“Syamananda Prabhu was a disciple of Hrdayananda of Kalna, yet he joined in to hear the lectures of Sri Jiva Gosvami, and Jiva Goswami treated him more like his guru than his Gurudeva, Sri Hrdayananda. Sri Narottama Thakura also studied in the school of Sri Jiva Gosvami. Jiva Gosvami personally told him to take initiation from Lokanatha dasa Gosvami, and he told Srinivasa Acarya to take initiation from Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.
In those days there were no restrictions as there are today. Everyone was free to associate with topmost Vaisnavas.

In fact, gurus would advise their disciples: “Take the association of these most exalted Vaisnavas, and in this way you will develop your Krsna consciousness.” There was no caste consciousness as there is today: “Don’t go to other Vaisnavas, even though they may be very high-class. This is our party, and that is their party, and that is the other group’s party.” At that time there was no party spirit at all; everyone belonged to the family of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. All used to hear from all.

Jiva Gosvami had such a pure heart, free from any envy, that he told Narottama Thakura and Srinivasa Acarya to take initiation from these two high-class Vaisnavas. They had made up their minds to take initiation from Jiva Gosvami, but he told them: “Oh, they are my seniors. You will be more benefited by taking their shelter.” We are not pure enough to speak in this way to our subordinates. Our hearts are not so improved”