Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6
(Compiled notes)
Note: This is a series of study notes from the translation of Bhagavad Gita by Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada (ISKCON founder) and titled as "Bhagvad Gita as it is". The copyright and content is that of Prabhupada & publishers. My part is simply distilling the knowledge from my self study and notes to share here in simple abridged form.
Dhyana Yoga - Yoga of Meditation
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6.2: यं सन्न्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव । न ह्यसन्न्यस्तसङ्कल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन ॥ २ ॥
The process of linking ones spirit with the Supreme spirit is called Yoga. It requires renunciation of sense gratification and renunciation of attachment to results of actions. Without renunciation one doesnt become a Yogi.
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6.3:
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योग आरुरुक्ष: = one who has just begun yoga
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योग आरूढ: = one who is expert in yoga; such a yogi renounces sense gratification and fruitive work.
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In the beginning of yoga process, fruitive work (work that is undertaken for certain desired result or fruit) is the means to become steady in mind.
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All such activities lead to achieving perfect mental equilibrium to control the senses. When one is accomplished in the practice of meditation, he ceases all disturbing mental activities.
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6.5: उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् । आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: ॥ ५ ॥
One ought to uplift oneself with the training of the mind, not falldown under sense control. The regulated mind is the friend of self, the unregulated mind is the enemy of the self.
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6.6: बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जित: । अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥ ६ ॥
The mind is the friend of the self for who succeeds in conquering it. The mind is the enemy of the self who is unable to control the mind.
As can be seen here (6.5 & 6.6), the mind is the central point of yoga practice; the purpose of the yoga system is to regulate the mind and to draw it away from attachment to sense objects to make it a useful tool in discharging the human mission (return to God). Unless the mind is controlled, the practice of yoga is simply a waste of time.
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6.7: जितात्मन: प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहित: । शीतोष्णसुखदु:खेषु तथा मानापमानयो: ॥ ७ ॥
One who has conquered the mind, he is deep spiritual peace. To him senses and mental states become immaterial.
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samādhi = absorption in the Supreme.
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When the mind is misled by the external, illusory energy, the spirit becomes entangled in material activities.
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6.29: सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि । ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शन: ॥ २९ ॥
One situated in Yoga sees everyone and everything as same and part of the Supreme spirit.
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The Lord has, primarily, two energies – the spiritual (or superior) and the material (or inferior). The living entity, although part of the superior energy, is conditioned by the inferior energy; the living entity is always in the Lord’s energy. Every living entity is situated in Him in one way or another.
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6.30: यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति । तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति ॥ ३० ॥
One who sees Me everywhere and everything in Me, to him I am not ever lost and he is not forgotten by Me.
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6.35: असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् । अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥ ३५ ॥
Undoubtedly, the mind is difficult to conquer. But by practice of Yoga and detachment one can conquer it.
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6.46 - तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिक: । कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन ॥ ४६ ॥
One who practices Yoga (linking with Supreme) is better than an ascetic, scholar or fruitive worker. So be a yogi.
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The Lord is proclaiming that:
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a dhyan yogi > just a meditavite saint;
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a gyan yogi > just an intellectual ;
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a karma yogi > just a karmi or fruitive worker.
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in other words, the practice of Yoga in any path of spiritualism multiplies the efficacy of that spiritual path.
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6.47: योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना । श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मत: ॥ ४७ ॥
Of all the Yogis, who try to reach Me, the one who sincerely worships Me (devotee), him I consider the highest Yogi.
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In other words, according to Lord Himself, the devotee or Bhakti Yogi = top yogi; better than Karma Yogi, Dhyan Yogi, Gyan Yogi.
My chosen verse from this chapter:
तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिक: ।
कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन ॥ 6.46 ॥
One who practices Yoga (linking with Supreme) is better than an ascetic, scholar or fruitive worker. So be a yogi.
This verse highlights the importance of Yoga in any activity we do. By serious lifelong study and practice of yoga as described by the Lord in Bhagavad Gita, gradually the living entity can come to a stage where he can be better than any non-yogi path and thus the path to attain spiritual perfection becomes simplified. For instance, the Lord is proclaiming that:
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a dhyan yogi > just a meditavite saint;
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a gyan yogi > just an intellectual ;
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a karma yogi > just a karmi or fruitive worker.
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in other words, the practice of Yoga in any path of spiritualism multiplies the efficacy of that spiritual path.
