We’ll stop chanting without association!

Yogesvara Dasa recounts:

In my very first letter, which was my initiation letter in 1970 in London, Srila Prabhupada acknowledged in my letter to him an appreciation for my senior godbrothers and senior godsisters.

He said, "This is Vaisnava!", in his reply to me.
"This is very good that you understand the importance of taking guidance from your senior godbrothers and godsisters. Take guidance from them and go on with your devotional service; Krishna will bless you!”

That association with the devotees and that receiving of guidance from senior vaisnavas is actually more important than chanting. Because the chanting, while it is our number one principle of devotional service unless it is backed-up with association which gives us the information and the understanding, the working through of whatever problems that we may have that get in the way of chanting, the chanting will go away! We’ll stop chanting without association! We’ll dry up."

So actually association with the devotees of the Lord is the most important principle of devotional service!