View source for PoP 7 Yoga for the Modern Age

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[[Bhagavad-gita As It Is (1972)|''Bhagavad-gītā'']] ([[BG 6.33|6.33]]):

:''arjuna uvāca''
:''yo 'yaṁ yogas tvayā proktaḥ''
:''sāmyena madhusūdana''
:''etasyāhaṁ na paśyāmi''
:''cañcalatvāt sthitiṁ sthirām''

"Arjuna said: O Madhusūdana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady."

This is the crucial test of the eightfold ''aṣṭāṅga-yoga'' system expounded herein by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. It has already been explained that one must sit in a certain way and concentrate the mind on the form of Viṣṇu seated within the heart. According to the ''aṣṭāṅga-yoga'' system, first of all one has to control the senses, follow all the rules and regulations, practice the sitting posture and the breathing process, concentrate the mind on the form of Viṣṇu within the heart, and then become absorbed in that form. There are eight processes in this ''aṣṭāṅga-yoga'' system, but herein Arjuna says quite frankly that this ''aṣṭāṅga-yoga'' system is very difficult. Indeed, he says that it "appears impractical and unendurable to me."

Actually, the ''aṣṭāṅga-yoga'' system is not impractical, for were it impractical, Lord Kṛṣṇa would not have taken so much trouble to describe it. It is not impractical, but it appears impractical. What may be impractical for one man may be practical for another. Arjuna is representative of the common man in the sense that he is not a mendicant or a ''sannyāsī'' or a scholar. He is on the battlefield fighting for his kingdom, and in this sense he is an ordinary man engaged in a worldly activity. He is concerned with earning a livelihood, supporting his family, and so on. Arjuna has many problems, just as the common man, and generally this system of ''aṣṭāṅga-yoga'' is impractical for the ordinary common man. That is the point being made. It is practical for one who has already completely renounced everything and can sit in a secluded, sacred place on the side of a hill or in a cave. But who can do this in this age? Although Arjuna was a great warrior, a member of the royal family, and a very advanced person, he proclaims this ''yoga'' system impractical. And what are we in comparison to Arjuna? If we attempt this system, failure is certain.

Therefore this system of mysticism described by Lord Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna beginning with the words ''śucau deśe'' and ending with ''yogī paramaḥ'' is here rejected by Arjuna out of a feeling of inability. As stated before, it is not possible for an ordinary man to leave home and go to a secluded place in the mountains or jungles to practice ''yoga'' in this age of Kali. The present age is characterized by a bitter struggle for a life of short duration. As Kali-yuga progresses, our life span gets shorter and shorter. Our forefathers lived for a hundred years or more, but now people are dying at the age of sixty or seventy. Gradually the life span will decrease even further. Memory, mercy, and other good qualities will also decrease in this age.

In Kali-yuga, people are not serious about self-realization even by simple, practical means, and what to speak of this difficult ''yoga'' system, which regulates the mode of living, the manner of sitting, selection of place, and detachment of the mind from material engagements. As a practical man, Arjuna thought it was impossible to follow this system of ''yoga'', even though he was favorably endowed in many ways. He was not prepared to become a pseudo ''yogī'' and practice some gymnastic feats. He was not a pretender but a soldier and a family man. Therefore he frankly admitted that for him this system of ''yoga'' would be a waste of time. Arjuna belonged to the royal family and was highly elevated in terms of numerous qualities; he was a great warrior, he had great longevity, and, above all, he was the most intimate friend of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Five thousand years ago, when Arjuna was living, the life span was very long. At that time, people used to live up to one thousand years. In the present age of Kali-yuga, the life span is limited to a hundred years; in Dvāpara-yuga, the life span was a thousand years; in Tretā-yuga, the life span was ten thousand years; and in Satya-yuga, the life span was one hundred thousand years. Thus as the ''yugas'' degenerate, the life span decreases. Even though Arjuna was living at a time when one would live and practice meditation for a thousand years, he still considered this system impossible.

Five thousand years ago, Arjuna had much better facilities than we do now, yet he refused to accept this system of ''yoga''. In fact, we do not find any record in history of his practicing it at any time. Therefore, this system must be considered generally impossible in this age of Kali. Of course, it may be possible for some very few, rare men, but for the people in general it is an impossible proposal. If this were so five thousand years ago, what of the present day? Those who are imitating this ''yoga'' system in different so-called schools and societies, although complacent, are certainly wasting their time. They are completely ignorant of the desired goal.

Since this ''aṣṭāṅga-yoga'' system is considered impossible, the ''bhakti-yoga'' system is recommended for everyone. Without training or education, one can automatically participate in ''bhakti-yoga''. Even a small child can clap at ''kīrtana''. Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has proclaimed ''bhakti-yoga'' the only system practical for this age ([[CC Adi 17.21|CC ''Adi'' 17.21]]):

:''harer nāma harer nāma''
:''harer nāmaiva kevalam''
:''kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva''
:''nāsty eva gatir anyathā''

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."

Chanting is very simple, and one will feel the results immediately. ''Pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyam''. If we attempt to practice other ''yoga'' systems, we will remain in darkness; we will not know whether or not we are making progress. In ''bhakti-yoga'', one can understand, "Yes, now I am making progress." This is the only ''yoga'' system by which one can quickly attain self-realization and liberation in this life. One doesn't have to wait for another lifetime. ([[BG 6.34|BG 6.34]]):

:''cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa''
:''pramāthi balavad dṛḍham''
:''tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye''
:''vāyor iva suduṣkaram''

"For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate, and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind."

By chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, one captures the mind immediately. Just by saying the name Kṛṣṇa and hearing it, the mind is automatically fixed on Kṛṣṇa. This means that the ''yoga'' system is immediately attained. The entire ''yoga'' system aims at concentration on the form of Viṣṇu, and Kṛṣṇa is the original personality from whom all these Viṣṇu forms are expanded. Kṛṣṇa is like the original candle from which all other candles are lit. If one candle is lit, one can light any number of candles, and there is no doubt that each candle is as powerful as the original candle. Nonetheless, one has to recognize the original candle as the original. Similarly, from Kṛṣṇa millions of Viṣṇu forms expand, and each Viṣṇu form is as good as Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa remains the original. Thus one who concentrates his mind on Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, immediately attains the perfection of ''yoga''. ([[BG 6.35|BG 6.35]]):

:''śrī-bhagavān uvāca''
:''asaṁśayaṁ mahā-bāho''
:''mano durnigrahaṁ calam''
:''abhyāsena tu kaunteya''
:''vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate''

"The Blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment."

Kṛṣṇa does not say that it is not difficult. Rather, He admits that it is difficult, but possible by means of constant practice. Constant practice means engaging ourselves in some activities that remind us of Kṛṣṇa. In this Society for Kṛṣṇa consciousness we therefore have many activities-''kīrtana'', temple activities, ''prasāda'', publications, and so on. Everyone is engaged in some activity with Kṛṣṇa at the center. Therefore whether one is typing for Kṛṣṇa, cooking for Kṛṣṇa, chanting for Kṛṣṇa, or distributing literature for Kṛṣṇa, he is in the ''yoga'' system, and he is also in Kṛṣṇa. We engage in activities just as in material life, but these activities are molded in such a way that they are directly connected with Kṛṣṇa. Thus through every activity, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is possible, and perfection in ''yoga'' follows automatically ([[BG 6.36|BG 6.36]]):

:''asaṁyatātmanā yogo''
:''duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ''
:''vaśyātmanā tu yatatā''
:''śakyo 'vāptum upāyataḥ''

"For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by right means is assured of success. That is My opinion."

The Supreme Personality of Godhead declares that one who does not accept the proper treatment to detach the mind from material engagement can hardly achieve success in self-realization. Trying to practice ''yoga'' while engaging the mind in material enjoyment is like trying to ignite a fire while pouring water on it. Similarly, ''yoga'' practice without mental control is a waste of time. I may sit down to meditate and focus my mind on Kṛṣṇa, and that is very commendable, but there are many ''yoga'' societies that teach their students to concentrate on the void or on some color. That is, they do not recommend concentration on the form of Viṣṇu. Trying to concentrate the mind on the impersonal or the void is very difficult and troublesome. It is stated by Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the Twelfth Chapter of [[Bhagavad-gita As It Is (1972)|''Bhagavad-gītā'']] ([[BG 12.5|12.5]]):

:''kleśo 'dhikataras teṣām''
:''avyaktāsakta-cetasām''
:''avyaktā hi gatir duḥkhaṁ''
:''dehavadbhir avāpyate''

"For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is always difficult for those who are embodied."

In the temple, the devotee tries to concentrate on the form of Kṛṣṇa. Concentrating on nothingness, on void, is very difficult, and naturally the mind is very flickering. Therefore instead of concentrating on the void, the mind searches out something else. The mind must be engaged in thinking of something, and if it is not thinking of Kṛṣṇa, it must be thinking of ''māyā''. Therefore, pseudomeditation on the impersonal void is simply a waste of time. Such a show of ''yoga'' practice may be materially lucrative, but useless as far as spiritual realization is concerned. I may open a class in yogic meditation and charge people money for sitting down and pressing their nose this way and that, but if my students do not attain the real goal of ''yoga'' practice, they have wasted their time and money, and I have cheated them.

Therefore one has to concentrate his mind steadily and constantly on the form of Viṣṇu, and that is called ''samādhi''. In Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the mind is controlled by engaging it constantly in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Unless one is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he cannot steadily control the mind. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person easily achieves the result of yoga practice without separate endeavor, but a ''yoga'' practitioner cannot achieve success without becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious.
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