CH 6, Verse 36

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Chapter 6

Verse 36

 

Asa.nyat'aatmanaa yogo dushhpraapa iti me matih /

vashy'aatmanaa tu yatataa shakyo'vaaptumupaayatah //

 

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.

 

 

LESSONS FROM BHAGAVAD GITA – 63

As taught by Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji

Compiled by: Swami Dattananda

Bhaktimala, October 1998

 

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

cannot control himself cannot 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." (Chapter 6, Verse 36).

 

Perfection in Yoga cannot be attained if right kind of

effort is not put in. But he who is ever devoted to

self-control, ever endeavoring 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

realization 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

emphasizes the need for practice, that is, to make

repeated efforts to achieve self-control. He alone who

is regular and steady in the practice 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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