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Now we come to a practical part. Everyone should adopt a good posture. You can do this practice at home, three times a day: in the morning, at lunchtime, and in the evening. This practice will bring completeness to all your physical, mental, and spiritual efforts in the world—first for yourself, then for your family and friends. It also serves the work you do for your company or society, as you pray and concentrate for the protection of all creatures and the environment, with the awareness of being one with the Supreme Brahman. This is a mantra you may already know, though some may not. You will learn it through practice. This mantra and practice are of great significance for leading your consciousness toward completeness. It will improve all functions of your body—heart, liver, kidneys, gallbladder, digestive system, brain activity, eyesight, hearing, voice, vocal cords, memory—bringing all your actions to fulfillment. Mentally prepare for this. Consider that if you put a seed in the ground, it will grow whether it falls upside down, horizontally, or vertically. However, if you plant it properly, it sprouts more quickly and easily. This understanding is very important. First, all mantras require purification, purity, and cleanness. It is said our body is full of vikāra—impurities, dead cells—and spoils quickly. There is much impurity within, yet we try to purify it. Impurities exit through the pores near body hair and skin via sweating. Therefore, when performing such a significant pūjā, it is recommended you wash yourself, cleanse your mouth, wear clean clothes, and then sit or stand in the prayer mudrā. This is called the Saṅkalpa Mudrā, or Śaṅkalpa Mudrā. You know Śaṅkalpa from Yoga Nidrā—it is your resolution or wish. Sit straight and hold your hands in this mudrā, with hands slightly apart so you can see yourself. At home, you may use leaves or flower petals. Mentally follow along: in your right palm, hold these flowers. Then take some water. The flower signifies completeness, happiness, the unfoldment of consciousness, goodness (meaning good smell), and purity. If you put water on a flower petal, as on a lotus, it slides off immediately. This represents divine purity. It does not matter if the flower is big or small. Even on a busy path, you may see a plant or grass with a beautiful flower that goes unnoticed, stepped on by many. This mudrā is called Śaṅkalpa Mudrā. You hold your śaṅkalpa in your hand and will make many resolutions. I will give you a nice śaṅkalpa to learn by heart. Someone may write it for you, or you can get a recording. This saṅkalpa is in simple Hindi. Repeat after me: First, I will say it, then you repeat. > I will follow this rule for the rest of my life. > O Param Pitā Parātmā! O Gurudev! > Protect my thoughts. > I am dedicated to you from the bottom of my heart. Now, the mantra: > Oṃ Pūrṇamadaḥ Pūrṇamidaṃ Pūrṇāt Pūrṇamudacyate > Pūrṇasya Pūrṇamādāya Pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate > Oṃ Pūrṇamadaḥ Pūrṇamidaṃ Pūrṇāt Pūrṇamudacyate > Pūrṇasya Pūrṇamādāya Pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate > Oṃ Śāntiḥ, Oṃ Śāntiḥ, Oṃ Śāntiḥ Again: > Om Pūrṇamadaḥ, Pūrṇamidaṃ, Pūrṇāt, Pūrṇamudachyate, > Pūrṇasya, Pūrṇamādāya, Pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate. > Om Śāntiḥ, Śāntiḥ, Śāntiḥ. After saying this three times, place the petals. If you have some rice, you may also use a little rice, petals, and water, and place it before an altar or on a Śiva Liṅgam, repeating "Oṃ Śama" along with your Saṅkalpa. I do not know your specific saṅkalpa—perhaps you wish for something to come true. To make your saṅkalpa successful, do this practice at least twice daily; three times is best. Life situations vary—you may not have an altar at the office—so you can perform a mental pūjā in the morning and evening. Hold your hands properly. If your hands are not in the correct position, your saṅkalpa may not be successful. Then, place your offering on the altar. This is the Saṅkalpa Mudrā. Hold your hands straight like this. If you do not wish to participate, that is fine. But if you are in this room, you should practice with others. We will do more practical things tomorrow where you can practice alone. Now, repeat after me: > He Param Pitā Parātmā, sure a day Agni Pṛthvī, why you serve a Devatā? Śabdhī kī sākṣī lekar, aaj main yeh saṅkalp kartā hūṁ. > He Param Pitā Parātmā, mere saṅkalp kī rakṣā kījī. > O God, I will fulfill the vow that I have made today, all my life. > O God, protect my vow. > May Ānanya Bhāv Se Āpke Śrī Caraṇa Me Samarpit Hoon > O Gurudev, Merā Saṅkalpa Siddh Kījī. Now the mantra: > Om Pūrṇamadaḥ Pūrṇamidaṁ Pūrṇāt Pūrṇamudacyate, > Pūrṇasya Pūrṇamādāya Pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate. > Om Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ. I said, "Repeat after me. Om Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ... Śāntiḥ." Now offer your flowers on the altar.