By association of the Great, one appears great.

In the sun there is great heat and light, and by reflecting the greatness of the sun’s light,
the moon in night also appears great. Actually the moon is by nature dark ans cold,
but in association with sun it has become accepted as great.
Hence by association of the Great, one appears great.

By association of the Great, one appears great.

All Quotes by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Association

Association is very important. It acts just like a crystal stone, which will reflect anything which is put before it. (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 12)

Association of pure devotees

In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ears and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation and thereafter he is freed and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin. (BTG #30-05, 1996)

Associating Directly With God

To chant God’s holy name means to associate directly with Him. (Science of Selfrealization, Ch. 4a)

Associating With Krishna

When we keep our association with Krishna, every activity is proper and liberating, but if we disassociate ourselves from the Lord’s mercy then like a hand which is severed from the body we become ugly and useless. (In his letter to Hrisikesa, 26th Nov, 1968)

Happiness of The Spirit Soul

The spirit soul can be happy only in the association of the supreme living being, the Personality of Godhead, and nowhere else.
(Srimad Bhagavatam 3.2.11)

The Greatest Treasure

Association with a pure devotee for even half a moment in this material world is the greatest treasure for human society.
(CC Madh. 22.85)

Importance of Association

The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krishna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Krishna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.
(CC Madh. 22.83)

Benefits of Associating With Pure Devotees

If one wants to acquire the mercy of the Lord, he has to associate with pure devotees. Such association alone can, by degrees, release one from the quivering elements.
(SB 3.7.12)

Great Unalloyed Devotees of The Lord

Great unalloyed devotees of the Lord are compassionate towards the fallen and therefore they travel all over the world with the mission of bringing souls back to Godhead, back to home. Such pure devotees of the Lord carry the message of Godhead in order to deliver the fallen souls and therefore the common man who is bewildered by the influence of the external energy of the Lord should avail himself of their association.
(SB 3.5.3)

Awakening Love of God

Love of God is awakened by the association of pure devotees of the Lord.
(SB 3.2.20)

Effects of Association

If one is in good association he can develop the mode of goodness and if in bad association he may develop the mode of darkness or ignorance.
(SB 2.10.41)

Transcendental Topics

As a highly potent drug injected intravenously acts at once on the whole body, the transcendental topics of the Lord injected through the ear of the pure devotee of the Lord can act very efficiently. Aural realization of the transcendental messages implies total realization, just as fructification of one part of a tree implies fructification of all other parts. This realization for a moment in the association of pure devotees like Sukadeva Gosvami prepares one’s complete life for eternity.
(SB 2.3.17)

Effect of Associating With Pure Devotees

By associating with pure devotees and by hearing them submissively, attachment for material enjoyment becomes slackened and attraction for hearing about the transcendental activities of the Lord becomes prominent. By association with pure devotees one is gradually promoted to his transcendental consciousness.
(SB 1.10.11-12)

Associating With The Supreme Lord Directly

To associate with the holy name and chant the holy name is to associate with the Personality of Godhead directly.
(CC Adi 8.16)

Becoming Perfectly Pure in Heart

Simply by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes wonderfully advanced in Krishna Consciousness. Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devotee, means always engaging in Krishna Consciousness by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra but he whose heart is contaminated sees things differently. Therefore by sat-sanga, or association with devotees, one becomes perfectly pure in heart.
(SB 4.24.59)

Benefits of Association

In Chaitanya Caritamrta Lord Caitanya says that sadhu-sanga, the association of a great saintly person, is very important, because even if one is not advanced in knowledge, simply by association with a great saintly person one can immediately make considerable advancement in spiritual life.
(SB 3.23.54)

The Topmost Benediction

The topmost benediction for those who are living in this material world and are subjected to the repetition of birth and death (transmigration) is association with pure devotees.
(SB 4.30.34)

Making Rapid Advancement to Pure Devotional Service

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.
(NoD 19)

Whatever action a great man performs

‘Yad Yad acarati sresthas‘ – “Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.”
(BG 3.21)