The word Guru literally means `dispeller of darkness` A guru serves as the beacon light for spiritual development.One needs to understand the technique of selecting the right Guru.This discourse presents the essential qualities that a teacher must possess so that a student will benefit from their association.

Self-control is commonly misunderstood to mean self-denial. Self-denial is a negative condition of forced abstinence. It leads to suppression, frustration in life. Self-control is a sublime state of knowledge and power. You gain mastery over the world instead of the world harassing you. The concept of Self-control needs to be carefully understood and practiced for sustained happiness in life

`Viveka` means knowledge. `Vairagya`, detachment. Knowledge is not mere accumulation of information from preceptors and scriptures. True knowledge requires thorough reflection upon the material studied. With reflection, one develops a state of detachment towards the superficial aspects of life. Knowledge unaccompanied by detachment serves no purpose in spiritual unfoldment. One becomes a mere scholar.

Entire humanity is involved in two extreme approaches to life. One class of people goes all out and indulges in the world seeking enjoyment. Another class forcibly abstains out of an irrational fear and suppresses itself. Both end up bitterly disappointed. The middle path envisages an intelligent approach instead. Provides the guidelines on the art of right contact with the world.

The material layers of the individual are the body, mind and intellect. These need to be used diligently to unravel the Supreme Self within. The three yoga’s are Karma (Action) for the body, Bhakti (Devotion) for the mind, and Gnana (Knowledge) for the intellect. These disciplines need to be carefully understood. Then practiced in the right proportion to ensure comprehensive development of the personality.

Meditation is an advanced spiritual practice. It requires exhaustive preparation. The scriptures constantly emphasise the importance of preparatory disciplines before meditation. It is vital to understand the role and place of meditation in spiritual development before one practices this discipline.

The human mind is extremely potent. If uncontrolled, it destroys the personality. Generates stress and strain. The mental agitations thus produced overpower the individual`s capacity to think. Leads one to a state of confusion, delusion in life. However, a controlled mind generates enduring peace and happiness. Thus, it is vital to understand and direct it’s functioning.

William Shakespeare`s immortal line "To be or not to be" encapsulates the perennial dilemma of choice that confronts every human being. Of all living creatures, a human alone is endowed with the choice of action. Thus humanity needs instructions on life and living. This presentation provides the guidelines to develop the clarity of thinking needed to make the right choices in life.

A human being alone is endowed with the capacity to serve and sacrifice. True service uplifts the recipient as well as the donor. There are various grades of service one can perform – material, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. One needs to understand these grades of service in order to elevate oneself to subtler levels of service.

Devotion or `Bhakti` has a far deeper significance than what is envisaged. Devotion has come to mean mechanical adherence to ritualistic worship and servile pleading for selfish demands. This discourse outlines the understanding and effort needed to elevate one`s feeling to that true devotion. Through such understanding one is able to transform emotion from weakness to strength, from selfish to sublime.