Chapter 6

BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 06
6. 1. Without expecting fruit of actions one who does work, he is a sanyasi and a (karma)yogi, not the one who has given up his sacred fire or all activities
6. 2. What is called sanyasa is also (karma)Yoga. One who have not given up the thoughts of the world can never be a yogi
PURPORT:
Our normal concept of a yogi or sanyasi is either from his ochre robes or his heading a math or Ashram. Gita makes it clear. Sanyasa and yoga are in mind and not in garments or posture or stature. Corollary is this is also applicable to all who is anyone, in spiritual field
6. 3 To a contemplative, who wants to climb the steps of (karma)yoga, (disinterested)action is the step. When he has reached the height of Yoga, absence of thoughts of the world is said to the way to blessedness.
6. 4 When one is unattached to sense objects and also to actions, and had renounced thoughts of the world, he has reached the heights of Yoga
6. 5 One should lift oneself by one's own efforts and should not degrade oneself. For one's own self is one's friend and one's own self is one's enemy.
6. 6 One becomes one's friend, when by whom the lower self (mind senses and body) is conquered. When it is not conquered, it behaves like its enemy.
PURPORT:
Disinterested action is first step towards Karmayoga. absence of thoughts of the world is sign of success in Yoga and ceases to have Any attachment to objects of senses. None can eat, live, or die for us. Same way.I have to liberate myself. If I don't, I become my own enemy.
6. 7 Lord is firmly in the heart of one who is self controlled, serene, and is above pairs of opposites, like heat and cold, and praise and insult
6. 8 He is realized Yogi who is content with Knowledge and its application, who has conquered his senses, for whom gold, earth and stone are same.
6. 9 He stands supreme who has equal vision towards well wishers, neutrals, mediators, friends, foes, relatives and objects of hatred, the saints, and the sinners.
PURPORT:
NATURE OF A YOGI
Lord is the one obsession, self controlled, above pairs of opposites, has Knowledge and its day today living, equal eye to all people and things
6. 10 Living in alone, in seclusion, controlled his mind and body, desire-less, without possession, yogi should engage his mind in meditation.
6. 11 Sit in clean spot, neither too high nor too low, on a cloth spread on kusha grass,
6. 12 concentrate controlling functions of mind and senses,
6. 13 holding the back, head neck straight and steady and gazing tip of the nose
6. 14 Remaining calm, fearless, in continence, retraining mind and fixed on me, sit absorbed in me.
6. 15 Thus constantly applying his mind in me, Yogi of disciplined mind attains everlasting peace of supreme bliss and will abide in me.
6. 16 yoga is not for one who is not moderate in eating and sleeping.
6. 17 Yoga is only for one who is regulated in eating and recreation
6. 18 when the mind gets focused on God alone.
PURPORT:
HOW TO MEDITATE
The above nine shlokas give the basics of meditation. Since we do not go to forest, kusha grass etc is not necessary, nor it is necessary measure exact quantity of food. Excess food makes one sleepy. Anything that does not take away your mind from the Lord or brings attachment to you, is fine.
Important thing is the state of mind. Are you still hooked on to your assets, possessions, family? do you still have desires? Is your contentment and peace based on your wealth, name, fame, admiration of your relatives, then meditation does not take place on God.
6. 19 The disciplined mind of the Yogi practicing meditation on God is like a lamp in a windless place which does not flicker.
6. 20 The mind now becomes still, in which realizing God intuitively, the soul(jiva) rejoices in God only
6. 21 inexplicable bliss, beyond the ken of intellect, fixed in which moves not from it on any account
6. 22 Having got this, does not reckon any gain as high, and will not be moved by highest sorrow
PURPORT:
INITIAL ASPECTS(PHYSICAL) OF MEDITATION
The above 4 shlokas
6. 23 That state is to be known which is free from sorrow, and resolutely practiced
6. 24 Renouncing all desires arising from thoughts of the world, restraining all senses by mind
6. 25 by and by, practice attain tranquillity. fix the mind on God through reason controlled by steadfastness, and should not think of anything else
6. 26 Drawing back the restless mind from all the objects it runs after, repeatedly fix it on God
6. 27 Yogi whose mind is serene, who is sinless and whose passion(rajas) is subdued, who is identified with Brahman, happiness comes as a matter of course.
6. 28 Yogi without sins, uniting his self always with God, easily enjoys the eternal bliss of oneness with Brahman
PURPORT:
MEDITATION ENDING IN LIBERATION
The above 6 shlokas give the aspects:
Realized state is free from sorrow
It needs to be practised (resolutely even after realization, so you get established never to fall)
Renouncing desires which arise from the thoughts of the world
Restraining senses by mind
Practice tranquillity,
fix the mind on God by using reason controlled by steadfastness
should not think of anything else
Draw back the mind which runs after all objects, & repeatedly fix on the Lord
When your mind is serene, (now)sinless, passion is subdued, identified with Brahman, Happiness comes soon
You enjoy now eternal bliss
6. 29 Himself in all beings, and all in himself, yogi sees unity everywhere,
6. 30 He who sees Me present in all beings and all beings existing in me, never loses me, nor I him.
6. 31One who worships me as one residing in all beings, that yogi will ever abide in me
6. 32 One who looks on all as one, on the analogy of his self and looks joys and sorrows of all with a similar vision, that Yogi is deemed highest of all.
PURPORT:
SEEING UNITY ALL AROUND
The result of realization is one sees oneself in all beings
He sees all in himself
He never loses Me nor I lose him
He sees Me as residing in all and worships me thus.(does not hurt, hate anyone)
Looks on all as one as if his own self
their sorrows and joys he sees as his similar to his own(compassion to lowly, distressed, poor, distraught)
6.33 Arjuna says, mind being restless, can't see stability in this Yoga
6.34 Mind is unsteady, turbulent,tenacious,powerful, difficult to control as wind
6.35 Lord says, 'True, difficult yes, but can be controlled by practice and dispassion( total lack of interest in the World)
6.36 'Difficult, for one who has not subdued his mind. One who has subdued his mind and striving ceaselessly, it is easily attained.
PURPORT:
PRACTICE AND VAIRAGYA(DISPASSION)
In ordinary life too, nothing worthwhile can be achieved without goal, focus(controlled mind towards goal) and sustained efforts, never giving up
Whether it is masters, proessional course, a PhD, International fame, in music, sports, being an author, actor, acquiring enormous wealth, the formula for success is ame as above. The only difference is what we achieve in all these spheres is perishable and is partly useful only when done with an unselfish motive. but God realization is the noblest, highest, crowing glory of Life for it is the acquiring Kingdom of God Himself. It is the end and highest goal of life, although not known to vast majority who are wallowing like worms in worldly pleasures and acquisitions which perish soon, giving pain.
6.37 Arjuna asks," what happens to him who has nopt subdued his passions, and thus gets diverted from yoga and fails to each perfection?"
6.38 "Strayed from the path of God realization, without anything to stand upon, is he not lost"
6.39 " None can remove this doubt of mine, other than you o Lord"
PURPORT: A GENUINE DOUBT
6.40 Lord says, "No fall for him who strives for self redemption; he will never meets evil end"
6.41 One who has fallen from yoga, obtains the higher worlds, to which only men of meritorious deeds alone are entitled; Having resided there for many years, will be born in the house of pious and welathy men.
6.42 Or (if he has developed dispassion he is born to the family of enlightened yogis. but such a birth in this world is very difficult to obtain
6.43 There he automatically regains the spiritual insights of previous birth and thru that he strives, harder, for perfection (God realization)
6.44 The other (one born in wealthy family) though under the sway of his senses, feels drawn towards God by the force of habit acquired in previous birth
6.45 Yogi who takes up diligently the practice attains perfection in this very life, with the help of latencies of many births, thoroughly purged of sin, forthwith reaches the supreme state
6.46Yogi is superior to ascetics, superior to even knowers of vedas. superior to those who act with motive. therefore become yogi
6.47 Of allthe yogis he who devoutly worships me withg his mind focussed on me is considered by Me to be best yogi
PURPORT:
First five shlokas 40-44:
This is the one work done(seeking liberation), effects of which will never be lost. That's the assurance. Yogabrishta is one who died earlier to succeeding in Yoga.
If he dies before achieving control over senses, he will be born to wealthy but culturally, morally good parents.
All of us belong to this category. all satsanghis anywhere belong to this category. However our satsanghis in particular are fortunate to have gone through scriptures which give full knowledge of liberation. A large number of satsanghs and spiritual aspirants do not even get to know these scriptures. Most of these satsanghs remain at an elementary level. They are not permitted to take up advanced scriptures which wipe out all doubts.
In fact, the 6th chapter of Gita is understood with clarity and thoroughness only after one has gone through texts like Panchadasi, Viveka chudamani, Yoga vaasishta.
If he dies after achieving sense control, he will be born to yogis, which is rare. For one who achieves sense control is very near the Realization. rarely such a person dies without realizing the goal.
In both cases at a proper time after fulfilling left over desires of the previous lives, he is automatically drawn towards God Realization and will attempt with greater efforts towards the goal.
That's what has happened to us all satsanghis. Drawn at proper time; some young, some old.
Once we know, in our past lives we were sanyasis, Mahatmas of an earlier age, our attachment to this life falls.
desires can be seen through. and one can come out of the ties to this life and world.