The taste of food or of anything eaten cannot be grasped if the person is ill or even if the mind is immersed in something else. So also, even if one is engaged in Naamasmarana, Bhajana, Japa or Dhyaana, if the heart is full of Thamas, or if it is wayward, no joy can be experienced; joy can never well up under such circumstances. The tongue will be sweet, so long as there is sugar upon the tongue. If there is the pillar of light, Bhakthi, in the corridor of the heart, so long as that lamp burns, there will be no darkness. The heart will be illumined in Bliss. A bitter thing on the tongue makes the whole tongue bitter; when qualities like greed and anger enter the heart, the brightness disappears and darkness dominates the scene and Man becomes the target of countless grieves and losses. Therefore, those who aspire to attain the holy Presence of the Lord must acquire certain habits, disciplines and qualities. The usual, accustomed ways of life will not lead to God. They have to be modified somewhat by means of Sadhana. Look at the crane; it walks about pretty fast in water. But, during that walk, it cannot catch any fish; it must, for that purpose, become slow and quiet and stand motionless. So also, if one proceeds with greed, anger and similar qualities, one cannot secure the fish of Sathya, Dharma and Santhi. Whatever Sadhana a person may or may not have, he must practise uninterrupted Naamasmarana. Then only can he master the natural attributes of greed, anger etc. All the Sastras teach but this one lesson: since the Lord is the universal Goal and this Journey of Life has Him as the Destination, keep Him constantly in view and subdue the mind which makes you wander from the path. All the good qualities automatically gather around the person who practises control of speech and the constant contemplation of the Lord. See! In the Dwaaparayuga the Kauravas, even while experiencing the fruits of their previous Punya, were engaged in Papakarma; Pandavas, on the other hand, even while undergoing the sufferings due to their previous Papakarma, were thinking and doing only Punya! This is the difference between the wise and the unwise. The Kauravas were slaves of the appetites of hunger and sex and the Pandavas did every act for the sake of the Lord, having Sathya and Dharma as their Charioteer. Those who are overwhelmed in grief can never feel interest in either a feast or a fight; similarly, the real aspirant who is immersed in thoughts of God can never taste or even think of worldly objects of enjoyment.