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For a yogī, certain things are very important; among them, three things: manana, svādhyāya, and abhyāsa. Manana means to overthink—to overthink about your life, your work, your family situation. Overthink. Where is the problem? Where is some error which causes you problems? And where are there some good things which give you happiness and joy? So, those things which make you happy, those thoughts you shall cultivate. Those things which make you unhappy, you shall try to finish them, dissolve them, release them, forget them. 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 can happen: that one dies without God-realization. This human life is a precious life. We have done many things in our life. We did many good things, and sometimes we did something which is not good. Unfortunately, the kuśaṅga destroys our thoughts. It's called blackmail. Kuśaṅga is blackmailing into your brain. Then you begin to think also like that. That destroys your spiritual work from many lives, not only from this life. Therefore, think over. Whatever people tell you, whatever you hear from others, think it over. What is reality? And what have you to do with that reality? How far does it depend on you? Your colleague, maybe some family members, maybe some yoga friends, or anyone—you know that with no one you have to spend your whole life. Those people who are blackmailing, they are your enemy too. Therefore, manana is very important, not overthinking. Life is passing. Life is passing like water dripping from a hand. Or, you know, when you go to the Sahara, there is fine sand. You take a handful of sand and try to keep it. You will see you can't keep it long. That sand will also flow out from your hand. Therefore, time is like the sand flowing from your hand, like water dripping away from your hand. We know the sun is rising, but the time will bring that the sun will set also. What have you gained in this day? What have you utilized in this day, good or bad? For many of us, it's afternoon, you know. For many, it's morning. For many, it's sun rising. For many, it's the midday, and for many, it's maybe just sun setting. One devotee said, "O Lord, now it should be by your mercy that my life doesn't pass away without any sense." Manana—think over. And for that, you have got this one week time. You came here to realize something. You didn't come here 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 some holy books, some books of wisdom and knowledge—those books from which you can learn something, those books which can inspire you. Read those books. And again, do manana on that. Think over what you can accept, what you will need, and what you will not need. Second, svādhyāya means: sva means the self, adhyāya means the chapter. Read the chapter of your life. How many chapters do you have in your life? Many times you closed one chapter, and how many times, or how many chapters, you begin? What is written in your inner chapter? Look within your inner mirror. Don't blame anyone. There is no one to be blamed, only yourself. Each and every individual is responsible for their own destiny, and destiny is caused by oneself. So, what is written in your chapters? Don't ask yourself, "How are you?" but ask, "How is your inner scepter?" Not only, "Who am I?" but, "How am I?" It's very easy to say, "I am immortal." It is very easy to say that 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, and how many times do you again begin with your faith? So, where are you? How many chapters are there? And this chapter will show you very clearly on which stage of spirituality you are. So this is now time for you. Mauna means to read more intensively your inner chapters. In your chapter is written each and every movement of your eyelids, each and every movement of your... mind the British: how many times you were kind, how many times you were helpful, how many times you were helpful, how many times you were kind enough, and forgiveness, and how many times you were angry, you were jealous, hate, complexes, feeling of revenge, distrust, many, many things toward all. So, what is written in your chapter? Self-enquiry meditation means to read your chapters again and again. Again and again, by heart you should know again. It is everything, it is all there within your phenomenon, but read them again. Become aware of that. Become conscious of that. And that's called abhyāsa. Practice, practice, practice. Practice to accept. Practice to learn. To know, practice to forgive, practice to be kind. These things we shall practice. So, manana, svādhyāya, and abhyāsa—these are our three programs that will be here. In this, Karma Yoga is also included. Yoga will be successful through doing Karma Yoga. Through the fire of yoga, you can burn away your karma. So to endure all these three things—manana, svādhyāya, and abhyāsa—it is tapasyā. And tapasya is that fire which will burn your karma. For oneself and for one family and house, you are working your whole life. For your stomach, you are working every day, but for your ātmā, you are working very little. So the ashram... it is neither someone's home, nor is it for someone's stomach only, but it is a place which is for all. Each help that you will do, each hand which you will give, that will be divided among hundreds of people. One particular karma that will be divided among the hundreds of people you know. There is a very famous saying: for a hundred people, there is only just one walking stick, but one hundred sticks for one person is a very heavy bundle. So when you divide your karmas through karma yoga, it becomes lighter for you, easier for you. Therefore, be ready to do some karma yoga. Be helpful, help others. Helping is beautiful. Helping hands have more value than folded hands. So you have the opportunity to serve the ashram, to serve your guru brothers and sisters, and through this, you are serving yourself. Then we will have the philosophical part, this beautiful Rāmāyaṇa, which we... are readings continuing from last week? I'll be repeating the same thing we had last year, and we will continue again. So, I wish you a happy time, and please do your sādhanā. You see, why do I ask you to do the sādhanā? I can tell you, okay, come sit down under the tree, and we can have talking, joking, and telling stories. Let's go for a walk, let's go to some restaurants, let's eat ice cream, let's have some fun. Why do I always push you to the practice of this? Some people are saying, "We don't understand, Swāmījī, why always you tell us..." to do practice, practice, practice. What do you gain, Swamiji, when you force us to practice? I gain a lot of things. I gain happiness because you will be happy. Your happiness is my happiness, and your unhappiness is my unhappiness. You have given me your confidence. You have given your word to me. You made a lifelong commitment to be a disciple. I made a commitment to lead you, to help you, and to bring you to liberation. So I know how I can keep my words, because finally you have to walk. I can only accompany you. And therefore, practicing spiritual sādhanā is important. Another thing, it doesn't matter if you are a disciple or not. It is the prime duty of every saint to perspire the people and inspire the people and guide them towards their spiritual development, because there is happiness, and that is the aim of our life. So practice. Don't see what others are doing. You didn't come to look to others. You didn't come here to find some boyfriend or some girlfriend or some bird's friend. Just you came here to find the real friend, your real self. Therefore, do your sādhanā. Time will go away, and you will be sorry about this. And one day you will remember that Swamiji was telling, "I should have done something." Maybe it is too late. Either you will not be here, or I will not be here. Then, you know, these beautiful satsaṅgs suddenly will be like empty. Therefore, utilize time. And gain the spiritual energy through being together here, you and me, all our guru brothers and sisters. It's indescribable. Understand this.