Gratitude

Bade bhag paeeb satsanga, binuhin prayas hohin bhavbhanga.

“With great fortune one receives the association of a true Saint, and due to that association, one could cross this ocean of Maya with the least effort.” (Goswami Tulsidas)

Sab kar phal Hari bhagati suhaee, so binu santa na kahun paee.

“All spiritual practices culminate in selfless devotion to God. No one has acquired this except through the association of a true Saint.” (Goswami Tulsidas)

Parikshya lokan karmachitan brahmno nirvedamayan nastyakritah kritena.
Tadvigyanartham sa guru mevabhigachhet
samitpaniha shrotiyam brahmanishtham.
Mundaka Upanishad 1/2/12

Those who practiced the worshipping rituals prescribed in the Vedas and who realized the limited and temporary material and celestial consequences of these actions came to the conclusion that the supreme divinity could not be achieved by self-effort. To know God, Gurum eva abhigachhati, one has to completely surrender to a Guru. Such a Guru has two qualities – he has a thorough knowledge of all the scriptures (shtrotriyam) and He is established in supreme divine bliss (brahmnishtham).