Religion means the science of God. So how religion, you can understand that this is proper religion? Because you do not know God, neither it is possible to speculate on God, then how I shall accept religion? Just try to understand. Religion means the science of God. It is not a sentiment; it is science. So if you want to know that science . . . therefore Vedic injunction is, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet (MU 1.2.12): "In order to know that science, knowledge, you must approach guru." That is practical. Even for material science, you go to school, college to learn from the authority. How you can learn about God, about soul, without approaching a proper person who knows it?
So that is the way. That is the way. You cannot speculate. Athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya-prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi jānāti tattvam (SB 10.14.29). Tattvam, that truth, one can understand, who has received the mercy of God. Therefore we sing "Guru . . . guru is the mercy, mercy of God." God is so merciful that He is within yourself. He is trying to teach you, and . . . internally, and externally He appears as guru to teach you. Mercy. So therefore guru is considered as good as Kṛṣṇa. Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ. In all the śāstras, the guru is respected as Kṛṣṇa is respected. Sākṣād-dharitvena. Haritva. Hari means Lord. Samasta-śā . . . in all the scriptures, guru is accepted as Kṛṣṇa. But he never says that I, he is Kṛṣṇa; neither he is Kṛṣṇa. Then what is his position? Kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya: he is the most confidential servant of Kṛṣṇa. He never says that "I am Kṛṣṇa, I am God." That is not guru. Guru must place . . . he knows perfectly well that he is serving Kṛṣṇa. His business is to serve Kṛṣṇa.
Kṛṣṇa wants all these fallen souls to be delivered, because they are Kṛṣṇa's part and parcel. Just like a rich man, if his son goes out of home, he is suffering. His father knows that rascal boy is suffering. He is very anxious to get him back. "Bring this rascal at home." That is father's concern, naturally. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is more eager to take you back. Therefore He comes. He comes. He has got His agent, the guru. He has got His instruction, the Bhagavad-gītā.