71-10I welcome you for your coming back to our Society and you are feeling very nicely the association of devotees. Srila Rupa Goswami has 106described that devotional service can be advanced by six processes. Perhaps you know them. They are as follows: enthusiasm, patience, conviction, following the regulative principles, being honest in one's profession, and in the association of devotees. So this Krsna consciousness Society is especially meant for giving people the opportunity to associate with devotees. Devotees means those who are following the regulative principles. One cannot be independent and at the same time become a devotee because all devotional activities are based on surrender. So in the association of devotees we learn this important item—how to surrender, but if we keep our independence and try to become devotees, that is not possible.

You write to say that you cannot feel any taste for temple life or Deity worship. This means you are keeping the same temperament you entertained before leaving our Society. Our process is to accept both the lines of Bhagavata marga and pancaratriki-marga. Perhaps you might have seen the picture of the Gaudiya mission. On one side there is the Bhagavata book and on the other side a picture of Lakshmi Narayana for Deity worship. You cannot make any progress in devotional service unless simultaneously you follow both the lines. Just as the tracks of a railroad line; both must be there. Similarly temple worship is essential for purifying us from the material contamination and without being purified we cannot glorify the Lord. As it is stated in Bhagavad-Gita that the Lord is completely pure and we cannot approach Krsna without being purified. So as you say that you do not feel very much encouraged in Deity worship and temple life, I see that your disease is still continuing. Under the circumstances simple academic career will not help you. If you want to live with us you must accept temple life, namely cleanly shaven head, observing the regulative principles, decorating the body with tilaka, etc. You know all these things.”
(SPL to Rayarama, 22nd, October, 1971)