Progressing in Spiritual Life by Attachment to Saintly Persons

At the lotus feet of the Lord we will find all of the Lord's devotees. We will also find complete instructions as to how to best approach these lotus feet in pure consciousness. By incorporating these instructions within our lives, we will attain the Lord's shelter, His eternal service, and His eternal abode.

Early on in the 1st Canto Narada narrates his own story, how he personally became transformed from 'rags to riches', or from worldly insignificance to a superlative exalted state of spiritual perfection. The details of his transformation are of great pertinence to our own efforts on the bhakti path. One of the Argentinean sankirtan devotees visiting here in NY just asked me, in a very sincerely expressed inquiry, if it would be possible for them to actually go back to Godhead at the end of this life. YES! This is the gift that the Bhagavatam offers, and Srila Prabhupada expressed his explicit desire to train us to achieve this goal within our lifetime. The highlighted traits and qualifications marking Narada's sojourn are most important for us to note very carefully.
The preliminary character traits of Narada certainly helped his progress; as for ourselves, we should value and attempt to gradually manifest such qualities for the purpose of attracting the mercy of elevated souls and Krishna Himself to shower their descending mercy upon us.

Key in all of this narration is the statement found in 1.5.25 purport, where Srila Prabhupada declares: There are many things which hinder one from entering devotional service. But by the association of pure devotees all these obstacles are removed. The neophyte devotee becomes practically enriched with the transcendental qualities of the pure devotee, which means attraction for the Personality of Godhead's name, fame, quality, pastimes, etc. Infection of the qualities of the pure devotee means to imbibe the taste of pure devotion always in the transcendental activities of the Personality of Godhead.

The #1 gift which a student/dependant can receive from their superior is to attain attachment for Krishna, Krishna-katha, and the sublime taste of pure devotion. And then- This transcendental taste at once makes all material things distasteful. Therefore a pure devotee is not at all attracted by material activities.
- His Holiness Romapada Swami