Follow authority and practice devotional service to awaken the dormant love of Krishna within.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
The Nectar of Devotion — January 25, 1973, Calcutta 730125ND-CALCUTTA [41:11 Minutes] NOD_730125ND-CALCUTTA Mādhavānanda: [reading] "...by certain convictions derived by his own arguments and decisions. Then another person, who may be a greater logician, will nullify these conclusions and establish another thesis. In this way the path of argument will never be safe or conclusive. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam recommends, therefore, that one follow in the footsteps of the authorities." Prabhupāda: So, to make progress in devotional service, one cannot manufacture anything.
The authoritative statements of ācāryas, that we'll have to follow. Mahājana yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. We should not manufacture, invent anything.
As they are stated in the śāstras, confirmed by spiritual master and ācāryas, that will be accepted. Nobody can say, "I think devotional service should be like this." No. Therefore spiritual master is the guidance. He is the representative of the ācāryas.
In this way we should make progress, not by concoction. [aside:] Go on. Mādhavānanda: "Here is a general description of devotional service given by Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. Previously, it has been stated that devotional service can be divided into three categories—namely devotional service in practice, devotional service in ecstasy and devotional service in pure love of God.
Now Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī proposes to describe devotional service in practice. "Practice means employing our senses in some particular type of work. Therefore devotional service in practice means utilizing our different sensory organs in service to Kṛṣṇa. Some of the senses are meant for acquiring knowledge and are..., and some are meant for executing the conclusions of our thinking, feeling and willing.
So practice means employing both the mind and the senses in practical devotional service. This practice is not for developing something artificial. For example, a child learns or practices to walk. This walking is not unnatural.
The walking capacity is there originally in the child, and simply by a little practice he walks very nicely. "Similarly, devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the natural instinct of every living entity. Even uncivilized men like the aborigines offer their respectful obeisances to something wonderful exhibited by nature's law, and they appreciate that behind some wonderful exhibition or action there is something supreme. So this consciousness, though lying dormant in those who are materially contaminated, is found in every living entity. And, when purified, this is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness." Prabhupāda: This obedience, the sense of obedience to higher authorities, to love somebody, these propensities are there in everyone.