Lessons From Bhagavad Gita - 57

Seated thus, on that seat, making the mind one-pointed, restraining the activities of the mind and senses, let him practise Yoga for the purification of the Self" (11 & 12 - VI)

In these and the following few verses, the Lord is giving the rules regarding seat, food, movements etc., as disciplines for Yoga to one practising concentration. These verses also furnish the characteristics of a perfected Yogi and the fruits of Yoga. In the beginning the Lord speaks about the posture.

The Yogi, desirous of attaining mastery over Yoga, should make a seat for himself in a clean place, which is solitary and pure either by its very nature or made so by appropriate means. The seat should not be too high or too low. High seats are dangerous because by chance if the Yogi loses balance when his mind is in full concentration he may fall down from his seat. Therefore the seat should not be too high. If the seat is too low there is the danger of exposure to cold or disturbances from reptiles. The seat should consist of Kusha grass strewn on the ground. Kusha is a particular kind of grass which is considered to be disinfectant in its quality. On the kusha grass an antelope’s skin should be kept. And above the antelope’s skin should be spread a folded cloth. In short, the Yogi should sit on a wooden plank slightly raised from the ground and on which Kusha grass, deer skin and cloth are kept one above the other. The seat must be in a clean sot and it should be firm. Seated there in any comfortable posture, the yogi should practise yoga for the purification of mind by making the mind one-pointed and senses controlled.

The Yogi, while sitting on the seat, should keep his head, neck and the body (trunk( in a straight line. The body should remain steady and motionless. Even by gaining perfection in this position the yogi can definitely get a glimpse of the inner light which may lead him to eternal peace. He should not look this way or that way and should fix his eyes on the tip of his nose. This would free his mind from the desire to look at forms or objects around him. As a result his mind remains peaceful and quiet. It should be noted that the instruction to gaze at the tip of the nose is not meant to concentrate on the tip of the nose, but only to maie the eyes half closed so that the sadhaka does not see anything around him. One should concentrate on the self.

As the wandering mind is brought to rest it becomes serene and peaceful. The sadhaka should not get depressed or disappointed if his mind does not come under control in the beginning. Fearlessly he ought to continue his efforts to master the discipline of Yoga.

The sadhaka or the Yogi who wants to ascend to yoga has to observe the vow of celibacy. If he is not backed up by the strength of celibacy he is certain to fall from hs yogic disciplines. Preservation of energy spent in thoughts and acts of sex and lust is essential for spiritual illumination.

The yogi has to sit in yoga by controlling his mind. But how to control the fickle mind? The Lord says, ‘think of Me’ and ‘have Me as the Supreme goal’. By the constant remembrance of the Lord and the constant thought that the Lord alone is the goal, the mind can be brought under control. Thus with the mind fixed on the Lord, who is the Supreme Self and by stopping the modifications of the mind through concentration the Yogi should remain seated intent on the Lord or with the Lord as the Supreme goal.

In this verse is stated the result of Yoga. The yogi who holds his mind in the meditation of the self attains to peace. What kind of peace is that? It is the peace abiding in the Lord. So it is divine peace. It is eternal and not fleeting. This peace culminates in Nirvana, which means cessation of all pain and sorrow and attainment of perfection which lead to absolute emancipation.

Jaya Guru Datta