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As the year ends and a new one begins, we should reflect on our actions over the past year. Among all my activities, which were spiritual and of God—meaning selfless—and which were not spiritual, being selfish? What have I been thinking this year? What new habits did I develop? Were those habits good for me, my family, my society, and the whole world, or were they not good? My behavior towards others—not only towards humans but towards all creatures—was it in the spirit of God’s love, or was it driven by distraction and selfishness? Did my behavior hurt someone? Did I damage the bridge of connection, or did I build that bridge with all humans and creatures, with my Master, and with my spiritual path? For it is that very bridge over which we can walk to God. How many times did I take time for my prayers and meditations, and how much time was simply wasted? In this way, how much did I practice, and how often was I lazy? Now, whatever has happened has already happened. The past cannot be brought back into the present. What is to be done? We can do a great deal. If our actions were negative, we pray to God that they should not be repeated. We shall make a saṅkalpa: a resolve that I will be honest, I will be faithful, I will have loving relations with all humans and creatures, I will give up my ego, hatred, complexes, and jealousy, and that I will not abuse these creatures for my own sake. All this counts towards our spiritual development and our human qualities. We are human, but we should know what makes us human. Does only this human body make us human? No. There is something more than this body. Within this body, there are hidden qualities; this is hidden power, and it can be developed and utilized for good things or for bad. When our hidden talents awaken and we utilize them spiritually, we are known as a spiritual person. If they are utilized for terror, then we are known as a terrorist. If they are utilized for theft, then we are a thief. Therefore, the way in which we utilize these inner abilities is what will define us and earn us the name 'human'. These qualities are compassion and a loving heart, forgiveness, correctness, and looking after and helping all others. These are the steps which will lead us higher and higher. Otherwise, there are also steps which will lead us downstairs. So it depends on the individual; you are your own liberator in this way. You are your own protector; you are your own leader. And you are the protector for all in this way. Therefore, we should carefully look at the past months of this year, and we shall see what we can avoid and what we shall take and develop further. Wisdom has no end, and we shall learn more and more every day. But we shall learn with heart, meaning with love. The wiser you become, the humbler you become. And it is only humbleness which lets you go through. Consider some old temples and caves where there is an idol of God. In the old buildings, the gates or doors are very low, perhaps only one and a half meters high. Why? Because anyone who enters the temple of God should bow down. You cannot enter with your ego held straight; that is surrendering. Therefore, to enter into the gate of Brahman, into the gate of heaven, into the gate of God, we need humbleness. So do not ask yourself if you are humble or not; let others judge, and then we will know if we are humble or not. In this sense, I wish you a very happy and successful new year. Bless you all. Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇ Bhagvān, Dev Puruṣa Mahādeva, Mādhav Kṛṣṇa Bhagvān, Sanātana Dharma. Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Mahaprabhuji's Mahasamadhi