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.
Stay close to the Lord. That is the meaning of upavasa. Remember this throughout your life.
There are varieties of austerities to be performed by body, some by tongue, some by mind- austerities one must perform.
With austerity comes purification.
One of the big austerities in this world these days is to stay together- to cooperate.
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.
