In the following code, if i try to pass method reference using the class name, works. But passing the reference variable compiler gives an error, i do not understand why?

public class User {
    private String name;

    public User(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    public void printName() {
        System.out.println(name);
    }    
}


public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        User u1 = new User("AAA");
        User u2 = new User("BBB");
        User u3 = new User("ZZZ");

        List<User> userList = Arrays.asList(u1, u2, u3);        

        userList.forEach(User::printName); // works
        userList.forEach(u1::printName); // compile error
    }
}

Thanks,