Madhya 10.177

In his early life, Bilvamahgala Thakura was an impersonalist monist, and he used to meditate upon the impersonal Brahman effulgence. Later he became a devotee of Lord Krsna, and his explanation for this change is given in a verse [text 178] that is quoted in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. Gradually one comes to the stage of Bhagavan realization, realization of the Supreme Person, after having attained the lower stages of realization-impersonal Brahman realization and localized Paramatma realization. This is described in Caitanya-candramrta (5) by Prabodhananda Sarasvati:

Kaivalya, oneness in the effulgence of Brahman, appears hellish to the devotee. The heavenly planets, the abodes of the demigods, appear to a devotee like phantasmagoria. The yogis meditate for sense control, but for the devotee the senses appear like serpents with broken teeth. The devotee doesn't have to control his senses, for his senses are already engaged in the Lord's service. Consequently there is no possibility that the senses will act like serpents. In the material condition, the senses are as strong as poisonous snakes. When the teeth are broken, the snake is no longer dangerous. The entire world is a replica of Vaikuntha for the devotee because he has no anxiety. He sees that everything belongs to Krsna, and he does not want to enjoy anything for himself. He does not even aspire for the position of Lord Brahma or Indra. He simply wants to engage everything in the service of the Lord; therefore he has no problem. He stands in his original constitutional position. All this is possible when one receives Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's merciful glance.

In the Caitanya-candramrta there are many more verses illustrating this same principle.