Adhering to our sadhana practices purifies our heart, and gradually allows us to develop a genuine longing to serve the Lord. When sadhana is executed with genuine longing, it has the potential to awaken bhava-bhakti. Thus if we wish to make tangible advancement, we must not allow our sadhana to become mechanical or devoid of spiritual aspiration. We must execute our daily practices with the yearning to achieve Krishna's service.
Lectures from a Disciple, Vol. 2, Sadhana-bhakti
We should be very careful not to follow rules and regulations simply for their own sake, forgetting the purpose behind them. For example, we may chant a particular number of rounds per day thinking that we are "safe" because we are meeting out quota; but if we do not have a sense of what chanting the holy name is meant to be about, we may think that it doesn't matter what else we do while we chant, and thus commit namaparadha. It is all right to feel commitment to our sadhana activities, but don't perform them mechanically. Mechanical sadhana-bhakti does not produce bhava (pure spiritual emotion).
Lectures from a Disciple, Vol. 2, Purpose of Sadhana-bhakti
It is important for us to develop and then maintain our inspiration to serve the Lord. It helps if we understand first why we are obliged to perform devotional service at all. If we have forgotten why we are making a particular offering, we will not be able to maintain our inspiration, but will gradually begin to think, "I have vowed to perform this activity, but I would really rather be doing something else." This mentality is called niyamagraha, or following the rules and regulations without being aware of the purpose behind them.
Lectures from a Disciple, Vol. 2, Purpose of Sadhana-bhakti
If we find that we are not spontaneously engaged in hearing and chanting and the other prescribed devotional activities, we should engage in one or more of them according to regulation. Thus, every day without fail we chant Hare Krishna, worship the Deities, and hear or read Srimad-Bhagavatam. We actually regulate our lives around these prescribed activities in order to provoke thoughts and remembrances of Krishna, which is our goal.
Lectures from a Disciple, Vol. 2, Purpose of Sadhana-bhakti
Regulated devotional service is meant to eventually lead to spontaneous devotional service. When persons reach the spontaneous platform of bhakti, they no longer need to be conscious of all prohibitions. This does not mean that they are free to engage in sinful activity; rather, persons on the spontaneous platform are no longer inclined to commit sinful activity and therefore spontaneously follow rules and regulations. Their consciousness is always absorbed in thoughts of Krishna and they are always engaged in the nine prescribed activities of bhakti - hearing, chanting, remembering, etc. In that sense, these devotees are above the rules and regulations.
Lectures from a Disciple, Vol. 2, Purpose of Sadhana-bhakti
To think of Krishna is the essence of sadhana-bhakti, and to serve the guru by evoking such thoughts is the disciple's essential duty.
Lectures from a Disciple, Vol. 2, Purpose of Sadhana-bhakti
Prahlada Maharaja explains that Krishna is not attracted by one's brahminical expertise, etiquette, advanced learning, or by one's austerities, sacrifices, or vows. Nothing can awaken the Lord's pleasure except the devotee's unflinching love for Him.
Lectures from a Disciple, Vol.2, Purpose of Sadhana-bhakti
Krishna is always transcendental to matter; because devotional service to Krishna is non-different from Krishna, devotional service is also transcendental to matter. It is therefore natural to conclude that those who perform devotional service are also transcendental to the modes of material nature.
Lectures from a Disciple, Vol.2, Purpose of Sadhana-bhakti
Just as a pure rainwater when falling from the sky contacts the earth and is muddied, so the pure spirit soul, when coming in contact with the three modes of material nature, becomes "muddied" by material nature and absorbs itself in various material designations that have nothing to do with the real self. Devotional service, however, clears the mud - and the consciousness - and allows us to see ourselves in our natural relationship with Krishna.
Lectures from a Disciple, Vol.2, Purpose of Sadhana-bhakti
By taking shelter of Krishna we come under the protection of teh Lord's internal potency and are therefore ourselves protected from the influence of the three modes. How do we take shelter of Krishna? We simply have to transform our consciousness from material consciousness to our natural spiritual consciousness. It is natural for the tiny spirit sould to seek shelter under the Supreme.
Lectures from a Disciple, Vol.2, Purpose of Sadhana-bhakti