The six vices of lust, anger, greed, pride, delusion and envy have enveloped most people. Attachment and aversion have gripped them. Due to this most people have forgotten their real nature and are filled with pride of all sorts. Losing their power of discrimination (vichakshana-jnana), people indulge in all kinds of misbehavior towards others. The scriptures prescribe devotional worship (upasana) as a means of getting rid of these bad qualities. Upasana is the process of elimination of the accumulated impurities in the mind resulting from impure thoughts and actions in the past. As a lighted joss stick removes the bad odour around by its fragrance, devotional repetition of the name of God drives away the impurities of the mind. Remember, all actions done as an offering to God are pure actions (sat-karmas). Through such actions, the mind is purified.

- Divine Discourse, Oct 4, 1989.