“Bhakti is the only essential thing. One obtains love of God by constantly chanting His name and singing His glories. It is necessary to seek the company of the holy men, practice prayer, and listen to the instruction of the guru. These purify the mind. Then one sees God. After purification of the heart one obtains divine love. Then one sees God, through His grace. One can teach others if one receives that command from God after seeing Him.”
(p.158, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramakrishna’s advice in November 1882)