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For a yogī, certain things are very important. Among them, three are essential: manana, svādhyāya, and abhyāsa. Manana means to think over. Think over your life, your work, your family situation. Think over: Where is the problem? Where is some error which causes you difficulties? And where are the good things which give you happiness and joy? Cultivate those thoughts that make you happy, and try to finish, dissolve, release, and forget those things that make you unhappy. Manana also means to think over what you are doing now and to concentrate on your aim. Think: How will I realize my aim in this life? We know many things happen in our life, but the most terrible tragedy is to die without God-realization. This human life is precious. We have done many things, both good and, unfortunately, sometimes not good. Ku-saṅga destroys our thoughts; it is like blackmail. Ku-saṅga is blackmailing your brain. Then you begin to think in that way, and it destroys your spiritual work from many lives, not only this one. Therefore, think over. Whatever people tell you, whatever you hear from others, think it over. What is reality? What have you to do with that reality? How far do those things depend on you? Whether it is a colleague, a family member, a yoga friend, or anyone—remember, with no one do you have to spend your whole life. Those who are blackmailing you are your enemies too. Therefore, manana over things is very important. Life is passing. It passes like water dripping from your hand. Or, like when you go to the Sahara and take a handful of fine sand, you try to hold it but cannot keep it long; the sand flows out of your hand. Time is like that sand flowing, like that water dripping away. We know the sun is rising, but time will bring the sunset. What have you gained this day? What have you utilized, good or bad? For many of us, it is afternoon; for many, morning; for many, sunrise; for many, midday; and for many, perhaps the sun is setting. One devotee said, "O Lord, now at least it should be your mercy, so my life does not pass away without any sense." Manana—think over. You have this one big time. You came here to realize something, not to disturb others and yourself. Talking you can do anytime, anywhere. Therefore, utilize the time in the right manner. The second thing is svādhyāya. Svādhyāya means studying, reading. Read holy books, books of wisdom and knowledge, books from which you can learn and which can inspire you. Then, do manana on that: think over what you can accept, what you will need, and what you will not need. Secondly, svādhyāya means: sva means the self, adhyāya means the chapter. Read the chapter of your life. How many chapters do you have? How many times have you closed one chapter, and how many have you begun? What is written in your inner chapter? Look within your inner mirror. Do not blame anyone. There is no one to be blamed—only yourself. Each individual is responsible for their own destiny, and destiny is caused by oneself. So what is written in your chapters? Do not ask yourself, "How are you?" but ask, "How is your inner scepter?" It is not only "Who am I?" but "How am I?" It is very easy to say, "I am the immortal soul"; very easy to say, "I am the everlasting one, the supreme ātmā." But what is the reality within you? How much confidence do you have? How many times do you lose your faith? How many times do you begin again with your faith? So where are you? How many chapters are there? This chapter will show you very clearly on which stage of spirituality you are. This is now time for you. Mauna means to read more intensively your inner chapters. In your chapters, each and every movement of your eyelids is written. Each and every movement of your mind, the vṛtti. How many times you were kind. How many times you were helpful, kind enough, and forgiving. And how many times you were angry, jealous, hateful, complexed, feeling revenge, untrusting—many, many things towards all. So what is written in your chapter? Self-inquiry meditation means to read your chapters again and again. By heart, you should know. Everything is there within your phenomenon. But read them again. Become aware. Become conscious. And that is called abhyāsa. Practice, practice, practice. Practice to accept. Practice to learn. Practice to know. Practice to forgive. Practice to be kind. These things we shall practice. Thus, Manana, Svādhyāya, and Abhyāsa—these are our three programs here. --- Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Summer seminar