Text Three
29
serving the Lord's feet 
 worshiping the Deity 
 offering obeisances unto the Lord 
 acting as the Lord's servant 
 making friends with the Lord 
 surrendering oneself fully to the Lord
Śravaṇam , or hearing, is the first step in acquiring transcendental knowledge. One should not give aural reception to unauthorized persons, but should approach the proper person, as recommended in  Bhagavad-gītā  (4.34):
tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you, because he has seen the truth.”
It is further recommended in the  Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad ,  tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet : “To understand that transcendental science, one must approach a bona fide spiritual master.” Thus this method of submissively receiving transcendental confidential knowledge is not merely based on mental speculation. In this regard, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Rūpa Gosvāmī:
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja