Fwd: Eternal Union is Yoga

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Hare Krsna God has an eternal union, an eternal relationship with the embodied Soul. This eternal union is referred as "Yog" in the Gita. In this Yog there is never any separation. But when this embodied soul believes and accepts an inseparable and thick relationship with the inert body and nature, then it becomes distant from this experience of eternal union (nitya yog). It forgets this eternal union. The relationship that the embodied soul believes it has with the inert is I-ness and from perspective of a knot or constriction it is referred as "the egoism knot." Although this embodied Soul is eternally separate from this body and nature, inspite of that, on accepting it's oneness with the inert, it perceives a separation in the eternally united and a union in the eternally separated i.e. that which is ever attained - Supreme Consciousness, appears to be unattained and the eternally detached body and this world, appears to be

attained. To wipe out this mistake, God has described the three spiritual disciplines - Discipline of Action (Karma Yoga), Discipline of Knowledge (Jnana Yoga) and Discipline of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga). As long as egoism remains, till that time the spiritual aspirant perceives differences in the various spiritual practices. The differences perceived in each of the Yoga (karma, jnana and bhakti) are also due to egoism. When egoism is wiped out, that is when the spiritual practices are perfected, then all perceived differences between karma yog, jnana yoga and bhakti yoga are also wiped out. Of the three yogas, there has been extensive writings and knowledge sharing of Bhakti (devotion) and Jnana (knowledge). However little is shared and communicated about the path of Karma Yog (path of action). God has also said in the Gita, that due to the passage of time, the path of Action has vanished and become almost non-existent "Se Kaaleneh mahataa yogo nashth

parantap," (Gita 4:2). Therefore with respect to relation with Karmayog, it has been understood that it is not an independent discipline for God Realization. Rather one who follows the practices of Karma Yog, either eases into either Jnana Yog or Bhakti Yog, just like - "Taavat kamaani kurveet ne nirvidhyet yaavateMatkathaashravanaa dau vaa shraddhaa yaavann jaayate." (srimada: 11:20:9) "One must continue to do selfless service as long as one does not experience detachment from enjoyment of pleasures (i.e. become the rightful recepient of Jnana Yog), or he does not have faith in listening to the stories of His pastimes (i.e. does not become a rightful recipeint of Bhakti Yog)

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