(From the discourses of Pujya Sri Swamiji)

Compiled by Swami Datta Pada Renu

"That which the knowers of the Veda call the Imperishable and into which the self-controlled (Yogis) devoid of attachment enter, and desiring which they lead a life of continence, that I shall declare to you briefly." (11-VIII)

Vedas declare that Brahman is Imperishable and this truth has been realized by the knowers of Veda. It is this truth that every man has to understand and realize. Once a man realizes this truth he enters the Brahmi state, a state of eternal bliss and happiness. To reach this supreme state of Bliss, one has to give up all sorts of earthly desires and lead a life of celibacy and self-control. Those who are free from sensuality in thought, word and deed are pure in heart and they alone can reach the Brahmi state. And now, the Lord is going to declare briefly the goal of the Imperishable Brahman.

"Having closed all the gates (senses), having confined the mind within the heart, having fixed his life-breath in the head, engaged in firm Yoga, uttering the one-syllablled ‘OM", - the Brahman and thinking of Me, whosoever departs leaving the body, he reaches the Supreme goal. (12 & 13 – VIII)

The Lord explains first the method by which one should depart at the time of death to attain to the goal of the Imperishable Brahman. First, one has to close all the gateways of the senses. It means that one must have self-control. Self-control consists in controlling the senses and mind. When the doors of the senses are closed the mind can be easily turned inwards to concentrate on the Self. This is what is meant by confining the mind in the heart. If the doors of the senses are not closed, the strong winds of sensual world may extinguish the lamp of wisdom, and the mind may turn outwards. So to have the mind-control, sense-control is absolutely necessary,

Having controlled the senses and the mind, one has to fix the life-breath in the head. This could be done by gaining control over the Prana (vital breath) through breathing exercises. And by concentrating the mind upon the Supreme Self one has to utter the one-syllable OM.

‘Om’ is the Supreme Being, the Omnipresent Divine Spirit, the life of our life and the soul of our souls. It is the source of all existence. It is the supreme intelligence, consciousness and Bliss. One should concentrate his mind upon this word ‘OM’ reflecting upon its meaning.

Thus whoever, holding his life-breath in the head utters the word ‘OM’ and casts off his body, goes to the highest goal of Moksha. The idea is that death involves on the giving up of the body and not the destruction of the Self.

Everyone may not be able to practise this type of Yoga, which involves control of breath. Those who cannot practise this Yoga can resort to some other Yoga especially that of repeated thinking of the Lord. They have to constantly think of the Supreme Being. Therefore the Lord says:

"O, Partha, to that ever devout Yogi, who constantly remembers Me without thinking of anything else, I am easy of attainment." (14 – VIII)

The Yogi whose mind is one-pointed and who constantly thinks of the Lord will surely attain to the highest state of the Lord. But unless a man dedicates himself totally to the Lord, he would not be able to constantly think of the Lord without thinking of anything else. For a man of dedication, there is nothing else to remember except the Lord. He has reached a stage where he does not think of anything else or anyone else except the Lord. He is sure that except the Lord everything else is unworthy of remembering. Whatever such a man does would result in the worship of the Lord. The man whose mind has become free from the thought of anything else is called ‘ananyachetah’. He how has become ‘ananyachetah’ alone can remember the Lord always and without interruption. Such a man is a ‘Nitya Yukta Yogi’, a Yogi whose mind is ever in association with the Lord. As such he easily attains the Lord.