The Company of the Knowledgeable

1. Whatever has happened in ignorance has happened and passed away. Therefore, forget it all and knowingly act in a proper manner.
2. Keep the company of those who are knowledgeable and serve them. In this way you will slowly and surely develop the same good intellect as those who are knowledgeable.
3. Learn to write and read with the knowledgeable, and ask them questions about anything that you want to know.
4. Show gratitude to a knowledgeable person, and use your body to serve him. Observe and understand how the knowledgeable person thinks about many things.
5. Worship in the company of knowledgeable people, and give yourself in service to them. By listening to their explanations and narrations again and again, you will become content.
6. Learn to sing various songs, as well as how to play musical instruments and different melodies in the company of the knowledgeable.
7. Become close to the knowledgeable, and accept medical and dietary advice that they give.
8. Learn from the knowledgeable about how to examine various subjects, as well as various ways to exercise, and how to be a good swimmer.
9. Learn how to speak like the knowledgeable speak, and act according to their advice. Learn correct ways of meditation from those who are knowledgeable.
10. Learn the stories that the knowledgeable tell and understand the various strategies that they use. Analyze the ways that they use stories as a means to give explanations about everything.
11. Learn the political maneuvers and tactics that the knowledgeable use to resolve difficult issues. Learn how the knowledgeable maintain good relationships with people, and how they are able to please others.
12. Adopt the good qualities of the knowledgeable and understand how they act in various situations. Study how they are able to create waves of inspiration.
13. Understand and adopt the tireless efforts and logic that the knowledgeable utilize. Recognize and understand their methods and intentions even when they are not obvious or spoken about out loud.
14. Understand the cleverness and political skill of the knowledgeable, and continue listening to the explanations given by them.
15. Learn from the compositions and poems of the knowledgeable, and adopt their ability to speak in sweet words in the form of prose and poetry, giving kind explanations from inner experience.
16. Study the literary works of the knowledgeable, and learn the meanings and differences of the various statements that are made by them. Learn their various modes of expression and the appropriateness and timing of discussions about various subjects.
17. Understand and adopt the qualities of the knowledgeable of being intelligent, tolerant, and generous.
18. The many wise principles, ways of pre-planning, modes of analysis, and the ways that knowledgeable people utilize their minds should be understood and adopted.
19. Learn from the knowledgeable how to best utilize your time, what correct discrimination is, and what spiritual efforts will bear fruit. Observe the many good qualities of the knowledgeable and adopt them for yourself.
20. Learn about the path of devotion and the meaning of renunciation from the knowledgeable. Observe them, and learn from them how they act in all situations.
21. Gain the Knowledge of the knowledgeable, learn how they meditate, and understand their subtle indications.
22. Understand how the knowledgeable remain aloof from the world, their bodilessness, and their explanations about Brahman.
23. The Jnani is the Inner-Self. Who can describe his greatness, his Knowledge, or the magnitude of his skillfulness and good qualities?
24. By reciting the praises of the Supreme Lord, and through continuing spiritual discourse, one gains great happiness and joy.
25. Whatever is created by the Supreme God is constantly visible. The thoughtful people gain understanding of it by listening to the explanations given in spiritual discourse, and by using discrimination in analyzing their meaning again and again.
26. Whatever has been created is the creation of the Lord of the Universe. One must first learn to discern between the creation and the creator.
27. God creates people, but if one tries to see him, he cannot be seen. It is only through the power of discrimination and with proper thoughtfulness that he can be realized.
28. When continuously meditating on God, he benevolently provides for all of our needs. Therefore, be constantly engaged in thinking and speaking about God.
29. One who does not meditate on God is a non-devotee, and one who does meditate on him is a devotee. God liberates his devotees from the bondage of worldly life.
30. At the end of spiritual practice and worship, God and devotee are in constant union. Those with experience understand this fact in their own experience.