(Click to enlarge image of the Vaisnava acaryas in disciplic succession)
"We have to first receive the merciful benediction from the ācārya, and then Kṛṣṇa will be pleased and He'll also give His blessings. Mad-bhakta. There is a version in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, mad-bhakta pūjyābhyadhikā. He says, Kṛṣṇa says, that 'If anyone worships Me directly and if anyone worships Me through the ācārya, he's better devotee who is coming to Me through ācārya.' Mad-bhakta pūjyābhyadhikā.
So our this Vaiṣṇava philosophy, process, is go through the ācārya. Servant of the servant of the servant. We should try to become servant of the servant. Gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ. Dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ. We should not approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly. That is not good."
(Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day Lecture, London, September 3, 1971)
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