What is an essential penance every individual must undertake, drawing inspiration from our ancients? Bhagawan lovingly explains to us today. Our ancients practised economy in speech. Students today tend to be loquacious. Excessive speech harms the mind. "Less speech, more happiness." The ancients practised three kinds of silent penance to control speech. The first was Vak-mounam (silence of the tongue), the second one was Mano-mounam (silence of the mind) and the third was Maha-mounam (supreme silence). Vak mounam (silence in speech) meant confining one's speech to the limit and the needs of the occasion. By this discipline, the excessive talk was avoided. As a result, the power of their speech was conserved and enhanced. Discipline in speech also resulted in truthfulness. Speaking only Truth served to purify their thoughts. By this means they acquired Siddhi (realisation of truth) and Jnana-siddhi (acquisition of the highest wisdom). Therefore purity in speech is vital. It has to be achieved by restraint in speech.