: “He reasons ill who says that Vaiṣṇavas die, when thou art living still in sound! The Vaiṣṇavas die to live, and living try to spread the holy name around..”
These wise and wonderful words need pondering by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur .
There are connections to the meaning of sastra sanga and the other words of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur when in his commentary on Srila Ragganatha das Goswami’s Manah Sisksa , Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says we should regard the Goswami’s as our own personal Siksa Gurus.
When we say association of sadhus we mean many things, as we progress in spiritual life the current sadhus are all we have , but as we serve and dedicate our lives , the blessings of these sadhus means we may by grace be allowed to enter sastra sanga of our param para acaryas, the divine force of cit sakti , brings trancendental jnana and pure Bhakti within the heart by grace and good fortune.
Srila Jiva Goswami in his Bhagavat Sandarbha explains all , and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is the above stanza encapsulated this truth …

Srila B R Sridhar Swami says a person first coming to Gaudia Vaisnavism as a beginner does not initially appreciate association of devotees neither current or past devotees .However,  as the candidate for devotion progresses he very much requires the current sadhus for association and training and one is selected as Sri Guru , Sri Guru comes in many forms both Siksa and Diksa . As one advances and becomes increasingly advanced,  Siksa, in the form of other Sadhus, becomes more prominent,  not in all cases , but most . What is very prominent is the entering into sastra sanga by grace , at that time the association of current sadhus remains but increasingly the whole param para are associated with , by their grace , and with their permission we may enter into their association , all the sadhus are appreciated and respected,  there is no jumping over in deceitful ways , humility and grace is key .

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