devotees.
C.C Madhya 23.10




sadhu-sanga haite haya ‘sravana-kirtana’
sadhana-bhaktye haya ‘sarvanartha-nivartana’

“When one is encouraged in devotional service by the association of devotees, one becomes free from all unwanted contamination by following the regulative principles and chanting and hearing.”
C.C. Madhya 23.11




Devotee: What is the element that makes us perceive something as real?

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: The sastric name is sraddha, faith, and that is the developed state of sukriti as sadhu-sanga. Those that are in the real plane, the nirguna plane, beyond the creative world, the world of creation 'gunatita' nitya jagat; the agents of that upper world have come to establish some connection in our soul. The deepest element. What we think to be us, our soul. The connection with sadhu produces some thing which is faith and that faith can see. That is a world which is only approachable by faith. Just as we see color by eyes, sound by ear, so that world only faith can see, faith can feel it, and no other senses.

Faith, that is the real function of soul and that is awakened by the agent of Vaikuntha, the sadhu. Sukrti, jnata-sukrti, sraddha. By sraddha, then sadhu sanga, the association with the sadhu increases. And the transaction of the culture of reality that takes place gradually makes us fully conscious that where we are living, this is all transcient, this is of enemy type and the real element, my home, is elsewhere, is located in the world of pure consciousness, pure place. ''
(Swami B.R Sridhar)



The physical company is not real association but wherever this body or mental body may be, if I am in a faithful serving mood to any person, I am there with him in cetah [heart, consciousness] In the world of consciousness, only our subjugation— our faithful adherence to one soul, that is to be with him. Do you follow? Am I clear?

All: Yes.

Sridhar Maharaj: I am at his beck and call, this attitude gives us nearness of a soul, and not this body or any other things. Only submissiveness, only adherence, only faithful submission to any person that brings us near to him. This is sadhu-sanga proper.
(Swami B.R Sridhar)