As long as we do not adopt the process of surrender, we glorify the ascending or empirical process of approaching God. When we understand the futility of borrowed strength, the insignificance of our pride, and how futile our endeavours, we will surrender to the Lord and accept the teachings of the disciplic succession.
To illustrate this point the Bhagavatam tells the story of Gjendra, king of the elephants. Once when Gajendra, who was intoxicated, was enjoying the association of female elephants in a lake, the aquatics became disturbed. Because of Gajendra´s carelesss behavior and their fear of him, the lake´s inhabitants were on the verge of death. But after some time by the arrangement of providence, a powerful crocodile arrived and bit Gajendra´s leg. A fierce battle between them then ensued and continued for one thousand years, both trying to establish superiority over the other. Meanwhile, Gajendra found his strength gradually diminishing along with his pride in his own skill and expertise. When Gajendra was weakended to the point that he was about to lose the battle to the crocodile, he realized that the only way to survive was to take shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.
As long as the living entities consider their insignificant false ego to be as great as that of the maddened Gajendra, they will continue to reach for God by their own endeavor. When the glories of taking shelter at the Lord´s lotus feet are awakened in their hearts, however, they will face the choice between continuing the endeavor or simply making a complete surrender. The saints always glorify surrender and never encourage anyone to approach God by their own endeavor. However great we will be, if we thing the ascending path beneficial, our downfall is guaranteed.
Krishna is everyone´s shelter. Taking shelter of others can never protect us, Bhagavad-gita 13.27 states:

People who are bewildered by false ego think that they are the doers and tend to follow the ascending path. Impersonalists desire liberation, which they try to attain by their own work, and yogis especially want to ascend by their own endeavor. Caitanya-caritamrita states: "The jnanis consider themselves as liberated souls while still living." The jnanis want to become one with Brahman. The thirst for the insignificant to become great is what the philosophy of ascending knowledge is based on. The yogis want to ascend a few feet and to attain mystic perfections or even oneness with the Lord. These are all examples of the goals of the ascending path.
From whatever our current position if we surrender body, mind and speech to the sadhus, hearing submissively from them without any desire of maintaining the evil motives of karmis, jnanis and yogis, and without being driven by material temptations or the desire for liberation, then we will conquer the unconquerable Supreme Lord. It does not matter how learned or foolish we may be- or wherever else we are: simply hear about Vaikuntha from the lotus mouth of the saints. We are presently in an incompatible situation in this world of anxiety.
If we study the scriptures under the guidance of our own minds we will be cheated. To think we can discuss the scriptures by interpreting them according to our own urges for material enjoyment or liberation means we think we can control the scriptures. But the scriptures are directly Lord Krishna´s incarnation. Bhagavad-gita (4.34) states:

Those who wish to become masters of the material energy practise karma-kanda. By making a show of accepting instructions while maintaining the desire to become the master, they deceive themselves. The sastra do not reveal themselves to them. The sastra are revealed only to surrendered souls. The Vedas state:

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructs:

So long as we see ourselves as humler than a blade of grass, we can chant Hari´s holy names. As soon as we try to become even a litlle higher, we will have to take leave from our chanting.