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Lord, what is devotion to God, Haribhakti? How should one perform Haribhakti? We have many ways: devotions, prayers, sādhanās, meditations, mantras, and so on. Yet, we are often not successful. We would like to know the technique, for the technique is paramount. Without knowing the technique, you can realize nothing. Consider this story. During a cold winter, high in the mountains, there was a farmhouse. The temperature was minus 30 degrees, with deep snow and a bitter chill. A man, freezing outside, saw a faint light in the house and entered. The house was empty and very cold. There was a chimney and wood for a fire, but he could find no flame anywhere. He searched and searched, nearly frozen. Finally, he took the single burning oil lamp and went to a neighbor's house, knocking on the door. The farmer opened the door to find the man shivering violently, his nose blue and stiff as wood. The man pleaded, "Sir, I am suffering. I have been suffering from the cold for hours in that house. I could not find fire anywhere. Can you help me make a fire or give me a matchbox?" The farmer smiled and said, "My friend, but you have this oil lamp burning right there. You could have made fire from this lamp." The man replied, "Yes, this I did not know. This I didn't realize. I tried my best. I even rubbed the wood together, thinking maybe fire would come, but nothing happened. The only thing that happened was that I became a little warmer from the effort." Thus, it is said that to know how is very important. You can perform many, many sādhanās, but if you do not know exactly how, you will not be successful. You must ask the masters, the experts, and you should follow their instructions. Otherwise, millions of people in the world try their best day and night and still do not succeed. So, how does one perform devotion? How to meditate? How to pray? How to think? What to think? These are crucial questions, and we must learn the answers. That is precisely what you are learning here; that is why you came. You are engaged in various practices according to your need and ability: some with āsanas, some with prāṇāyāmas, some with concentrations, some with relaxations, some with meditations, anuṣṭhānas, kriyās, mantras, prayers, and satsaṅgs. You are realizing something and coming forward. Yet, it remains vital that you follow the instructions, follow the discipline, and that you ask. That is essential. Therefore, even such a great saint, the Ṛṣi Agastya Muni, asked God Śiva. The Ṛṣi said, "Please, how does one perform Haribhakti?" God Śiva recognized that he was a right aspirant, a worthy recipient, and that He should impart the knowledge. You cannot give everything to everyone. Psychologically, you may give some techniques, but to impart the real knowledge takes time. There are many, many devotees and disciples of masters, but very few receive the real knowledge. These are the few who truly understand the Master. They understand what he wants, what he means. For them, just an indication is enough; just one hint suffices. So God Śiva realized—He knew, or we can say He discerned—that the Ṛṣi Agastya Muni was a right aspirant. Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Summer seminar