Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bonafide spiritual master by the grace of Krishna. By the mercy of both Krishna and the spiritual masters, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.
The Kingdom of Godhead is not a myth but it is situated far beyond the boundary of the material cosmos and one can know it by the process of devotional service only.
Always remember why you have joined ashrama or ISKCON. The real purpose of doing so is to be engaged in devotional service.
Devotional service is dependent on the mercy of Krishna and His Devotees. Unless we surrender to the lotus feet of a pure devotee, it is not possible to come to the platform of pure devotional service. By his own efforts a bee cannot taste the honey within a bottle. The bottle must be opened by a superior. If the bee simply licks the outside of the bottle, thinking "Now I am tasting honey," Then he is in illusion. Similarly, no one can enter into devotional service unless the door is opened by a devotee.
Krishna does not agree to award devotional service to merely anyone. Krishna can easily offer a person material happiness or even liberation, but He does not agree very easily to award a person engagement in his devotional service. Devotional service can in fact be attained only through the mercy of a pure devotee. — The Nectar of Devotion, Page 14.
Always engage in devotional service with determination.