The Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 6

The Path of Meditation

On 5th July 2020, my dear Dad passed away and moved on to the next realm. The Bhagavad Gita, a book sacred to Hinduism, was by far his most cherished text and he studied it up to the very end. In his memory, I am committing to write 18 pieces - one for each chapter - and will attempt to capture the essence of this great text. No prior knowledge of Hinduism is necessary and I shall steer clear of jargon as much as possible. If you haven’t already, do subscribe below to get all the pieces straight to your inbox. Lastly if you are just joining and would like to start at the beginning, click here for Chapter 1

A quick recap

In Chapter 5 Krishna explained the Path of Renunciation. He highlighted that the essence in all beings is the same and explained how the senses deceive our core reality. Again the importance of action without attachment is highlighted. With respect to renunciation - he stresses the need to renounce anger and desire.

The Path of Meditation (Dhyana Yoga)

Krishna starts by saying:

“One who performs his duties and who renounces the fruit of his actions is both a Sannyasi and a Yogi. One is not a Sannyasi merely by abandoning the sacrificial fire. Similarly a Yogi is not someone who has merely given up all activities.”

Here Krishna clears a common misconception. People believe that the Sannyasi does not perform any action that benefits others like sacrificial rites (i.e performing Yajnas) and does not shoulder any responsibility. Arjuna’s plea that he would not engage in the impending war and live on alms (offerings) is an example of such a wrong idea.

The Lord’s contention is different - what He upholds is the true practice of Dharma. No person should ever discard action. Each has his duty and it has to be well executed. He who does his duty through action is a Karma Yogi who discharges duty for duty’s sake and he is a Sannyasi because he renounces the fruits of his action.

Krishna continues:

“Know that Sannyasa is said to be Yoga. Noone becomes a Yogi without renouncing selfish desires (see Sankalpa). Action is said to be the means for the seeker who wishes to ascend the peaks of Yoga. For those who have reached the peaks of Yoga - quietude is said to be the means. When one is free from attachments to the sense objects and actions, and has renounced all selfish desires, he is said to have ascended the peaks of Yoga.”

“One should raise oneself by one’s own mind and not degrade oneself. The mind alone is both the friend and the foe of the Self. For a person who has conquered the mind, it is it a friend - else it is a foe. One who has conquered the mind attains peace and realises the Supreme Self. For him, heat and cold, joy and sorrow, honour and dishonour - are the same.”

“He who has attained and realised knowledge and wisdom, who remains firm and has conquered the senses and to whom a clod of earth, a stone and a piece of gold are the same, is said to be a Yogi. A Supreme Yogi is one who looks equally on friends, patrons, enemies, strangers, envious beings, relatives, the virtuous, and the sinners.”

“The Yogi should constantly fix the mind on the practice of Yoga, alone in a solitary place, controlling the thoughts and mind, free of expectations and the sense of possession. Settling in a clean spot on a seat neither too low or too high and covering it with Kusha grass, deer skin and a cloth, one over the other - thus seated, controlling the mind and senses one should practice Yoga for self-purification.”

“Holding the body, head and neck erect, motionless and steady, gazing to the front of the nose and not looking around in any direction, serene and fearless, firm in the vow of celibacy, holding the mind in control and fixing thought on Me (the Supreme) - the Yogi should sit immersed. The Yogi who thus constantly yokes his mind to Yoga, who has restrained his mind, attains the Supreme Peace that abides in Me, the utmost Nirvana.

Krishna continues:

“Yoga is not possible for a person who eats too much or too little. It is also not possible for someone who sleeps too much or too little. The practice of Yoga destroys the miseries of a person who is disciplined in his eating and relaxation, who performs his duties diligently and who is balanced in his sleeping and waking. When the controlled mind rests solely on the self, free from all desires then one is said to be established in Yoga. Just as a lamp does not flicker in a windless place, the controlled mind of a Yogi focusing on the self is ever steady.”

“When a person’s mind restrained by the practice of Yoga, attains stillness, when one perceives the Self by the Self, then one delights within oneself. He attains infinite happiness that is beyond the senses but is apprehended by the pure intelligence of the soul. Thus one is established in the truth. Having attained such a state, one realises that there is no greater gain than this. In such a state one is not moved even by the heaviest sorrow. Know this freedom from pain as Yoga. This Yoga should be practiced with determination and with a mind free from despair.”

“Renounce completely all cravings arising from desire and restrain the senses with the mind. When the mind is fixed on the Self, one is free of all thoughts. With the intellect set in firmness, one gradually attains stillness. Whenever the wavering and unsteady mind wanders away one should restrain it and bring it back to the control of the Self.”

“The Ultimate Joy reaches the Yogi whose mind is at peace, who has subdued his passion, who has become Brahman and who is free from evil. One whose mind is yoked to Yoga sees equality everywhere. Such a person sees all beings in the Self and the Self in all beings. He who perceives me everywhere and beholds everything in Me, never loses Me, nor do I ever lose him.”

“The Yogi who measures the pain and pleasures of others as if it were his own, is considered to be the best of all.”

Arjuna responds to Krishna:

“Oh Krishna! Due to the restlessness (of the mind), I do not see how this Yoga taught by you - which is characterised by evenness could have abiding stability. The mind is turbulent, strong and stubborn; controlling the mind to me seems to be as difficult as trying to control the wind.”

Krishna then clarifies:

“Oh Arjuna! Undoubtedly the mind is difficult to control but by sustained practice and detachment it can be conquered! I agree that Self-Realisation is difficult to attain by one whose mind is not controlled. Yet for one whose mind is controlled and who follows appropriate practices, it is possible to accomplish.”

But Arjuna has more questions:

“Which destination does a person go to, who while endowed with trust (Shraddha), has deviated from Yoga with his mind uncontrolled and not attained perfection in Yoga? Having failed in both the paths (The Path of Meditation and The Path of Action) does he not perish like a riven cloud, supportless and perplexed in the path to Brahman?”

Krishna answers:

“There is no destruction for such a person neither in this life nor the next. The doer of good never walks a wrong path and will ultimately reach the Supreme. A Yogi is superior to the ascetic, the knowledgable, and the ritualist. Therefore be a Yogi dear Arjuna!”

Krishna concludes:

“The Yogi who abides in Me with full faith, worships Me in devotion and is united with his Inner Self - such a one I consider to be the greatest Yogi of all.”

Parting thoughts

This is a great chapter that largely focuses on the mind. On this topic and related, I cannot recommend Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now enough, as it was the book that first gave me an insight into these topics and the concept of being present and having presence. It is a great read that delves deeply into some very powerful techniques and spiritual practices that help one gain back control over their mind. I am currently re-reading it myself and am amazed at how timeless some of these teachings are - they have been with us since time immemorial and have just been lost in the noise.

Just wanted to say thank you to those who have been reading these summaries and coming along for the journey. With this Chapter (6 out of 18), we are a third of the way there - look forward to the rest of the journey & something tells me we are just getting started.

Ready to proceed? Click here for Chapter 7

Deepak