How can one achieve the realization of their true self, their true spiritual identity?

What is austerity, and what is its importance?

Austerity: It is the voluntary acceptance of difficulties in order to reach the higher goal, God. It is the practice of loving and devoted service offered to God, which may, especially at the beginning, entail some difficulties, such as getting up early and showering to attend the service dedicated to Krishna at the temple. Another example is fasting on certain days of important religious commemorations.

Austerity also means abstaining from illicit sexual relations outside of marriage, not eating meat, fish, or eggs, not consuming drugs or stimulants such as alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea, and not playing games of chance or gambling. Anyone determined to advance in God-consciousness or Krishna-consciousness and spiritual bliss will feel some discomfort in following the various rules and principles prescribed by the holy scriptures, but will follow them without great difficulty.

Only austerity, penance, restriction, or abstinence allows one to attain the realization of the true Self, or true spiritual identity.

Austerity is, in truth, the beauty and richness of pure persons, pure souls, and the order of renunciation (detachment from the things of this material world, disinterest in material pleasures, rejection of objects that arouse sensual pleasure, and the natural rejection of materialism. This is the order of life of the hermit who serves God).

According to the philosophy of God-science, austerity is the sole purpose of existence for all human beings, for only austerity allows one to realize the true Self. But the purpose of existence is precisely to achieve self-realization, not the unbridled pursuit of sensual pleasure. The path of austerity was established at the very beginning of creation, and it was the Supreme Spiritual Master, Krishna, God, who taught it to Brahma, the first created being and ruler of our galaxy, who then adopted it.

Only the path of austerity allows one to fully benefit from human life, unlike the animalistic lifestyle of a sophisticated civilization. Animals know nothing beyond the mere pleasure of the senses. Their only concerns are eating, drinking, sleeping, defending themselves, mating, and foolishly enjoying life.

Human beings are made to observe austerity and return to God, to their original abode.