34. The Nectar of Instruction

Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, Sri
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami and
Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami). If one lives in the asso-
ciation of devotees, there is little chance of associating with
nondevotees. The International Society for Krishna Con-
sciousness is opening many centers just to invite people to
live in the company of devotees and practice the regulative
principles of spiritual life.

Devotional service means transcendental activities. On the
transcendental platform there is no contamination by the
three modes of material nature. This is called visuddha-sat-
tva, the platform of pure goodness, or goodness free from
contamination by the qualities of passion and ignorance. In
this Krsna consciousness movement we require everyone to
rise early in the morning, by four A.M.,and attend mangala-
Grati, or morning worship, then read Srimad-Bhagavatam,
perform kirtana, and so forth. Thus we hold continuous ac-
tivities in devotional service twenty-four hours daily. This is
called sato vrtti, or following in the footsteps of the previous
acdryas who expertly filled every moment of time with
Krsna conscious activities.

_ If one strictly follows the advice given in this verse by
Srila Ripa Gosvimi—namely, being enthusiastic, being con-
fident, being patient, giving up the association of unwanted
persons, following the regulative principles and remaining
in the association of devotees—one is sure to advance in
devotional service. In this regard Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura remarks that the cultivation of knowl-
edge by philosophical speculation, the collection of mundane ~
opulence by the advancement of fruitive activities, and the
