This is an important question: Should we first free ourselves from the modes of material nature to be able to practice the pure bhakti, or does the pure bhakti automatically free us from the modes? The answer, according to Srila Prabhupada, is that it is a gradual process. Although bhakti is independent and can purify ourselves from the modes of nature, in practice we needed to cultivate the qualities of goodness so that our bhakti is effective. "The devotional service to the Supreme Lord is so powerful that it can free one from the influence of passion and free ignorance, although when it is mixed with passion or ignorance of women, devotional service could not raise this to the highest position, devotional love for God." (SBB 3.25.25, meaning) This is very important: although the devotional service to the Supreme Lord is so powerful that the