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Many of us are at a certain point in our decision-making, and it is a very interesting point from which to observe ourselves and others. The question is one of achievement, not the way or the path. Where there is achievement, there is no way. When you come to achievement, then all struggling and all different paths end. For our achievements, we need continuity. We have obtained many fruits; some fruits are from your own garden. You observe this tree, this fruit tree, from April or May. You see how it becomes blossoming, how a small fruit comes and gets bigger and bigger, gets ripe, and then you pluck it. There is a difference between the ripe fruit and just the beginning of the blossom. What was very important is the process developing from the beginning until the end. If there were some kind of interruption—no rain, no water, a damaged branch, or damage from insects—you would not see the process which is going on in the fruit. It happens day and night, very rapidly, not slowly. After a few months, you have a fruit, and it contains all kinds of nutrients inside. What a wonder of nature. Similarly, your spiritual journey from the beginning day until now is a process. As soon as there is a lack of discipline, the process suffers. When there is a lack of water—which means devotion—the process suffers. Or there are the insects of kusaṅga (bad company). The process suffers; that fruit can even be spoiled beforehand. Just one wasp comes and stings it, and the whole apple is spoiled. Though the sting is very small, similarly, perhaps a very little thought of kusaṅga can cause you to lose everything. It doesn't matter what kind of life you lead: family life or no family life, working, retired, or a student. These are merely phases of life. But the process should continue, and that requires, first of all, vairāgya (detachment). If there is no vairāgya, your fruit will not be healthy. Detachment means many things have to be renounced and many things have to be adopted. Vairāgya needs titikṣā, and titikṣā here means to stand through, like a fruit hanging on the tree and facing all kinds of situations: weather, storms, rains. So we have to understand and face different situations in life. And bhakti; bhakti means that what you have decided is final for you. All your being belongs to that point, your entire being—physical, emotional, intellectual, everything. You stand through all situations because you have the power of bhakti. And when there is a little doubt in it, you are lost. These things are not easy, and that's why many begin and then they stop. Many people think it's not important to go to a seminar. "I'm practicing at home, I'm thinking of Swāmījī"—that's not enough. I feel sorry for them. They are falling out; they will not come through. And many of you still will fall out. But if you do your sādhanā (practice) consciously, you will come through. That's why Mahāprabhujī said, "Vajrayāna Gurudev Darśan Dhanho." Darśan is very important. You never know when, or what kind of darśan you will get, and you don't know what you get. Darśan is like rain for thirsty plants. Holy Gurujī said, "Even if you don't speak and you have no time, just half a minute of darśan is enough; it makes the garden again green." So when we were traveling, in every village, everywhere, even stopping for half a minute, Gurujī stopped his car. And Gurujī said, "You know, the garden will be green. The garden will be blossoming." That's darśan. And if you just pass by and the bhakta sees you and you don't stop, they will suffer. Therefore, coming together, having something together, having darśan—you can't compare it with anything. Many think, "No, yes, Swāmījī will speak the same thing. The same meditation and āsanas we can do at home." This is something which is talking in you, your enemy. Every morning when you get up, first, you should ask Mahāprabhujī for darśan: "Lord, my day should be full of darśan. Lead my steps towards you." Second, mentally think three times: peace, peace, peace. And "Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaḥ"—may all be happy. So never think that you know many things; what you know is just nothing. I agree with that philosopher who was a very great writer, a great philosopher—European philosophy is based on his philosophy. But in the end he says, "I know that I don't know." When Holy Gurujī came to Europe, people asked if Gurujī would like to go for sightseeing. Gurujī said, "I don't see the side, I see the straight." And he said, "I've seen many things, but I want to see that which I really want to see: God, Mahāprabhujī." And so, it doesn't matter how much you know; be sure it's just nothing. A spirit, a seeker, is constantly seeking to come forward. The body situation is changing. The mind is changing. Soon life will end. But what did you realize? That's our aim. Therefore, I feel sorry for many people; they stop. They stop out of laziness, selfishness, greediness, and ignorance. These things are not necessary. And never think that you don't have money. If you don't have money, it doesn't matter; just come. Everything is not based on money. Because of money, don't miss the programs. But work, then you will have money. You can work as a karma yogī. And be here, have darśan. So, we are at a very critical point now. You have lost your intuition, your inner feelings of practice. And many things happen which should not happen. You don't like that it happens physically, mentally, and spiritually. But the cause is within you. You stopped practice. There is no one to be blamed. If your yoga teacher is good or not, if your yoga teacher is angry and you stop practicing, it's a pity for you. If you stop practicing, your yoga teacher didn't lose anything, and if you practice, he or she didn't gain anything. It is exclusively, only and only for you. For your entire being: your every feeling, every thought, every step. It's exclusively only for you. And you can do it. You can realize, you can get ātma jñāna if you want, so inwardly wake up. Our seminars are not only for practicing āsanas and prāṇāyāma. We can do āsanas and prāṇāyāma now, and you have to do it every day, but here is more inspiration, learning, darśan, which you can't compare with anything. All the times you are meditating, practicing mantra, to have darśan. And when there is the opportunity to have darśan, you just disappear. So again, make your saṅkalpa (resolve) today. Resolve that you will begin with yoga and then life. Don't neglect, don't be careless. Recording location: Hungary, Vep, Weekend seminar