There are some places that leave an impression on you long after you return home.
Krishna Island is one of those places.
I was invited to join celebrations marking 40 years of this unique place in Northern Ireland, and the whole experience stayed with me.
The setting itself is beautiful.
Surrounded by nature, away from the usual noise and demands of everyday life, there is an unmistakable sense of peace.
But what stayed with me most wasn’t only the place.
It was the people.
The warmth.
The devotion.
The conversations.
The shared kirtans.
For a little while, it felt as though everyone was moving in the same direction.
And it reminded me of something simple but important:
The people we spend time with shape the person we become.
We often think growth is something we have to achieve alone.
More discipline.
More motivation.
More determination.
But sometimes what we really need is the right association.
The right people can awaken something within us.
Their enthusiasm lifts us.
Their faith can strengthen ours.
Their example reminds us of what is possible.
Their presence can reconnect us with parts of ourselves that the pace of everyday life has caused us to forget.
The opposite can also be true.
We can enter a room feeling hopeful and leave feeling drained.
We can spend enough time around negativity that, without noticing, we begin seeing the world through the same lens.
Association is rarely neutral.
It either nourishes something within us or quietly weakens it.
This is why spiritual traditions place such importance on sanga — the company we keep.
Not because we should judge or reject others.
But because we need to recognise how deeply we influence one another.
A single sincere conversation can change the direction of our thinking.
One person’s courage can give us strength when ours is fading.
One person’s devotion can remind us that spiritual life isn’t merely an idea.
It can actually be lived.
That was what I felt at Krishna Island.
The magic wasn’t simply in the landscape.
It was in being surrounded by people who had gathered with gratitude, devotion and a genuine desire to serve.
It was in hearing the mantras sung together.
It was in seeing generations connected through a shared spiritual purpose.
And it made me reflect on my own life.
Who am I becoming through the company I keep?
Do the people around me help me remember what matters?
Do they encourage me to become more peaceful, compassionate and spiritually grounded?
And perhaps just as importantly:
What kind of association am I offering to others?
Do people feel encouraged after spending time with me?
Do they feel heard?
Do they feel a little closer to their own sense of purpose?
We may not always realise it, but we are constantly shaping one another.
Sometimes one of the greatest gifts we can receive is the presence of someone who reminds us of who we are trying to become.
And sometimes one of the greatest gifts we can offer is to become that person for someone else.
Because the right association does more than make us feel good for a moment.
It can change the direction of our lives.
Jagannātha Dās
Come and Experience It
If these reflections resonate with you, why not come and experience kirtan for yourself?
Every Friday, we come together at OMNOM Birmingham for an evening of mantra, music, meditation and community. I also share kirtan at retreats, festivals and gatherings throughout the year.
Whether you’ve experienced kirtan many times or you’re completely new, you’re warmly welcome.
See all upcoming events:
https://jagannathadas.com/events
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