In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6,the Lord reveals that meditation is the first step to Renunciation. While preparing to meditate, one must denounce all materialistic desires through karma yoga. It is by controlling the mind that we can meditate properly. Also, one must eat, sleep and indulge in other pleasures in moderate. The goal of astanga yoga can also be achieved in Bhaki Yoga by engaging mind, body, soul and senses in the service of the Lord. Once we master the mind, the person unconsciously follows the dictation of Paramatma or the supreme soul. He goes on to elucidate the methods of mediation. How to select a place, a proper seat and how to focus with our eyes fixed on one spot and spine erect. Our thoughts also need concentration and must not waver like a flame. The object of meditation should be something that we hold dear like that of a deity or a guru. The mind might show its tendency to wander but one must use the intellect to bring it to focus. He finally praises the person who meditates and says that joy, peace and bliss are achieved. No sorrow pervades the person as he is unified with Ishwara. If one fails to meditate in this birth, it is carried on to the next. The most accomplished one becomes Ishwara’s devotee.
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
anāśritaḥ karma-phalaḿ
kāryaḿ karma karoti yaḥ
sa sannyāsī ca yogī ca
na niragnir na cākriyaḥ
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the...View More
yaḿ sannyāsam iti prāhur
yogaḿ taḿ viddhi pāṇḍava
na hy asannyasta-sańkalpo
yogī bhavati kaścana
Translation
What is called renunciation you should know to be the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the Supreme, O son of Pandu, for one can never become a yog...View More
ārurukṣor muner yogaḿ
karma kāraṇam ucyate
yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva
śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate
Translation
For one who is a neophyte in the eightfold yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who is already elevated in yoga, cessation of all material acti...View More
yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu
na karmasv anuṣajjate
sarva-sańkalpa-sannyāsī
yogārūḍhas tadocyate
Translation
A person is said to be elevated in yoga when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in fruitive activities.
...View Moreuddhared ātmanātmānaḿ
nātmānam avasādayet
ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur
ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ
Translation
One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.
bandhur ātmātmanas tasya
yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ
anātmanas tu śatrutve
vartetātmaiva śatru-vat
Translation
For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.
View Morejitātmanaḥ praśāntasya
paramātmā samāhitaḥ
śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu
tathā mānāpamānayoḥ
Translation
For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquillity. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and c...View More
jñāna-vijñāna-tṛptātmā
kūṭa-stho vijitendriyaḥ
yukta ity ucyate yogī
sama-loṣṭrāśma-kāñcanaḥ
Translation
A person is said to be established in self-realization and is called a yogi [or mystic] when he is fully satisfied by virtue of acquired knowledge ...View More
suhṛn-mitrāry-udāsīna-
madhyastha-dveṣya-bandhuṣu
sādhuṣv api ca pāpeṣu
sama-buddhir viśiṣyate
Translation
A person is considered still further advanced when he regards honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral, mediators, the envious, frien...View More
yogī yuñjīta satatam
ātmānaḿ rahasi sthitaḥ
ekākī yata-cittātmā
nirāśīr aparigrahaḥ
Translation
A transcendentalist should always engage his body, mind and self in relationship with the Supreme; he should live alone in a secluded place and should always car...View More
śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya
sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ
nāty-ucchritaḿ nāti-nīcaḿ
cailājina-kuśottaram
tatraikāgraḿ manaḥ kṛtvā
yata-cittendriya-kriyaḥ
upaviśyāsane yuñjyād
yogam ātma-viśuddhaye
Translation
To practice yoga, one should go to a seclu...View More
samaḿ kāya-śiro-grīvaḿ
dhārayann acalaḿ sthiraḥ
samprekṣya nāsikāgraḿ svaḿ
diśaś cānavalokayan
praśāntātmā vigata-bhīr
brahmacāri-vrate sthitaḥ
manaḥ saḿyamya mac-citto
yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ
Translation
One should hold one’s body, neck...View More
yuñjann evaḿ sadātmānaḿ
yogī niyata-mānasaḥ
śāntiḿ nirvāṇa-paramāḿ
mat-saḿsthām adhigacchati
Translation
Thus practicing constant control of the body, mind and activities, the mystic transcendentalist, his mind regulated, attains to the kingdom of God...View More
nāty-aśnatas tu yogo ’sti
na caikāntam anaśnataḥ
na cāti-svapna-śīlasya
jāgrato naiva cārjuna
Translation
There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.
View Moreyuktāhāra-vihārasya
yukta-ceṣṭasya karmasu
yukta-svapnāvabodhasya
yogo bhavati duḥkha-hā
Translation
He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.
View Moreyadā viniyataḿ cittam
ātmany evāvatiṣṭhate
nispṛhaḥ sarva-kāmebhyo
yukta ity ucyate tadā
Translation
When the yogi, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in transcendence—devoid of all material desires—he is said to be...View More
yathā dīpo nivāta-stho
neńgate sopamā smṛtā
yogino yata-cittasya
yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ
Translation
As a lamp in a windless place does not waver, so the transcendentalist, whose mind is controlled, remains always steady in his meditation on the transcendent self.
...View Moreyatroparamate cittaḿ
niruddhaḿ yoga-sevayā
yatra caivātmanātmānaḿ
paśyann ātmani tuṣyati
sukham ātyantikaḿ yat tad
buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam
vetti yatra na caivāyaḿ
sthitaś calati tattvataḥ
yaḿ labdhvā cāparaḿ lābhaḿ
manyate nādhikaḿ tatah...View More