I have come across people dressed in devotee clothing who say that knowledge is not needed and they have no interest in following the scriptural injunctions. Such people are in gross ignorance and insult Lord Krishna who appears in His original form (Krishna form) once in a day of Brahma (every 8.64 billion years) to this material world to deliver knowledge. He speaks the Bhagavad-Gita and compiles the Vedic scriptures with millions of verses.
“Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all living entities, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 4.6)
Millennium in the above verse refers to every 8.64 billion years. Lord Krishna appears in His original form (Godhead), once every 8.64 billion years.
Visiting temples, chanting mantras, fasting, and visiting holy places is only beneficial if one has proper knowledge and understanding of the scriptures. Otherwise, every action taken is just a mental feeling and there is no consciousness improvement. This can be proven by the fact that people remain sinful despite performing all kinds of devotional activities. Even in the holiest places like Vrindavan; speaking lies, negligence, treating people badly, and destruction of nature is normal behavior.
The best achievement is that of acquiring knowledge and having a proper understanding
“In this material world there are different types of achievement, but of all of them the achievement of knowledge is considered to be the highest because one can cross the ocean of nescience only on the boat of knowledge. Otherwise the ocean is impassable.” (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.75)
The Vedic civilization is based on taking actions as per the rules of the scriptural injunctions. Nothing should be done according to one’s own mental feeling or concoction (whimsically), nor by blindly following someone’s advice. To please God, one must follow the scriptural injunctions. Bhakti (devotional service) means taking actions which will please God. Lord Krishna personally appears to give humanity instructions by speaking the Bhagavad-Gita. It is very sinful to disregard His instructions.
Following scriptural injunctions awards liberation
“He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 16.23)
“O most intelligent Uddhava, the living entity, called jīva, is part and parcel of Me, but due to ignorance he has been suffering in material bondage since time immemorial. By knowledge, however, he can be liberated.” (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.4)
Treating others with respect is important
“Those who are serious about liberation are certainly nonenvious, and they respect all…” (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.26)
Doing something good for the benefit of others is very important
“The self-effulgent Vaikuṇṭha planets, by whose illumination alone all the illuminating planets within this material world give off reflected light, cannot be reached by those who are not merciful to other living entities. Only persons who constantly engage in welfare activities for other living entities can reach the Vaikuṇṭha planets.” (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 4.12.36)