The California redwoods are some of the tallest, oldest trees in the world; yet, they grow in extremely loose soil and hilly terrain. So how is it that they have survived countless destructive earthquakes, hurricanes, etc., for hundreds (even thousands) of years?
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The key is that their roots grow horizontally and intertwine with the roots of other trees, creating an underground support network.
Similarly, the way in which we can not only stand unshaken amidst the trials and of the material world, but also gradually progress towards our highest potential, is through intertwining our roots with those who uplift us.
Everyone of us have values that we strive to live by. But how many of us can truly say we are living up to the highest standard of who we want to be?
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Bhakti yoga wisdom teaches that associating with and cultivating friendships with those who have strong values and are resolute in their purpose fortifies our foundation and holds us accountable to our values. This empowers us to be more deliberate in our lives and to gradually start to break free of the default setting of the mind, which is to regress to old, unhealthy habits when challenges arise, and then to make excuses as to why we can’t live in alignment with our ideals. Indeed, this empowerment to gradually rise to the level of our ideals is the great asset of advantageous association.
