Although the power of the senses, the power of the mind to think, feel and will, and the power, movements and growth of the body seem to result from the various movements of the air within the body, they are in truth only manifestations of His energy. As the ultimate cause of all things, His supreme energy takes on a thousand forms, and precisely because it is His energy, He is present everywhere through His different energies.
In the form of the Supreme Soul, the Lord dwells in the hearts of all living beings, celestial beings, human beings, animals and plants, as the Supreme Guide and Supreme Witness, which actually indicates that He is already acting as the counsellor of all beings.
(For more on this subject, see logos 2)
Logos 474
Austerity, or the practice of purity, enables one to attain the highest perfection.
This pure practice is the beauty and wealth of holy beings, of devotees of the Lord, of those who belong to the order of renunciation. It concerns and is addressed to those who are advanced in the field of spirituality, of spiritual realization, of God consciousness, and who wish to purify their being, to reconnect with Krishna, God, the Supreme Person, to renew the broken link with the Lord, and thus to eliminate all the obstacles which move away from the spiritual path and prevent spiritual growth.
Austerity means renouncing all sense pleasures, all sexual activity, the consumption of animal flesh (meat, fish, eggs), the use of drugs, stimulants such as alcohol, coffee, tea, cigarettes or toxic substances, all gambling, materialism or simply material life.
The Lord mentions three categories of austerities.
Austerity of the body, which includes worship offered to the Lord, abstention from violence, rejection of anger, renunciation of sex, consumption of meat, fish, eggs, alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, tea, and drugs.
Austerity of speech. Speaking with respect, honesty, kindness, and reciting the sacred texts.
Mental austerity, or the development of inner calm, self-control, gentleness, restraint, and the practice of meditation with Krishna, God, the Supreme Person, as the focal point.
All the austerities are interconnected. Thus, the maintenance of austerity of the body also develops the will and mental fitness, while the calmness of austerity of the mind promotes austerity of speech.