Austerity
Austerity at the physical level is necessary and useful, beneficial, but most benefit is derived when we are austere in our speech.
Austerities
Austerities performed for sense gratification provide Sukha that is impermanent pleasure. But austerities performed for self-realization provide eternal happiness.
On Time
Those, who are getting together and doing “varta”, discussions or maybe studying on their own remembering the pastimes of the Lord, that person is not losing time. He is on time, he is with the time. He is with the Lord. The Lord is time. Those who do not make the best use of the time, they are left behind.
Upavasa
Stay close to the Lord. That is the meaning of upavasa. Remember this throughout your life.
With austerity comes the purification
There are varieties of austerities to be performed by body, some by tongue, some by mind- austerities one must perform.
Purifying Ourselves
With austerity comes purification.
The Big Austerity
One of the big austerities in this world these days is to stay together- to cooperate.
Real meaning of Upavasa.
By mere refraining from food, upavasa is not done. Upavasa means close to the Lord. Vasa or Nivasa means place of stay, place to reside- so Nivasa with Krsna is upavasa. Stay close to the Lord. That is the meaning of upavasa.