In the Vedic tradition, there are three main paths to God realization: Bhakti-marga or the path of Divine love and devotion; Jnana-marga or the path of knowledge and spiritual understanding; and Karma-marga or the path of action in alignment with Divine Law.
>From his discourses it is clear that Guru Dev placed equal emphasis on all >three methods. This supports the view that Guru Dev was a Universal Guru and >embodiment of the Veda. Continued reading of his words will enliven deeper >levels of God Realization in the reader. -- 1 So as long passion for attaining God is not firm you shall fly hither and thither, without knowing, like a kite. 2 Be a worldly man through body and wealth and contemplate Him (Paramatma) in your heart. Thus you shall shine in the world and attain summum bonum as well. 3 The God is Almighty. If you attain power through worshiping the Almighty, in accordance with scriptures, there would be nothing impossible in the world. 4 He alone is the Adored One who does not let any evil take place. He alone can make one free from all evils, for He alone is Almighty. 5 He is perfect in the entire creation. He saves those from every evil who depend wholeheartedly upon Him. 6 Keep in mind the instance of Prahlad. Wherever Prahlad was taken to he was saved by his Adored One. Hence make yourself immune from every evil by making Him your Adored One. 7 Lord Vishnu, Shankar, Devi, Surya and Ganesh, each of these five deities, are equally capable of doing good to their devotees. One should make one of them one's favourite and should visualize him pervading throughout the creation. 8 He alone is the best devotee who sees his Adored One everywhere. For the devotee of Vishnu the Lord is omnipresent. He should see Lord Vishnu even in the images of Shankar, Devi, Ganesh and Surya etc. Likewise a devotee of Shankar, Devi etc. should visualize his Adored One omnipresent. 9 If a worshipper of Devi does not see her in the images of Vishnu and Shankar etc. This would imply that he is doubting the omnipresence of his Adored One. Such a devotee who sees his Adored One partially remains imperfect. 10 He who causes strife and envy among different schools and philosophies is but an outcome of not seeing his Adored One omnipresent. Excerpted from a Booklet of 30 short quotations of Shankaracharya Swami Brahmanand Saraswati translated into English language All 30 quotations found here: http://www.shrigurudevji.com/article.asp?article=book_of_quotations
