(From the discourses of Pujya Sri Swamiji)

Compiled by Swami Datta Pada Renu

Although the mind is intractable and restless it can be brought under control through practice (Abhyaasa) and through detachment (Vairaagya). Practice means the repetition of some thought of the mind on an object of concentration. Detachment means absence of hankering for enjoyment of sensual pleasures as a result of the practice of discerning their defects. But he who can not control himself can not practice Yoga. Therefore the Lord says : "Yoga is hard to be achieved by one who has not controlled his self, such is my conviction. But the self-controlled, striving by appropriate means can acquire it" (36-VI)

Perfection in Yoga can not be attained if right kind of effort is not put in. but he who is ever devoted to self-control, ever endeavouring and repeatedly applying himself to the practice of spiritual disciplines wins ultimate perfection.

The Lord stresses the importance of self-control in this verse. The man who wants to attain the realisation of the Self has to control his mind. He should give up attachment to the charms of this material world. By discrimination, by serving the Guru, by study of the scriptures and by devotion and prayers he must be able to detach his mind from the bondage of the objective world. Unless this is achieved the mind will not turn inwards into the self, the source of one's being.

The Lord by using the word striving (yatataa) again emphasises the need for practice, that is, to make repeated efforts to achieve self-control. He alone who is regular and steady in the practise of spiritual disciplines can achieve the control of mind. In other words, Yoga can be attained only by him who has brought his mind under control (Vashyaatmanah) through practice and detachment.

Here Arjuna gets a doubt. If a Yogi striving after perfection dies before realising his aim, what would he get? He has renounced all earthly pleasures in order to achieve self-realisation. But before attaining the aim if he dies will all his efforts go in vain? Will he be ruined thereby? This fear grips the mind of Arjuna. He asks the Lord:

"Though possessed of faith, with the mind wandering away from Yoga, lacking in self-control, what end, O! Krishna, does he meet having failed to attain perfection in Yoga?

"Does he not, fallen from both, perish without support, like a scattered cloud, deluded in the path of Brahman?" (38-VI)

"This doubt of mine, O! Krishna, you ought to dispel completely; for it is not possible for any but You to dispel this doubt." (39-VI)

Some start practising Yoga with full faith and enthusiasm. But after a while, they get tired of it and their enthusiasm slowly wanes. It may be due to laziness or an attack of some incurable disease or some other calamity. With this inadequate efforts to his credit, he breathes his last. What is the state of such a Yogi? With full vigour and enthusiasm he was marching towards the highest attainment of the realisation of the Self. Unfortunately some problems cropped up in the middle and he died before reaching the goal. He was a person who had given up all worldly pursuits in order to realise the Self. So he did not enjoy worldly pleasure also to his heart's content. Thus, he had lost the spiritual goal as also success in the material world. Will the partial achievement in Yoga that he has made in this life through steady efforts be lost for ever?

Clouds gather in the sky. If they pour down on the earth in the form of rains, it would do immense good to the world by quenching the thirst of all creatures and feeding the growth of the vegetation as well. But if the clouds are neither in the sky nor down on the earth in the form of a shower - it it gets destroyed just in the middle as a result of rarefaction its existence as a cloud is purposeless. In the same way a person who has fallen from Yoga may get deprived of both the attainments of the Supreme Self as also the happiness associated with the worldly pleasures which he abandoned in order to become a Yogi. So, what is the fate or condition of a such a fallen Yogi?

From the standpoint of all Yogis the question put by Arjuna to Sri Krishna is very relevant. These Yogis renounced the Vedic rites and rituals pertaining to the house-holder's life on one side and they have not attained to Self-realisation on the other. Having given up Vedic rites and rituals, Swarga (heaven) is deprived to them and having failed in Yoga, they are deprived of Self-realisation (Moksha). What is their fate?

In all humility and deep faith Arjuna reveals to the Lord that He alone can dispel this doubt and nobody else is competent to do it.