Without spiritual strength, we can't maintain niṣṭha or steadiness in practice. So to this end two points about practice. One is it's really hard to make it up at the last minute. Sometimes people become serious about Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but they're, of course, Khaṭvāṅga Mahārāja is an example. Even at the last minute, you can, you should try, and you can do it. But generally, if you try to pass a test at the last minute by studying the night before, it's very difficult, because it takes time to develop momentum, to have spiritual strength or acumen in any particular subject.

So don't try to make it up at the last minute, because we've seen people near death, and then they say, I'd like to do it, but I don't have the yoga-balena, I don't have the spiritual strength. So remember that your practice is giving you the spiritual strength now so that you'll be prepared especially for death. Because you have to be able to be strong when you leave this body in order to attain the destination that requires niṣṭha, steadiness in the practice. And we get that through sāṅkhya-pūrvaka, which means numerical strength.

So you have to be consistent and keep a certain number every day, can't fluctuate. So even if you start small, then keep that number and don't go below. And then gradually, when you feel spiritual strength, you climb the ladder, take the next steps, and take a higher number according to your qualification at that point. And then keep it. And if you stay there, and you keep that practice going, and arrange everything around that then you come to the stage of niṣṭha. And It's important also to remember that taste comes later, because oftentimes people say, I don't have any taste for this, but don't worry about that. Now worry about niṣṭha or steadiness. Now let your taste be in niṣṭha or steadiness, not in yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa, that I'm feeling one moment to be like 12 years or more, where the tears are flowing from my eyes. That comes of its own accord, that comes as a descending process from Kṛṣṇa.

He awards that to those who have attained niṣṭha. So have a taste for steadiness, and that comes from having a sense of duty. There's there is taste in doing one's duty that I'm doing this for a higher cause. You can get a taste from that. So get your taste in niṣṭha and duty. Don't worry about crying and rolling on the ground, or feeling like you're devastated because you're chanting the holy name that comes by Kṛṣṇa grace. Our part is to practice. We may be in the beginning, last point, we may be in the beginning feeling that I'm nowhere. I don't have any adhikārī whatsoever, but everyone can grab on somewhere

(excerpt from the talk 13:45)

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