The formal performance of religious rites and principles is useless if it does not culminate in devotional perfection. Lord Visnu, the full emanation of Krishna, cannot in fact be fulfilled by mere ritual adherence to the Vedic precepts. He is only satisfied when one embraces devotional service. The human being inhabited by a material conception of existence cannot attain the highest perfection, even by respecting all the prescribed rules. One should begin one's spiritual life in devotional service by familiarizing oneself with the activities of the Lord with an accomplished devotee. By cultivating spirituality according to these principles and living honestly, it becomes possible to conquer Krishna the Invincible.

In this age it is not possible to acquire spiritual knowledge neither by renunciation, nor by mixed devotional service, nor by self-interested action under the sign of mixed devotion, nor by the simple pursuit of knowledge. Since people are hardly evolved, most of them actually fallen, and their life too short to allow them to rise in a gradual way, it is better, according to Chaitanya, that they remain as they are, while listening to the deeds and actions of the Supreme Lord, as described in the Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. The message of these scriptures, however, must be received from the lips of realized souls. Thus a person can continue to live according to his condition and still make spiritual progress, surely and clearly, until he attains full awareness of himself and of God, the Supreme Person. Access to the pure love of God constitutes the highest perfection. When love for God is established on the plane of affinity, it is called love of God, pure and spontaneous, the highest ecstasy that the spiritual soul can reach. Initially, no special relationship has yet developed between the Supreme Lord and the devotee. But when the love of God develops, such a relationship takes shape in the sign of varied spiritual feelings. The first of these feelings is expressed in an attitude of service, by virtue of which the Lord is seen as the Master, and the devotee as his eternal servant.

The sages specify: There is nothing impossible for a pure devotee, for he is always engaged in the service of spiritual love of the Supreme Lord, whose listening to the name alone is enough to confer liberation.

My Lord, those who remain apart from your service are powerless. Working on their own, they have no support from any authority. This is why I yearn for the day when I will be fully absorbed in your service of absolute love, without any desire for material satisfaction and without further wandering on the mental plane. I will not taste true spirituality until I practice this unadulterated devotional service.

Any personal relationship with God necessarily begins with a relationship of servant to Master and then, if necessary, to develop in friendship, then in parental love and finally in conjugal love. Whoever establishes himself in his own relationship with God, the Supreme Person, is in the best relationship possible for him.