Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called māyā. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
भयं द्वितीयाभिनिवेशतः स्या- दीशादपेतस्य विपर्ययोऽस्मृतिः । तन्माययातो बुध आभजेत्तं भक्त्यैकयेशं गुरुदेवतात्मा
bhayaṃ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syā- dīśādapetasya viparyayo'smṛtiḥ | tanmāyayāto budha ābhajettaṃ bhaktyaikayeśaṃ gurudevatātmā
SB 11.2.37