Cementing Friendship

Sometimes one is struck with Rupa Goswami’s wisdom in his priti laksanam verse (fourth verse of Upadesamrta). And occasionally we are curious about association. Who are we to be intimate with — everyone who’s a Vaisnava? Everyone and anyone in ISKCON? Srila Prabhupada gave a partial answer to this question in the purport to SB 3.29.17, wherein he writes: “Friendship should be cemented between persons with mutual interests and understanding. Such persons are said to be sva-jati, “of the same caste.” The devotee should avoid a person whose character is not fixed in the standard understanding; even though he may be a Vaisnava, or a devotee of Krsna, if his character is not correctly representative, then he should be avoided. One should steadily control the senses and the mind and strictly follow the rules and regulations, and he should make friendship with persons of the same standard.”