The search for truth must become your daily spiritual discipline; every moment must be used for this primary duty. Truth can reflect itself in your intelligence only when tapas (spiritual austerity) cleans it. Tapas means all acts undertaken with higher motives; all actions indicating a yearning for the spirit; repenting for past blunders; strong determination to adhere to virtue, self-control; and firm adherence to equanimity in the face of success or failure. Tapam means heat, burning, intensity, the earnestness of endeavour. It is tapas that fosters renunciation and discipline. This discipline is essential when, as at present, the temptations to deviate are so many. In this iron age, when darkness is enveloping the mind of man, any little lamp that can light the steps is most welcome. That is why I advise you to resort to satkarma, sadachara and satpravartana (good deeds, good conduct and good attitudes and outlook), so that you may be established in the constant presence of the Lord. You must also strive to “hear” (shravanam) elevating words, ruminate on these promptings of the spirit (manana); and then, when the validity is recognised, meditate on it in profound reverence (nididhyasanam). All other activity is secondary; this alone is edifying; this alone is beneficial.