#284 The Yoga of the Bhagavad-gita
Exploring the concept of yoga in the Bhagavad Gita, emphasizing that yoga extends far beyond the common understanding of just physical postures (asanas). He explains that the word "yoga" appears over 100 times in the Bhagavad Gita's 700 verses, highlighting its central importance to the text. The fundamental meaning of yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root "yuj," which means to join or unite, specifically referring to the reunion of the individual soul (ātmā) with the Supreme Soul ((Paramātmā). There are various types of yoga paths described in the Bhagavad Gita, including karma yoga (the yoga of action), jnana yoga (the yoga of knowledge), dhyana yoga (the yoga of meditation), and bhakti yoga (the yoga of love). These different yoga practices are presented not as separate standalone paths but as progressive stages on a spiritual journey, likened to rungs on a ladder. The ultimate goal of all yoga practice is union with God or the Divine, which can be experienced in three ways: as the Brahman (the ocean of spiritual light), as Paramatma (the Supreme Soul within all beings), or as the personal form of God, Bhagavan, who is supremely beautiful and loving and engages in loving relationships.We hear that yoga doesn't require abandoning one's duties or position in life but rather transforming one's activities into spiritual practice by performing them without attachment to results and as service to God. Krishna is identified as Yogeshwara (the Lord of Yoga) and the ultimate object of yoga practice.Texts quoted in this talk:Only the ignorant speak of karma-yoga and devotional service [bhakti-yoga] as being different from the analytical study of the material world [sāṅkhya]. Those who are actually learned say that he who applies himself well to one of these paths achieves the results of both. - Bhagavad-gītā 5.4A yogī is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogī. - Bhagavad-gītā 6.46Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga. - Bhagavad-gītā 2.48A man engaged in [loving] devotional service [to the Lord] rids himself of both good and bad actions even in this life. Therefore strive for yoga, O Arjuna, which is the art of all work. - Bhagavad-gītā 2.50When the yogī, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in Transcendence - devoid of all material desires - he is said to have attained yoga. - Bhagavad-gītā 6.18A person is said to have attained to yoga when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in fruitive activities. - Bhagavad-gītā 6.4My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain Me. - Bhagavad-gītā 12.9If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage. - Bhagavad-gītā 12.10If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be self-situated. - Bhagavad-gītā 12.11If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind. - Bhagavad-gītā 12.12Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend. - Bhagavad-gītā 18.65And of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. - Bhagavad-gītā 6.47
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