"Actually, without the mercy of a devotee nobody can approach the Lord directly -- and it is easier to get the mercy of a devotee than to get the mercy of the Lord. So therefore the most intelligent way of approaching God is to take shelter of a pure devotee.
"Somehow or other if one can please a pure devotee of the Lord, such action means immediate satisfaction of the Lord, even though such a person is not officially qualified to receive the mercy of the Lord."
(Srila Prabhupada letter, 21st January, 1970)
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