1100 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 24

Simply by the association of pure devotees one can understand the
transcendental name, fame, quality and activities of the Supreme Per-

sonality of Godhead. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has repeatedly said:

‘sadhu-sanga’, ‘sadhu-sanga’—sarva-sastre kaya
lavamatra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya (Cc. Madhya 22.54)

Simply by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes wonderfully
advanced in Krsna consciousness. Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devo-
tee, means always engaging in Krsna consciousness by chanting the Hare
Krsna mantra and by acting for Krsna. Specifically, chanting the Hare
Krsna mantra purifies one, and this chanting is therefore recommended by
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Ceto-darpana-marjanam: by chanting the names
of Krsna, the mirror of the heart is cleansed and the devotee loses interest
in everything external. When one is influenced by the external energy of
the Lord, his heart is impure. When one’s heart is not pure, he cannot see
how things are related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. [dar hi
visvam bhagavan ivetaro (Bhag. 1.5.20). He whose heart is purified can see
that the whole cosmic manifestation is but the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, but he whose heart is contaminated sees things differently.
Therefore by sat-sanga, or association with devotees, one becomes per-
fectly pure in heart.

One who is pure in heart is never attracted by the external energy,
which urges the individual soul to try to dominate material nature. The
pure heart of a devotee is never disturbed when he executes devotional
service in the form of hearing, chanting, remembering, etc. In all, there are
nine processes one can follow in the execution of devotional service. In
any case, a pure-hearted devotee is never disturbed. The bhakti-yoga
process must be carried out by avoiding the ten offenses one can commit
whilechanting the maha-mantra and the sixty-four offenses one can commit
while worshiping the Deity. When a devotee strictly follows the rules and
regulations, Bhaktidevi becomes very much satisfied with him, and at that
time he is never disturbed by anything external. A devotee is also called a
muni. The word muni means thoughtful. A devotee is as thoughtful as a
nondevotee is speculative. The nondevotee’s speculation is impure, but a
devotee’s thoughts are pure. Lord Kapila and Sukadeva Gosvami are also
called muni, and Vydsadeva is addressed as Mahamuni. A devotee is
addressed as muni, or thoughtful, when he purely understands the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. The conclusion is that when one’s heart is purified
by the association of devotees and by the avoidance of the offenses com-
mitted when chanting and worshiping the Lord, the transcendental name,
form and activities of the Lord are revealed by the Lord.
