But the bhakti-yoga can be kept active by śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam. Just like you are hearing, I am speaking. This is kīrtanam. And you are hearing, both we are benefiting. śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam viṣṇoḥ / smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ / sakhyam ātma-nive… [SB 7.5.23] These are the nine different procedures of bhakti-yoga. The first thing is śravaṇam. If we simply keep these Deities here, we may see. But if we don’t hear about Him, then it will be hackneyed. Then it will be hackneyed. Just like in India it has become. Because they have given up the process of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam, therefore they are feeling now…
LECTURE ON Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.7; DATED: 5 SEPTEMBER, 1972 LOCATION: NEW VRINDAVAN