1. We have to seek the mercy

    Bhakti depends not on education or scholarship but on faith and the Lord’s mercy.

    This is called vyavasayatmika buddhih. I may be quite incomplete. It doesn’t matter. But if I try to follow the words of my Guru Maharaja, then I become complete. This is the secret.

    Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau. If one has strong faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and as much faith in the guru, yatha deve tatha gurau, then the revealed scriptures become manifest. It is not the education. It is not the scholarship. It is faith in Krsna and guru.

    Therefore Caitanya-caritamrta says guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija. Not by education, not by scholarship, never says. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, guru-krsna-krpaya, by the mercy of guru, by the mercy of Krsna.

    It is a question of mercy. It is not a question of scholarship or opulence or richness. No. The whole bhakti-marga depends on the mercy of the Lord. So we have to seek the mercy.

    Srila Prabhupada — From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.30 Los Angeles, December 8, 1973