Night is the ideal time for spiritual practice. Meditation and japa should be performed regularly with great devotion. They purify the mind. Continued for some time, regular practice of this kind is conducive to the establishment of a constant spiritual mood, giving one a taste of inner joy. A person should not leave his seat immediately after meditation, but should sit for a while thinking about the object of his meditation. Then he may recite prayers and hymns along similar lines to intensify and stabilize the meditative mood and inner joy. Even after leaving his seat he should not talk with anyone, but should rather be contemplative and remain by himself for some time. Practice like this fosters a continuous undercurrent of meditation, helping to keep the mind on a high level and bringing to the heart great joy.
(p.5, For Seekers of God, Swami Shivananda’s advice on 25 December 1920)