LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

    Text 6.32

    THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

    Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

    (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

    • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
    • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

    (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

    • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
    • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
    • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

      Text 6.32

      THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

      Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

      (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

      • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
      • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

      (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

      • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
      • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
      • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

      Text 6.31

      Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

      THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

      Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

      (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

      • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
      • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
      • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

      (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

      • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
        o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
        o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
      • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
        o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
        o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
        o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

      Text 6.32

      THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

      Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

      (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

      • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
      • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

      (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

      • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
      • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
      • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

        Text 6.31

        Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

        THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

        Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

        (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

        • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
        • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
        • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

        (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

        • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
          o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
          o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
        • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
          o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
          o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
          o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

        Text 6.32

        THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

        Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

        (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

        • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
        • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

        (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

        • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
        • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
        • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

        Text 6.30

        THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

        • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
        • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
        Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

        This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

        (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

        • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
        • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

        (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

        • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
        • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
        • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
        • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

        (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

        • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

        (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

        Text 6.31

        Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

        THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

        Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

        (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

        • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
        • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
        • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

        (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

        • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
          o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
          o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
        • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
          o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
          o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
          o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

        Text 6.32

        THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

        Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

        (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

        • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
        • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

        (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

        • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
        • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
        • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

          Text 6.30

          THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

          • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
          • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
          Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

          This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

          (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

          • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
          • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

          (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

          • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
          • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
          • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
          • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

          (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

          • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

          (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

          Text 6.31

          Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

          THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

          Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

          (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

          • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
          • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
          • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

          (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

          • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
            o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
            o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
          • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
            o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
            o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
            o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

          Text 6.32

          THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

          Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

          (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

          • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
          • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

          (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

          • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
          • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
          • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

          Text 6.29

          THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

          Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

          Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

          (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

          • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

          (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

          • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
          • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
            o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
            o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
          • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

          (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

          • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
          • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

          (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

          (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

          (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

          (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

          • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
            o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
            o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

          Text 6.30

          THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

          • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
          • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
          Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

          This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

          (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

          • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
          • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

          (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

          • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
          • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
          • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
          • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

          (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

          • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

          (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

          Text 6.31

          Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

          THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

          Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

          (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

          • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
          • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
          • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

          (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

          • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
            o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
            o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
          • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
            o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
            o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
            o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

          Text 6.32

          THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

          Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

          (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

          • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
          • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

          (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

          • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
          • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
          • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

            Text 6.29

            THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

            Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

            Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

            (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

            • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

            (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

            • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
            • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
              o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
              o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
            • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

            (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

            • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
            • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

            (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

            (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

            (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

            (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

            • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
              o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
              o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

            Text 6.30

            THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

            • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
            • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
            Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

            This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

            (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

            • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
            • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

            (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

            • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
            • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
            • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
            • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

            (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

            • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

            (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

            Text 6.31

            Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

            THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

            Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

            (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

            • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
            • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
            • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

            (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

            • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
              o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
              o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
            • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
              o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
              o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
              o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

            Text 6.32

            THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

            Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

            (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

            • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
            • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

            (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

            • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
            • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
            • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

            Text 6.28

            THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

            Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

            (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

            • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
            • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
            • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

            Text 6.29

            THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

            Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

            Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

            (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

            • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

            (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

            • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
            • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
              o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
              o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
            • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

            (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

            • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
            • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

            (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

            (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

            (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

            (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

            • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
              o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
              o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

            Text 6.30

            THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

            • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
            • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
            Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

            This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

            (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

            • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
            • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

            (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

            • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
            • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
            • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
            • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

            (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

            • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

            (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

            Text 6.31

            Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

            THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

            Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

            (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

            • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
            • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
            • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

            (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

            • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
              o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
              o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
            • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
              o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
              o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
              o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

            Text 6.32

            THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

            Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

            (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

            • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
            • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

            (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

            • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
            • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
            • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

              Text 6.28

              THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

              Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

              (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

              • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
              • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
              • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

              Text 6.29

              THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

              Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

              Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

              (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

              • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

              (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

              • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
              • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
              • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

              (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

              • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
              • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

              (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

              (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

              (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

              (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

              • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

              Text 6.30

              THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

              • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
              • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
              Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

              This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

              (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

              • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
              • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

              (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

              • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
              • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
              • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
              • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

              (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

              • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

              (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

              Text 6.31

              Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

              THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

              Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

              (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

              • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
              • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
              • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

              (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

              • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
              • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

              Text 6.32

              THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

              Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

              (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

              • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
              • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

              (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

              • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
              • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
              • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
              Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

              Text 6.27

              THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

              • Transcendental happiness
              • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
              • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
              Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

              (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

              • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

              (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

              (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

              • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                o Freedom from all material contamination

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

              Text 6.28

              THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

              Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

              (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

              • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
              • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
              • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

              Text 6.29

              THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

              Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

              Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

              (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

              • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

              (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

              • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
              • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
              • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

              (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

              • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
              • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

              (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

              (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

              (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

              (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

              • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

              Text 6.30

              THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

              • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
              • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
              Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

              This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

              (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

              • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
              • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

              (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

              • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
              • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
              • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
              • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

              (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

              • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

              (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

              Text 6.31

              Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

              THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

              Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

              (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

              • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
              • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
              • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

              (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

              • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
              • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

              Text 6.32

              THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

              Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

              (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

              • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
              • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

              (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

              • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
              • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
              • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

              LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                Text 6.27

                THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                • Transcendental happiness
                • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                  o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                  o Freedom from all material contamination

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                Text 6.28

                THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                Text 6.29

                THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                  o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                  o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                  o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                  o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                Text 6.30

                THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                Text 6.31

                Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                  o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                  o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                  o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                  o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                  o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                Text 6.32

                THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                Text 6.26

                THEME : Means of Success

                • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                  o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                  o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                Text 6.27

                THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                • Transcendental happiness
                • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                  o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                  o Freedom from all material contamination

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                Text 6.28

                THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                Text 6.29

                THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                  o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                  o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                  o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                  o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                Text 6.30

                THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                Text 6.31

                Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                  o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                  o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                  o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                  o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                  o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                Text 6.32

                THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                  Text 6.26

                  THEME : Means of Success

                  • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                  • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                  • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                  Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                  (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                  (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                  • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                  • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                    o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                    o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                  (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                  • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                  • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                  Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                  Text 6.27

                  THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                  • Transcendental happiness
                  • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                  • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                  Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                  (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                  • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                  (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                  (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                  • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                    o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                    o Freedom from all material contamination

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                  Text 6.28

                  THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                  Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                  (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                  • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                  • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                  • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                  Text 6.29

                  THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                  Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                  Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                  (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                  • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                  (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                  • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                  • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                    o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                    o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                  • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                  (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                  • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                  • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                  (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                  (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                  (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                  (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                  • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                    o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                    o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                  Text 6.30

                  THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                  • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                  • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                  Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                  This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                  (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                  • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                  • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                  (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                  • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                  • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                  • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                  • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                  (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                  • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                  (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                  Text 6.31

                  Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                  THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                  Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                  (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                  • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                  • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                  • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                  (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                  • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                    o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                    o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                  • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                    o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                    o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                    o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                  Text 6.32

                  THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                  Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                  (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                  • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                  • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                  (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                  • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                  • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                  • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                  (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                  (b) What is actual Samadhi

                  (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                  (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                  (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                  (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                  (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                  (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                  (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                  Text 6.24 – 6.25

                  THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                  1. Patience (6.24)
                  2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                  3. Without deviation (6.24)
                  4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                  5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                  6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                  7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                  8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                  9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                  Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                  Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                  (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                  (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                  • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                  (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                  • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                  (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                  • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                  • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                  • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                  Text 6.26

                  THEME : Means of Success

                  • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                  • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                  • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                  Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                  (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                  (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                  • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                  • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                    o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                    o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                  (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                  • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                  • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                  Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                  Text 6.27

                  THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                  • Transcendental happiness
                  • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                  • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                  Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                  (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                  • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                  (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                  (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                  • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                    o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                    o Freedom from all material contamination

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                  Text 6.28

                  THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                  Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                  (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                  • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                  • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                  • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                  Text 6.29

                  THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                  Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                  Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                  (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                  • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                  (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                  • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                  • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                    o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                    o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                  • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                  (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                  • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                  • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                  (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                  (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                  (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                  (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                  • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                    o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                    o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                  Text 6.30

                  THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                  • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                  • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                  Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                  This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                  (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                  • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                  • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                  (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                  • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                  • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                  • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                  • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                  (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                  • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                  (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                  Text 6.31

                  Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                  THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                  Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                  (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                  • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                  • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                  • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                  (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                  • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                    o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                    o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                  • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                    o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                    o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                    o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                  Text 6.32

                  THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                  Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                  (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                  • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                  • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                  (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                  • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                  • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                  • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                  LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                    (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                    (b) What is actual Samadhi

                    (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                    (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                    (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                    (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                    (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                    (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                    (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                    Text 6.24 – 6.25

                    THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                    1. Patience (6.24)
                    2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                    3. Without deviation (6.24)
                    4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                    5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                    6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                    7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                    8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                    9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                    Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                    Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                    (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                    (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                    • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                    (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                    • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                    (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                    • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                    • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                    • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                    Text 6.26

                    THEME : Means of Success

                    • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                    • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                    • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                    Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                    (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                    (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                    • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                    • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                      o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                      o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                    (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                    • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                    • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                    Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                    Text 6.27

                    THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                    • Transcendental happiness
                    • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                    • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                    Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                    (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                    • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                    (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                    (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                    • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                      o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                      o Freedom from all material contamination

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                    Text 6.28

                    THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                    Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                    (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                    • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                    • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                    • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                    Text 6.29

                    THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                    Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                    Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                    (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                    • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                    (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                    • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                    • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                      o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                      o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                    • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                    (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                    • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                    • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                    (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                    (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                    (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                    (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                    • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                      o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                      o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                    Text 6.30

                    THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                    • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                    • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                    Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                    This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                    (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                    • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                    • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                    (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                    • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                    • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                    • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                    • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                    (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                    • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                    (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                    Text 6.31

                    Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                    THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                    Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                    (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                    • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                    • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                    • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                    (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                    • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                      o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                      o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                    • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                      o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                      o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                      o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                    Text 6.32

                    THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                    Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                    (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                    • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                    • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                    (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                    • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                    • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                    • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                    (a) Freedom from material desires

                    (b) Archana – prescribed activities in devotional service which is the process of engaging all senses in the service of the Lord

                    (c) Perfect process for transcendental achievement for any ordinary man – Transcendental engagement of mind and senses which is called ‘yukta’ in Bhagavad-gita

                    Text 6.19

                    THEME :

                    Krishna gives an Analogy to explain Text 6.18 i.e. perfection of yoga practice

                    • Just like a lamp in windless place – does not waver; similarly steady mind in samadhi does not waver.
                    • This ‘Perfection of yoga’ exhibited in Krishna consciousness – Truly Krishna conscious person practices constant undisturbed meditation on Supreme Lord.
                    SUMMARISED THEME
                    REALIZATIONS/VISIONS/ACTIONS OF A YOGI IN PERFECTION (STAGE OF SAMADHI)
                    • Realizations in stage of samadhi (6.20 – 6.23) – Status of actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact
                    • Happiness – One experiences boundless transcendental happiness by direct experience of Soul and Supersoul within the heart.
                    • Fixed up – One’s focus never departs from truth
                    • Highest gain – One thinks no greater gain is possible
                    • Unshaken – One remains unshaken even amidst greatest difficulties
                    • Freedom – Free from all miseries arising from material contact
                    • Vision of a perfect yogi (6.29 – 6.30)
                    • Sees Supersoul in everyone’s heart and everyone being supported by Supersoul (6.29)
                    • Never loses sight of Supreme Lord and thus never falls from the path of Yoga (6.30)
                    • Actions of a perfect yogi (6.31 – 6.32)
                    • Realizes Krishna as origin of Supersoul – worships and serves Him in all circumstances (6.31)
                    • Sees equality of all beings – tries to help everyone (no enemy/friend distinction) by turning their consciousness to Krishna (6.32)

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.19 & 6.20 : : This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.

                    Text 6.20 – 6.23

                    THEME : Realizations of a yogi in perfection

                    • He thereby relishes boundless transcendental happiness by directly experiencing soul and Supersoul within the heart
                    • Thinking that there is no greater joy than this his focus never departs from within, even amidst greatest difficulties
                    • Thus he escapes all miseries
                    Learnings from Purport 6.20 – 6.23

                    (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                    • By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts
                    • Then one becomes situated in trance / samadhi

                    (b) What is actual Samadhi

                    • It means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence
                    • Without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself

                    (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                    • Unauthorised commentators – They try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation
                      o But they do not understand the real purpose of the Patanjali system
                    • Patanjali system – There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patanjali system, but the monists do not accept this, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness

                    (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                    • PLEASE NOTE: While studying this purport one should understand that Srila Prabhupada is trying to establish the duality of soul and Supersoul as also recommended in Patanjali system
                    • The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the non-dualist, but in this verse “transcendental pleasure realised through transcendental senses” – is accepted; and this is corroborated by Patanjali Muni in his Yoga-sutras (As mentioned in purport)

                    (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                    • Kaivalyam / Citi shakti of Patanjali – This term reveals the true nature of living entity
                      o This Citi shakti, or internal potency, is transcendental
                    • Purushartha means material religiousity, economic development, sense gratification and at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme.
                    • Concept of “Oneness with the Supreme”
                      o Kaivalyam of monist – refers to oneness with the Supreme
                      o According to Patanjali this Kaivalyam is an internal or transcendental potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position.

                    (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                    • “Ceto darpana marjanam...” by Caitanya Mahaprabhu – refers to clearance of impure mirror of the mind and realising one’s pure identity
                    • Svarupena vyavastitah (SB 2.10.6) – To realize constitutional position as an eternal servant
                      o Liberation from material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity
                    • Theory of nirvana also corresponds to this principle – after material cessation, there is manifestation of positive spiritual activities/devotional service
                    • Vedanta sutra – anandamayobhyasat: Ultimate goal of yoga is the natural transcendental pleasure of devotional service
                      o This ultimate goal is easily achieved by execution of bhakti-yoga

                    (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                    • Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches
                    • Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

                    (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                    • Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful
                    • Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication
                    • Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect
                    • Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

                    (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                    • One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness
                    • One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures
                    • Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)
                      o Material upheavals do not affect his duties
                      ▪ He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                    Text 6.24 – 6.25

                    THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                    1. Patience (6.24)
                    2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                    3. Without deviation (6.24)
                    4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                    5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                    6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                    7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                    8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                    9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                    Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                    Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                    (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                    (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                    • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                    (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                    • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                    (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                    • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                    • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                    • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                    Text 6.26

                    THEME : Means of Success

                    • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                    • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                    • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                    Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                    (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                    (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                    • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                    • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                      o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                      o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                    (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                    • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                    • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                    Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                    Text 6.27

                    THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                    • Transcendental happiness
                    • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                    • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                    Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                    (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                    • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                    (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                    (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                    • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                      o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                      o Freedom from all material contamination

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                    Text 6.28

                    THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                    Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                    (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                    • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                    • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                    • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                    Text 6.29

                    THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                    Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                    Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                    (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                    • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                    (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                    • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                    • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                      o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                      o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                    • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                    (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                    • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                    • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                    (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                    (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                    (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                    (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                    • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                      o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                      o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                    Text 6.30

                    THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                    • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                    • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                    Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                    This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                    (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                    • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                    • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                    (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                    • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                    • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                    • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                    • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                    (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                    • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                    (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                    Text 6.31

                    Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                    THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                    Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                    (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                    • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                    • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                    • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                    (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                    • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                      o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                      o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                    • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                      o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                      o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                      o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                    Text 6.32

                    THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                    Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                    (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                    • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                    • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                    (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                    • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                    • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                    • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                    LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                      (a) Freedom from material desires

                      (b) Archana – prescribed activities in devotional service which is the process of engaging all senses in the service of the Lord

                      (c) Perfect process for transcendental achievement for any ordinary man – Transcendental engagement of mind and senses which is called ‘yukta’ in Bhagavad-gita

                      Text 6.19

                      THEME :

                      Krishna gives an Analogy to explain Text 6.18 i.e. perfection of yoga practice

                      • Just like a lamp in windless place – does not waver; similarly steady mind in samadhi does not waver.
                      • This ‘Perfection of yoga’ exhibited in Krishna consciousness – Truly Krishna conscious person practices constant undisturbed meditation on Supreme Lord.
                      SUMMARISED THEME
                      REALIZATIONS/VISIONS/ACTIONS OF A YOGI IN PERFECTION (STAGE OF SAMADHI)
                      • Realizations in stage of samadhi (6.20 – 6.23) – Status of actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact
                      • Happiness – One experiences boundless transcendental happiness by direct experience of Soul and Supersoul within the heart.
                      • Fixed up – One’s focus never departs from truth
                      • Highest gain – One thinks no greater gain is possible
                      • Unshaken – One remains unshaken even amidst greatest difficulties
                      • Freedom – Free from all miseries arising from material contact
                      • Vision of a perfect yogi (6.29 – 6.30)
                      • Sees Supersoul in everyone’s heart and everyone being supported by Supersoul (6.29)
                      • Never loses sight of Supreme Lord and thus never falls from the path of Yoga (6.30)
                      • Actions of a perfect yogi (6.31 – 6.32)
                      • Realizes Krishna as origin of Supersoul – worships and serves Him in all circumstances (6.31)
                      • Sees equality of all beings – tries to help everyone (no enemy/friend distinction) by turning their consciousness to Krishna (6.32)

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.19 & 6.20 : : This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.

                      Text 6.20 – 6.23

                      THEME : Realizations of a yogi in perfection

                      • He thereby relishes boundless transcendental happiness by directly experiencing soul and Supersoul within the heart
                      • Thinking that there is no greater joy than this his focus never departs from within, even amidst greatest difficulties
                      • Thus he escapes all miseries
                      Learnings from Purport 6.20 – 6.23

                      (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                      • By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts
                      • Then one becomes situated in trance / samadhi

                      (b) What is actual Samadhi

                      • It means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence
                      • Without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself

                      (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                      • Unauthorised commentators – They try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation
                        o But they do not understand the real purpose of the Patanjali system
                      • Patanjali system – There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patanjali system, but the monists do not accept this, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness

                      (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                      • PLEASE NOTE: While studying this purport one should understand that Srila Prabhupada is trying to establish the duality of soul and Supersoul as also recommended in Patanjali system
                      • The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the non-dualist, but in this verse “transcendental pleasure realised through transcendental senses” – is accepted; and this is corroborated by Patanjali Muni in his Yoga-sutras (As mentioned in purport)

                      (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                      • Kaivalyam / Citi shakti of Patanjali – This term reveals the true nature of living entity
                        o This Citi shakti, or internal potency, is transcendental
                      • Purushartha means material religiousity, economic development, sense gratification and at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme.
                      • Concept of “Oneness with the Supreme”
                        o Kaivalyam of monist – refers to oneness with the Supreme
                        o According to Patanjali this Kaivalyam is an internal or transcendental potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position.

                      (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                      • “Ceto darpana marjanam...” by Caitanya Mahaprabhu – refers to clearance of impure mirror of the mind and realising one’s pure identity
                      • Svarupena vyavastitah (SB 2.10.6) – To realize constitutional position as an eternal servant
                        o Liberation from material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity
                      • Theory of nirvana also corresponds to this principle – after material cessation, there is manifestation of positive spiritual activities/devotional service
                      • Vedanta sutra – anandamayobhyasat: Ultimate goal of yoga is the natural transcendental pleasure of devotional service
                        o This ultimate goal is easily achieved by execution of bhakti-yoga

                      (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                      • Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches
                      • Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

                      (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                      • Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful
                      • Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication
                      • Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect
                      • Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

                      (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                      • One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness
                      • One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures
                      • Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)
                        o Material upheavals do not affect his duties
                        ▪ He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                      Text 6.24 – 6.25

                      THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                      1. Patience (6.24)
                      2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                      3. Without deviation (6.24)
                      4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                      5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                      6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                      7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                      8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                      9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                      Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                      Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                      (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                      (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                      • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                      (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                      • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                      (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                      • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                      • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                      • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                      Text 6.26

                      THEME : Means of Success

                      • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                      • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                      • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                      Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                      (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                      (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                      • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                      • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                        o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                        o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                      (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                      • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                      • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                      Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                      Text 6.27

                      THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                      • Transcendental happiness
                      • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                      • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                      Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                      (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                      • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                      (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                      (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                      • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                        o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                        o Freedom from all material contamination

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                      Text 6.28

                      THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                      Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                      (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                      • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                      • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                      • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                      Text 6.29

                      THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                      Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                      Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                      (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                      • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                      (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                      • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                      • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                        o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                        o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                      • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                      (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                      • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                      • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                      (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                      (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                      (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                      (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                      • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                        o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                        o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                      Text 6.30

                      THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                      • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                      • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                      Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                      This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                      (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                      • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                      • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                      (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                      • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                      • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                      • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                      • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                      (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                      • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                      (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                      Text 6.31

                      Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                      THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                      Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                      (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                      • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                      • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                      • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                      (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                      • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                        o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                        o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                      • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                        o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                        o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                        o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                      Text 6.32

                      THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                      Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                      (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                      • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                      • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                      (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                      • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                      • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                      • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                      (a) Description of “param dhama”/ superior abodes (study 6.15 purport)

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.15 & 6.16: Krishna next warns of some obstacles to the aspiring yogi’s progress.

                      Text 6.16 – 16.17

                      COMMON THEME : Regulated lifestyle – A yogi must keep careful balance in eating, sleeping, recreation and work.

                      SUMMARIZED THEME

                      COMPARING ASTANGA YOGA & KRISHNA CONCIOUSNESS IN TERMS OF PRACTICE (6.10 – 6.17)

                      This table shows that all precautions and perfections for transcendentalists are perfectly executed when one is directly in Krishna consciousness.

                      CriteriaAstanga-YogaKrishna Consciousness
                      1. Principle (6.10)Constantly engage body, mind and
                      self in relationship with Supreme                      		Constantly engage body, mind and self
                      in relationship with Supreme
                      2. Relationship
                      with Supreme                       (6.10)                      		Impersonalists and yogis are
                      partially, imperfectly and
                      indirectly Krishna consciousness                      		Devotee is fully Krishna consciousness
                      – perfect and direct relationship with
                      Supreme
                      3. Place of
                      practice                       (6.10)                      		Live alone and secluded place
                      Purpose: To avoid disturbance by
                      external objects                      		Devotee – Stays in good association
                      /Avoid unwanted association – Thus
                      always aloof from material things
                      4. Mind Control –
                      First business
                      of any transcendentalist  (6.10)                      		Struggles hard to fix mind on
                      Supersoul                      		Devotee always thinks of Krishna and
                      never forgets Him (Concentration of
                      mind on the Supreme is called Samadi)
                      5.Consciousness
                      Free of desire
                      and
                      possessiveness                       (6.10)                      		A prerequisite to practice
                      yogarudha stage. In perfect
                      determination, one should not
                      hanker after unnecessary material
                      things that entangle him by
                      “feelings of material
                      possessiveness”                      		Direct Krishna conciosness means
                      “Self-abnegation” right in the
                      beginning stages wherein there is very
                      little chance for material
                      possessiveness. Rupa Goswami’s
                      “Yukta-Vairagya” principle
                      (Study 6.10 purport)
                      6. Manner of
                      sitting                       (6.11-12)
                      • Not too high or too low
                      • Deer Skins / Kusha grass
                      • Straight posture / vision on tip of the nose
                      		No such specifications
                      7.Celibacy (6.13-14)Must for jnana and dhyana
                      schools                      		Only school which allows Grhasta
                      Brahmachari concept
                      8. Fearlessness (6.13-14) –Full Krishna consciousness is the only
                      basis of “fearlessness”
                      9. Object of
                      meditation                       (6.13-14)                      		To see “Vishnu-murti” (object of
                      yoga practice) in the heart, an
                      expansion of Krishna only                      		Devotee always sees Krishna
                      everywhere
                      10. Goal of life (6.13-14)Krishna in the heart of every living
                      entity (indicated by ‘mac-chitah’
                      and ‘mat-parah’ in Text 14)                      		Krishna
                      11. Result –
                      Ultimate goal
                      of yoga
                      practice (6.15)
                      • Cessation of all material
                        existence
                      • Kingdom of God (achieved
                        only by one in perfect
                        understanding of Krishna)
                      		Devotee is a perfect yogi because
                      always absorbed in Krishna’s service
                      and has perfect understanding of
                      Krishna
                      Ref. Ambarish Maharaja
                      12. Regulation in
                      lifestyle                       (6.16-17)                      		Extravagance in the 4 demands of the body – eating, sleeping, mating,
                      defending – is a block in advancement of any yoga
                      • Eating
                      		Quantity: Yogis should eat only
                      what is required to keep body and
                      soul together, anything more is
                      “too much eating”

                      Quality:
                      1) Only food in “goodness”
                      2) Food must be offered In
                      yajna – Otherwise one
                      eats only sin (Ref. Bg.
                      3.13)
                      3) No meat
                      eating/intoxications

                      		Quantity for a devotee:
                      Eats only limited
                      Fast only according to scriptural
                      injunctions
                      No artificial concocted fasting.

                      Quality:
                      Only Krishna prasadam (Ref. Bg. 9.26)

                      • Sleeping
                      		If more than 6 hours
                      1. Lazy
                      2. Dreaming                      		Following Avyartha-Kalatvam
                      Eg: Rupa Goswami and Srila Haridasa
                      Thakura (study purports)
                      • Regulated
                        in work and
                        recreation
                      		–Works only for Krishna; no desire for
                      sense gratification, therefore no
                      material leisure
                      Benefit of Regulation for a Krishna conscious person – Regulation in all above bodily activities brings to a state of no material misery

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.17 & 6.18 : In Texts 6.10 – 6.17, Krishna has described how to meditate. Now Krishna will describe the perfectional stage of astanga-yoga.

                      Text 6.18

                      THEME : A yogi becomes perfect when his consciousness remains perfectly fixed in the self.
                      Criteria for perfection of yoga:

                      • All mental activities disciplined
                      • Situated in transcendence
                      • Free of all material desires:
                      Learnings from Purport 6.18

                      (a) Freedom from material desires

                      • This is the distinguishing characteristic of Yogi and ordinary man – especially the sex desire.
                      • This is automatic, easy and practical for Krishna conscious person – e.g. Ambarish Maharajs (all senses engaged)

                      (b) Archana – prescribed activities in devotional service which is the process of engaging all senses in the service of the Lord

                      (c) Perfect process for transcendental achievement for any ordinary man – Transcendental engagement of mind and senses which is called ‘yukta’ in Bhagavad-gita

                      Text 6.19

                      THEME :

                      Krishna gives an Analogy to explain Text 6.18 i.e. perfection of yoga practice

                      • Just like a lamp in windless place – does not waver; similarly steady mind in samadhi does not waver.
                      • This ‘Perfection of yoga’ exhibited in Krishna consciousness – Truly Krishna conscious person practices constant undisturbed meditation on Supreme Lord.
                      SUMMARISED THEME
                      REALIZATIONS/VISIONS/ACTIONS OF A YOGI IN PERFECTION (STAGE OF SAMADHI)
                      • Realizations in stage of samadhi (6.20 – 6.23) – Status of actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact
                      • Happiness – One experiences boundless transcendental happiness by direct experience of Soul and Supersoul within the heart.
                      • Fixed up – One’s focus never departs from truth
                      • Highest gain – One thinks no greater gain is possible
                      • Unshaken – One remains unshaken even amidst greatest difficulties
                      • Freedom – Free from all miseries arising from material contact
                      • Vision of a perfect yogi (6.29 – 6.30)
                      • Sees Supersoul in everyone’s heart and everyone being supported by Supersoul (6.29)
                      • Never loses sight of Supreme Lord and thus never falls from the path of Yoga (6.30)
                      • Actions of a perfect yogi (6.31 – 6.32)
                      • Realizes Krishna as origin of Supersoul – worships and serves Him in all circumstances (6.31)
                      • Sees equality of all beings – tries to help everyone (no enemy/friend distinction) by turning their consciousness to Krishna (6.32)

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.19 & 6.20 : : This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.

                      Text 6.20 – 6.23

                      THEME : Realizations of a yogi in perfection

                      • He thereby relishes boundless transcendental happiness by directly experiencing soul and Supersoul within the heart
                      • Thinking that there is no greater joy than this his focus never departs from within, even amidst greatest difficulties
                      • Thus he escapes all miseries
                      Learnings from Purport 6.20 – 6.23

                      (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                      • By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts
                      • Then one becomes situated in trance / samadhi

                      (b) What is actual Samadhi

                      • It means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence
                      • Without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself

                      (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                      • Unauthorised commentators – They try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation
                        o But they do not understand the real purpose of the Patanjali system
                      • Patanjali system – There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patanjali system, but the monists do not accept this, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness

                      (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                      • PLEASE NOTE: While studying this purport one should understand that Srila Prabhupada is trying to establish the duality of soul and Supersoul as also recommended in Patanjali system
                      • The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the non-dualist, but in this verse “transcendental pleasure realised through transcendental senses” – is accepted; and this is corroborated by Patanjali Muni in his Yoga-sutras (As mentioned in purport)

                      (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                      • Kaivalyam / Citi shakti of Patanjali – This term reveals the true nature of living entity
                        o This Citi shakti, or internal potency, is transcendental
                      • Purushartha means material religiousity, economic development, sense gratification and at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme.
                      • Concept of “Oneness with the Supreme”
                        o Kaivalyam of monist – refers to oneness with the Supreme
                        o According to Patanjali this Kaivalyam is an internal or transcendental potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position.

                      (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                      • “Ceto darpana marjanam...” by Caitanya Mahaprabhu – refers to clearance of impure mirror of the mind and realising one’s pure identity
                      • Svarupena vyavastitah (SB 2.10.6) – To realize constitutional position as an eternal servant
                        o Liberation from material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity
                      • Theory of nirvana also corresponds to this principle – after material cessation, there is manifestation of positive spiritual activities/devotional service
                      • Vedanta sutra – anandamayobhyasat: Ultimate goal of yoga is the natural transcendental pleasure of devotional service
                        o This ultimate goal is easily achieved by execution of bhakti-yoga

                      (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                      • Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches
                      • Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

                      (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                      • Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful
                      • Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication
                      • Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect
                      • Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

                      (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                      • One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness
                      • One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures
                      • Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)
                        o Material upheavals do not affect his duties
                        ▪ He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                      Text 6.24 – 6.25

                      THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                      1. Patience (6.24)
                      2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                      3. Without deviation (6.24)
                      4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                      5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                      6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                      7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                      8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                      9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                      Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                      Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                      (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                      (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                      • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                      (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                      • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                      (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                      • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                      • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                      • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                      Text 6.26

                      THEME : Means of Success

                      • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                      • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                      • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                      Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                      (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                      (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                      • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                      • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                        o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                        o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                      (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                      • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                      • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                      Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                      Text 6.27

                      THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                      • Transcendental happiness
                      • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                      • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                      Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                      (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                      • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                      (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                      (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                      • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                        o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                        o Freedom from all material contamination

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                      Text 6.28

                      THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                      Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                      (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                      • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                      • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                      • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                      Text 6.29

                      THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                      Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                      Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                      (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                      • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                      (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                      • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                      • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                        o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                        o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                      • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                      (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                      • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                      • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                      (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                      (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                      (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                      (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                      • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                        o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                        o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                      Text 6.30

                      THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                      • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                      • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                      Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                      This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                      (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                      • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                      • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                      (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                      • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                      • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                      • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                      • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                      (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                      • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                      (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                      Text 6.31

                      Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                      THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                      Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                      (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                      • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                      • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                      • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                      (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                      • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                        o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                        o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                      • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                        o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                        o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                        o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                      Text 6.32

                      THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                      Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                      (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                      • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                      • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                      (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                      • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                      • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                      • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                      LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                        (a) Description of “param dhama”/ superior abodes (study 6.15 purport)

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.15 & 6.16: Krishna next warns of some obstacles to the aspiring yogi’s progress.

                        Text 6.16 – 16.17

                        COMMON THEME : Regulated lifestyle – A yogi must keep careful balance in eating, sleeping, recreation and work.

                        SUMMARIZED THEME

                        COMPARING ASTANGA YOGA & KRISHNA CONCIOUSNESS IN TERMS OF PRACTICE (6.10 – 6.17)

                        This table shows that all precautions and perfections for transcendentalists are perfectly executed when one is directly in Krishna consciousness.

                        CriteriaAstanga-YogaKrishna Consciousness
                        1. Principle (6.10)Constantly engage body, mind and
                        self in relationship with Supreme                        		Constantly engage body, mind and self
                        in relationship with Supreme
                        2. Relationship
                        with Supreme                         (6.10)                        		Impersonalists and yogis are
                        partially, imperfectly and
                        indirectly Krishna consciousness                        		Devotee is fully Krishna consciousness
                        – perfect and direct relationship with
                        Supreme
                        3. Place of
                        practice                         (6.10)                        		Live alone and secluded place
                        Purpose: To avoid disturbance by
                        external objects                        		Devotee – Stays in good association
                        /Avoid unwanted association – Thus
                        always aloof from material things
                        4. Mind Control –
                        First business
                        of any transcendentalist  (6.10)                        		Struggles hard to fix mind on
                        Supersoul                        		Devotee always thinks of Krishna and
                        never forgets Him (Concentration of
                        mind on the Supreme is called Samadi)
                        5.Consciousness
                        Free of desire
                        and
                        possessiveness                         (6.10)                        		A prerequisite to practice
                        yogarudha stage. In perfect
                        determination, one should not
                        hanker after unnecessary material
                        things that entangle him by
                        “feelings of material
                        possessiveness”                        		Direct Krishna conciosness means
                        “Self-abnegation” right in the
                        beginning stages wherein there is very
                        little chance for material
                        possessiveness. Rupa Goswami’s
                        “Yukta-Vairagya” principle
                        (Study 6.10 purport)
                        6. Manner of
                        sitting                         (6.11-12)
                        • Not too high or too low
                        • Deer Skins / Kusha grass
                        • Straight posture / vision on tip of the nose
                        		No such specifications
                        7.Celibacy (6.13-14)Must for jnana and dhyana
                        schools                        		Only school which allows Grhasta
                        Brahmachari concept
                        8. Fearlessness (6.13-14) –Full Krishna consciousness is the only
                        basis of “fearlessness”
                        9. Object of
                        meditation                         (6.13-14)                        		To see “Vishnu-murti” (object of
                        yoga practice) in the heart, an
                        expansion of Krishna only                        		Devotee always sees Krishna
                        everywhere
                        10. Goal of life (6.13-14)Krishna in the heart of every living
                        entity (indicated by ‘mac-chitah’
                        and ‘mat-parah’ in Text 14)                        		Krishna
                        11. Result –
                        Ultimate goal
                        of yoga
                        practice (6.15)
                        • Cessation of all material
                          existence
                        • Kingdom of God (achieved
                          only by one in perfect
                          understanding of Krishna)
                        		Devotee is a perfect yogi because
                        always absorbed in Krishna’s service
                        and has perfect understanding of
                        Krishna
                        Ref. Ambarish Maharaja
                        12. Regulation in
                        lifestyle                         (6.16-17)                        		Extravagance in the 4 demands of the body – eating, sleeping, mating,
                        defending – is a block in advancement of any yoga
                        • Eating
                        		Quantity: Yogis should eat only
                        what is required to keep body and
                        soul together, anything more is
                        “too much eating”

                        Quality:
                        1) Only food in “goodness”
                        2) Food must be offered In
                        yajna – Otherwise one
                        eats only sin (Ref. Bg.
                        3.13)
                        3) No meat
                        eating/intoxications

                        		Quantity for a devotee:
                        Eats only limited
                        Fast only according to scriptural
                        injunctions
                        No artificial concocted fasting.

                        Quality:
                        Only Krishna prasadam (Ref. Bg. 9.26)

                        • Sleeping
                        		If more than 6 hours
                        1. Lazy
                        2. Dreaming                        		Following Avyartha-Kalatvam
                        Eg: Rupa Goswami and Srila Haridasa
                        Thakura (study purports)
                        • Regulated
                          in work and
                          recreation
                        		–Works only for Krishna; no desire for
                        sense gratification, therefore no
                        material leisure
                        Benefit of Regulation for a Krishna conscious person – Regulation in all above bodily activities brings to a state of no material misery

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.17 & 6.18 : In Texts 6.10 – 6.17, Krishna has described how to meditate. Now Krishna will describe the perfectional stage of astanga-yoga.

                        Text 6.18

                        THEME : A yogi becomes perfect when his consciousness remains perfectly fixed in the self.
                        Criteria for perfection of yoga:

                        • All mental activities disciplined
                        • Situated in transcendence
                        • Free of all material desires:
                        Learnings from Purport 6.18

                        (a) Freedom from material desires

                        • This is the distinguishing characteristic of Yogi and ordinary man – especially the sex desire.
                        • This is automatic, easy and practical for Krishna conscious person – e.g. Ambarish Maharajs (all senses engaged)

                        (b) Archana – prescribed activities in devotional service which is the process of engaging all senses in the service of the Lord

                        (c) Perfect process for transcendental achievement for any ordinary man – Transcendental engagement of mind and senses which is called ‘yukta’ in Bhagavad-gita

                        Text 6.19

                        THEME :

                        Krishna gives an Analogy to explain Text 6.18 i.e. perfection of yoga practice

                        • Just like a lamp in windless place – does not waver; similarly steady mind in samadhi does not waver.
                        • This ‘Perfection of yoga’ exhibited in Krishna consciousness – Truly Krishna conscious person practices constant undisturbed meditation on Supreme Lord.
                        SUMMARISED THEME
                        REALIZATIONS/VISIONS/ACTIONS OF A YOGI IN PERFECTION (STAGE OF SAMADHI)
                        • Realizations in stage of samadhi (6.20 – 6.23) – Status of actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact
                        • Happiness – One experiences boundless transcendental happiness by direct experience of Soul and Supersoul within the heart.
                        • Fixed up – One’s focus never departs from truth
                        • Highest gain – One thinks no greater gain is possible
                        • Unshaken – One remains unshaken even amidst greatest difficulties
                        • Freedom – Free from all miseries arising from material contact
                        • Vision of a perfect yogi (6.29 – 6.30)
                        • Sees Supersoul in everyone’s heart and everyone being supported by Supersoul (6.29)
                        • Never loses sight of Supreme Lord and thus never falls from the path of Yoga (6.30)
                        • Actions of a perfect yogi (6.31 – 6.32)
                        • Realizes Krishna as origin of Supersoul – worships and serves Him in all circumstances (6.31)
                        • Sees equality of all beings – tries to help everyone (no enemy/friend distinction) by turning their consciousness to Krishna (6.32)

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.19 & 6.20 : : This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.

                        Text 6.20 – 6.23

                        THEME : Realizations of a yogi in perfection

                        • He thereby relishes boundless transcendental happiness by directly experiencing soul and Supersoul within the heart
                        • Thinking that there is no greater joy than this his focus never departs from within, even amidst greatest difficulties
                        • Thus he escapes all miseries
                        Learnings from Purport 6.20 – 6.23

                        (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                        • By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts
                        • Then one becomes situated in trance / samadhi

                        (b) What is actual Samadhi

                        • It means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence
                        • Without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself

                        (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                        • Unauthorised commentators – They try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation
                          o But they do not understand the real purpose of the Patanjali system
                        • Patanjali system – There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patanjali system, but the monists do not accept this, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness

                        (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                        • PLEASE NOTE: While studying this purport one should understand that Srila Prabhupada is trying to establish the duality of soul and Supersoul as also recommended in Patanjali system
                        • The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the non-dualist, but in this verse “transcendental pleasure realised through transcendental senses” – is accepted; and this is corroborated by Patanjali Muni in his Yoga-sutras (As mentioned in purport)

                        (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                        • Kaivalyam / Citi shakti of Patanjali – This term reveals the true nature of living entity
                          o This Citi shakti, or internal potency, is transcendental
                        • Purushartha means material religiousity, economic development, sense gratification and at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme.
                        • Concept of “Oneness with the Supreme”
                          o Kaivalyam of monist – refers to oneness with the Supreme
                          o According to Patanjali this Kaivalyam is an internal or transcendental potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position.

                        (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                        • “Ceto darpana marjanam...” by Caitanya Mahaprabhu – refers to clearance of impure mirror of the mind and realising one’s pure identity
                        • Svarupena vyavastitah (SB 2.10.6) – To realize constitutional position as an eternal servant
                          o Liberation from material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity
                        • Theory of nirvana also corresponds to this principle – after material cessation, there is manifestation of positive spiritual activities/devotional service
                        • Vedanta sutra – anandamayobhyasat: Ultimate goal of yoga is the natural transcendental pleasure of devotional service
                          o This ultimate goal is easily achieved by execution of bhakti-yoga

                        (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                        • Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches
                        • Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

                        (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                        • Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful
                        • Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication
                        • Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect
                        • Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

                        (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                        • One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness
                        • One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures
                        • Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)
                          o Material upheavals do not affect his duties
                          ▪ He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                        Text 6.24 – 6.25

                        THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                        1. Patience (6.24)
                        2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                        3. Without deviation (6.24)
                        4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                        5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                        6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                        7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                        8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                        9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                        Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                        Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                        (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                        (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                        • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                        (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                        • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                        (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                        • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                        • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                        • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                        Text 6.26

                        THEME : Means of Success

                        • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                        • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                        • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                        Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                        (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                        (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                        • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                        • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                          o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                          o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                        (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                        • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                        • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                        Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                        Text 6.27

                        THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                        • Transcendental happiness
                        • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                        • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                        Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                        (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                        • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                        (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                        (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                        • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                          o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                          o Freedom from all material contamination

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                        Text 6.28

                        THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                        Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                        (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                        • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                        • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                        • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                        Text 6.29

                        THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                        Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                        Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                        (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                        • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                        (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                        • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                        • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                          o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                          o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                        • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                        (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                        • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                        • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                        (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                        (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                        (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                        (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                        • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                          o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                          o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                        Text 6.30

                        THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                        • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                        • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                        Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                        This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                        (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                        • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                        • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                        (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                        • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                        • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                        • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                        • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                        (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                        • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                        (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                        Text 6.31

                        Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                        THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                        Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                        (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                        • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                        • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                        • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                        (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                        • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                          o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                          o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                        • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                          o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                          o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                          o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                        Text 6.32

                        THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                        Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                        (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                        • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                        • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                        (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                        • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                        • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                        • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                        (a) Texts 6.11 – 6.12 refutes so called yoga societies in big cities

                        (b) Celibacy

                        (c) ‘Vigata-bhir’ – It means “devoid of fear”- It is a very important quality to practice astanga-yoga

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.14 & 6.15: The result attained after long practice is next described.

                        Text 6.15

                        THEME : Thus Krishna describes the goal of astanga-yoga as attainment of the Kingdom of God by “cessation of material existence”.

                        Learnings from Purport 6.15

                        (a) Description of “param dhama”/ superior abodes (study 6.15 purport)

                        • Kingdom of God is everywhere, but spiritual sky and planets thereof are called ‘paramdhama’
                        • Supporting references for Lord’s abode
                          o Abode of the Lord is clearly described in Bhagavad-gita as that place where there is no need of sun, moon and electricity (Ref. Bg. 15.6)
                          o Ref. Brahma Samhit 5.37 “Goloka eva...”
                        • Qualification to reach kingdom of God for any yogi – A person with proper understanding of Krishna’s position and His plenary expansion Vishnu indicated by the Lord in the words ‘mac-chitah’ and ‘mat-parah’ (6.13 – 6.14)
                          o Ref. Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.8 “tam eva...” – One can overcome the path of birth and death only by understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.15 & 6.16: Krishna next warns of some obstacles to the aspiring yogi’s progress.

                        Text 6.16 – 16.17

                        COMMON THEME : Regulated lifestyle – A yogi must keep careful balance in eating, sleeping, recreation and work.

                        SUMMARIZED THEME

                        COMPARING ASTANGA YOGA & KRISHNA CONCIOUSNESS IN TERMS OF PRACTICE (6.10 – 6.17)

                        This table shows that all precautions and perfections for transcendentalists are perfectly executed when one is directly in Krishna consciousness.

                        CriteriaAstanga-YogaKrishna Consciousness
                        1. Principle (6.10)Constantly engage body, mind and
                        self in relationship with Supreme                        		Constantly engage body, mind and self
                        in relationship with Supreme
                        2. Relationship
                        with Supreme                         (6.10)                        		Impersonalists and yogis are
                        partially, imperfectly and
                        indirectly Krishna consciousness                        		Devotee is fully Krishna consciousness
                        – perfect and direct relationship with
                        Supreme
                        3. Place of
                        practice                         (6.10)                        		Live alone and secluded place
                        Purpose: To avoid disturbance by
                        external objects                        		Devotee – Stays in good association
                        /Avoid unwanted association – Thus
                        always aloof from material things
                        4. Mind Control –
                        First business
                        of any transcendentalist  (6.10)                        		Struggles hard to fix mind on
                        Supersoul                        		Devotee always thinks of Krishna and
                        never forgets Him (Concentration of
                        mind on the Supreme is called Samadi)
                        5.Consciousness
                        Free of desire
                        and
                        possessiveness                         (6.10)                        		A prerequisite to practice
                        yogarudha stage. In perfect
                        determination, one should not
                        hanker after unnecessary material
                        things that entangle him by
                        “feelings of material
                        possessiveness”                        		Direct Krishna conciosness means
                        “Self-abnegation” right in the
                        beginning stages wherein there is very
                        little chance for material
                        possessiveness. Rupa Goswami’s
                        “Yukta-Vairagya” principle
                        (Study 6.10 purport)
                        6. Manner of
                        sitting                         (6.11-12)
                        • Not too high or too low
                        • Deer Skins / Kusha grass
                        • Straight posture / vision on tip of the nose
                        		No such specifications
                        7.Celibacy (6.13-14)Must for jnana and dhyana
                        schools                        		Only school which allows Grhasta
                        Brahmachari concept
                        8. Fearlessness (6.13-14) –Full Krishna consciousness is the only
                        basis of “fearlessness”
                        9. Object of
                        meditation                         (6.13-14)                        		To see “Vishnu-murti” (object of
                        yoga practice) in the heart, an
                        expansion of Krishna only                        		Devotee always sees Krishna
                        everywhere
                        10. Goal of life (6.13-14)Krishna in the heart of every living
                        entity (indicated by ‘mac-chitah’
                        and ‘mat-parah’ in Text 14)                        		Krishna
                        11. Result –
                        Ultimate goal
                        of yoga
                        practice (6.15)
                        • Cessation of all material
                          existence
                        • Kingdom of God (achieved
                          only by one in perfect
                          understanding of Krishna)
                        		Devotee is a perfect yogi because
                        always absorbed in Krishna’s service
                        and has perfect understanding of
                        Krishna
                        Ref. Ambarish Maharaja
                        12. Regulation in
                        lifestyle                         (6.16-17)                        		Extravagance in the 4 demands of the body – eating, sleeping, mating,
                        defending – is a block in advancement of any yoga
                        • Eating
                        		Quantity: Yogis should eat only
                        what is required to keep body and
                        soul together, anything more is
                        “too much eating”

                        Quality:
                        1) Only food in “goodness”
                        2) Food must be offered In
                        yajna – Otherwise one
                        eats only sin (Ref. Bg.
                        3.13)
                        3) No meat
                        eating/intoxications

                        		Quantity for a devotee:
                        Eats only limited
                        Fast only according to scriptural
                        injunctions
                        No artificial concocted fasting.

                        Quality:
                        Only Krishna prasadam (Ref. Bg. 9.26)

                        • Sleeping
                        		If more than 6 hours
                        1. Lazy
                        2. Dreaming                        		Following Avyartha-Kalatvam
                        Eg: Rupa Goswami and Srila Haridasa
                        Thakura (study purports)
                        • Regulated
                          in work and
                          recreation
                        		–Works only for Krishna; no desire for
                        sense gratification, therefore no
                        material leisure
                        Benefit of Regulation for a Krishna conscious person – Regulation in all above bodily activities brings to a state of no material misery

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.17 & 6.18 : In Texts 6.10 – 6.17, Krishna has described how to meditate. Now Krishna will describe the perfectional stage of astanga-yoga.

                        Text 6.18

                        THEME : A yogi becomes perfect when his consciousness remains perfectly fixed in the self.
                        Criteria for perfection of yoga:

                        • All mental activities disciplined
                        • Situated in transcendence
                        • Free of all material desires:
                        Learnings from Purport 6.18

                        (a) Freedom from material desires

                        • This is the distinguishing characteristic of Yogi and ordinary man – especially the sex desire.
                        • This is automatic, easy and practical for Krishna conscious person – e.g. Ambarish Maharajs (all senses engaged)

                        (b) Archana – prescribed activities in devotional service which is the process of engaging all senses in the service of the Lord

                        (c) Perfect process for transcendental achievement for any ordinary man – Transcendental engagement of mind and senses which is called ‘yukta’ in Bhagavad-gita

                        Text 6.19

                        THEME :

                        Krishna gives an Analogy to explain Text 6.18 i.e. perfection of yoga practice

                        • Just like a lamp in windless place – does not waver; similarly steady mind in samadhi does not waver.
                        • This ‘Perfection of yoga’ exhibited in Krishna consciousness – Truly Krishna conscious person practices constant undisturbed meditation on Supreme Lord.
                        SUMMARISED THEME
                        REALIZATIONS/VISIONS/ACTIONS OF A YOGI IN PERFECTION (STAGE OF SAMADHI)
                        • Realizations in stage of samadhi (6.20 – 6.23) – Status of actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact
                        • Happiness – One experiences boundless transcendental happiness by direct experience of Soul and Supersoul within the heart.
                        • Fixed up – One’s focus never departs from truth
                        • Highest gain – One thinks no greater gain is possible
                        • Unshaken – One remains unshaken even amidst greatest difficulties
                        • Freedom – Free from all miseries arising from material contact
                        • Vision of a perfect yogi (6.29 – 6.30)
                        • Sees Supersoul in everyone’s heart and everyone being supported by Supersoul (6.29)
                        • Never loses sight of Supreme Lord and thus never falls from the path of Yoga (6.30)
                        • Actions of a perfect yogi (6.31 – 6.32)
                        • Realizes Krishna as origin of Supersoul – worships and serves Him in all circumstances (6.31)
                        • Sees equality of all beings – tries to help everyone (no enemy/friend distinction) by turning their consciousness to Krishna (6.32)

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.19 & 6.20 : : This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.

                        Text 6.20 – 6.23

                        THEME : Realizations of a yogi in perfection

                        • He thereby relishes boundless transcendental happiness by directly experiencing soul and Supersoul within the heart
                        • Thinking that there is no greater joy than this his focus never departs from within, even amidst greatest difficulties
                        • Thus he escapes all miseries
                        Learnings from Purport 6.20 – 6.23

                        (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                        • By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts
                        • Then one becomes situated in trance / samadhi

                        (b) What is actual Samadhi

                        • It means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence
                        • Without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself

                        (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                        • Unauthorised commentators – They try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation
                          o But they do not understand the real purpose of the Patanjali system
                        • Patanjali system – There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patanjali system, but the monists do not accept this, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness

                        (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                        • PLEASE NOTE: While studying this purport one should understand that Srila Prabhupada is trying to establish the duality of soul and Supersoul as also recommended in Patanjali system
                        • The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the non-dualist, but in this verse “transcendental pleasure realised through transcendental senses” – is accepted; and this is corroborated by Patanjali Muni in his Yoga-sutras (As mentioned in purport)

                        (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                        • Kaivalyam / Citi shakti of Patanjali – This term reveals the true nature of living entity
                          o This Citi shakti, or internal potency, is transcendental
                        • Purushartha means material religiousity, economic development, sense gratification and at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme.
                        • Concept of “Oneness with the Supreme”
                          o Kaivalyam of monist – refers to oneness with the Supreme
                          o According to Patanjali this Kaivalyam is an internal or transcendental potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position.

                        (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                        • “Ceto darpana marjanam...” by Caitanya Mahaprabhu – refers to clearance of impure mirror of the mind and realising one’s pure identity
                        • Svarupena vyavastitah (SB 2.10.6) – To realize constitutional position as an eternal servant
                          o Liberation from material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity
                        • Theory of nirvana also corresponds to this principle – after material cessation, there is manifestation of positive spiritual activities/devotional service
                        • Vedanta sutra – anandamayobhyasat: Ultimate goal of yoga is the natural transcendental pleasure of devotional service
                          o This ultimate goal is easily achieved by execution of bhakti-yoga

                        (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                        • Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches
                        • Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

                        (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                        • Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful
                        • Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication
                        • Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect
                        • Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

                        (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                        • One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness
                        • One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures
                        • Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)
                          o Material upheavals do not affect his duties
                          ▪ He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                        Text 6.24 – 6.25

                        THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                        1. Patience (6.24)
                        2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                        3. Without deviation (6.24)
                        4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                        5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                        6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                        7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                        8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                        9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                        Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                        Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                        (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                        (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                        • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                        (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                        • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                        (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                        • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                        • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                        • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                        Text 6.26

                        THEME : Means of Success

                        • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                        • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                        • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                        Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                        (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                        (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                        • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                        • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                          o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                          o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                        (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                        • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                        • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                        Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                        Text 6.27

                        THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                        • Transcendental happiness
                        • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                        • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                        Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                        (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                        • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                        (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                        (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                        • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                          o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                          o Freedom from all material contamination

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                        Text 6.28

                        THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                        Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                        (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                        • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                        • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                        • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                        Text 6.29

                        THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                        Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                        Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                        (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                        • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                        (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                        • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                        • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                          o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                          o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                        • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                        (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                        • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                        • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                        (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                        (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                        (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                        (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                        • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                          o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                          o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                        Text 6.30

                        THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                        • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                        • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                        Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                        This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                        (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                        • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                        • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                        (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                        • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                        • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                        • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                        • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                        (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                        • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                        (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                        Text 6.31

                        Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                        THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                        Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                        (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                        • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                        • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                        • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                        (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                        • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                          o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                          o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                        • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                          o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                          o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                          o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                        Text 6.32

                        THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                        Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                        (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                        • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                        • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                        (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                        • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                        • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                        • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                        LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                          (a) Texts 6.11 – 6.12 refutes so called yoga societies in big cities

                          (b) Celibacy

                          (c) ‘Vigata-bhir’ – It means “devoid of fear”- It is a very important quality to practice astanga-yoga

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.14 & 6.15: The result attained after long practice is next described.

                          Text 6.15

                          THEME : Thus Krishna describes the goal of astanga-yoga as attainment of the Kingdom of God by “cessation of material existence”.

                          Learnings from Purport 6.15

                          (a) Description of “param dhama”/ superior abodes (study 6.15 purport)

                          • Kingdom of God is everywhere, but spiritual sky and planets thereof are called ‘paramdhama’
                          • Supporting references for Lord’s abode
                            o Abode of the Lord is clearly described in Bhagavad-gita as that place where there is no need of sun, moon and electricity (Ref. Bg. 15.6)
                            o Ref. Brahma Samhit 5.37 “Goloka eva...”
                          • Qualification to reach kingdom of God for any yogi – A person with proper understanding of Krishna’s position and His plenary expansion Vishnu indicated by the Lord in the words ‘mac-chitah’ and ‘mat-parah’ (6.13 – 6.14)
                            o Ref. Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.8 “tam eva...” – One can overcome the path of birth and death only by understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.15 & 6.16: Krishna next warns of some obstacles to the aspiring yogi’s progress.

                          Text 6.16 – 16.17

                          COMMON THEME : Regulated lifestyle – A yogi must keep careful balance in eating, sleeping, recreation and work.

                          SUMMARIZED THEME

                          COMPARING ASTANGA YOGA & KRISHNA CONCIOUSNESS IN TERMS OF PRACTICE (6.10 – 6.17)

                          This table shows that all precautions and perfections for transcendentalists are perfectly executed when one is directly in Krishna consciousness.

                          CriteriaAstanga-YogaKrishna Consciousness
                          1. Principle (6.10)Constantly engage body, mind and
                          self in relationship with Supreme                          		Constantly engage body, mind and self
                          in relationship with Supreme
                          2. Relationship
                          with Supreme                           (6.10)                          		Impersonalists and yogis are
                          partially, imperfectly and
                          indirectly Krishna consciousness                          		Devotee is fully Krishna consciousness
                          – perfect and direct relationship with
                          Supreme
                          3. Place of
                          practice                           (6.10)                          		Live alone and secluded place
                          Purpose: To avoid disturbance by
                          external objects                          		Devotee – Stays in good association
                          /Avoid unwanted association – Thus
                          always aloof from material things
                          4. Mind Control –
                          First business
                          of any transcendentalist  (6.10)                          		Struggles hard to fix mind on
                          Supersoul                          		Devotee always thinks of Krishna and
                          never forgets Him (Concentration of
                          mind on the Supreme is called Samadi)
                          5.Consciousness
                          Free of desire
                          and
                          possessiveness                           (6.10)                          		A prerequisite to practice
                          yogarudha stage. In perfect
                          determination, one should not
                          hanker after unnecessary material
                          things that entangle him by
                          “feelings of material
                          possessiveness”                          		Direct Krishna conciosness means
                          “Self-abnegation” right in the
                          beginning stages wherein there is very
                          little chance for material
                          possessiveness. Rupa Goswami’s
                          “Yukta-Vairagya” principle
                          (Study 6.10 purport)
                          6. Manner of
                          sitting                           (6.11-12)
                          • Not too high or too low
                          • Deer Skins / Kusha grass
                          • Straight posture / vision on tip of the nose
                          		No such specifications
                          7.Celibacy (6.13-14)Must for jnana and dhyana
                          schools                          		Only school which allows Grhasta
                          Brahmachari concept
                          8. Fearlessness (6.13-14) –Full Krishna consciousness is the only
                          basis of “fearlessness”
                          9. Object of
                          meditation                           (6.13-14)                          		To see “Vishnu-murti” (object of
                          yoga practice) in the heart, an
                          expansion of Krishna only                          		Devotee always sees Krishna
                          everywhere
                          10. Goal of life (6.13-14)Krishna in the heart of every living
                          entity (indicated by ‘mac-chitah’
                          and ‘mat-parah’ in Text 14)                          		Krishna
                          11. Result –
                          Ultimate goal
                          of yoga
                          practice (6.15)
                          • Cessation of all material
                            existence
                          • Kingdom of God (achieved
                            only by one in perfect
                            understanding of Krishna)
                          		Devotee is a perfect yogi because
                          always absorbed in Krishna’s service
                          and has perfect understanding of
                          Krishna
                          Ref. Ambarish Maharaja
                          12. Regulation in
                          lifestyle                           (6.16-17)                          		Extravagance in the 4 demands of the body – eating, sleeping, mating,
                          defending – is a block in advancement of any yoga
                          • Eating
                          		Quantity: Yogis should eat only
                          what is required to keep body and
                          soul together, anything more is
                          “too much eating”

                          Quality:
                          1) Only food in “goodness”
                          2) Food must be offered In
                          yajna – Otherwise one
                          eats only sin (Ref. Bg.
                          3.13)
                          3) No meat
                          eating/intoxications

                          		Quantity for a devotee:
                          Eats only limited
                          Fast only according to scriptural
                          injunctions
                          No artificial concocted fasting.

                          Quality:
                          Only Krishna prasadam (Ref. Bg. 9.26)

                          • Sleeping
                          		If more than 6 hours
                          1. Lazy
                          2. Dreaming                          		Following Avyartha-Kalatvam
                          Eg: Rupa Goswami and Srila Haridasa
                          Thakura (study purports)
                          • Regulated
                            in work and
                            recreation
                          		–Works only for Krishna; no desire for
                          sense gratification, therefore no
                          material leisure
                          Benefit of Regulation for a Krishna conscious person – Regulation in all above bodily activities brings to a state of no material misery

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.17 & 6.18 : In Texts 6.10 – 6.17, Krishna has described how to meditate. Now Krishna will describe the perfectional stage of astanga-yoga.

                          Text 6.18

                          THEME : A yogi becomes perfect when his consciousness remains perfectly fixed in the self.
                          Criteria for perfection of yoga:

                          • All mental activities disciplined
                          • Situated in transcendence
                          • Free of all material desires:
                          Learnings from Purport 6.18

                          (a) Freedom from material desires

                          • This is the distinguishing characteristic of Yogi and ordinary man – especially the sex desire.
                          • This is automatic, easy and practical for Krishna conscious person – e.g. Ambarish Maharajs (all senses engaged)

                          (b) Archana – prescribed activities in devotional service which is the process of engaging all senses in the service of the Lord

                          (c) Perfect process for transcendental achievement for any ordinary man – Transcendental engagement of mind and senses which is called ‘yukta’ in Bhagavad-gita

                          Text 6.19

                          THEME :

                          Krishna gives an Analogy to explain Text 6.18 i.e. perfection of yoga practice

                          • Just like a lamp in windless place – does not waver; similarly steady mind in samadhi does not waver.
                          • This ‘Perfection of yoga’ exhibited in Krishna consciousness – Truly Krishna conscious person practices constant undisturbed meditation on Supreme Lord.
                          SUMMARISED THEME
                          REALIZATIONS/VISIONS/ACTIONS OF A YOGI IN PERFECTION (STAGE OF SAMADHI)
                          • Realizations in stage of samadhi (6.20 – 6.23) – Status of actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact
                          • Happiness – One experiences boundless transcendental happiness by direct experience of Soul and Supersoul within the heart.
                          • Fixed up – One’s focus never departs from truth
                          • Highest gain – One thinks no greater gain is possible
                          • Unshaken – One remains unshaken even amidst greatest difficulties
                          • Freedom – Free from all miseries arising from material contact
                          • Vision of a perfect yogi (6.29 – 6.30)
                          • Sees Supersoul in everyone’s heart and everyone being supported by Supersoul (6.29)
                          • Never loses sight of Supreme Lord and thus never falls from the path of Yoga (6.30)
                          • Actions of a perfect yogi (6.31 – 6.32)
                          • Realizes Krishna as origin of Supersoul – worships and serves Him in all circumstances (6.31)
                          • Sees equality of all beings – tries to help everyone (no enemy/friend distinction) by turning their consciousness to Krishna (6.32)

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.19 & 6.20 : : This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.

                          Text 6.20 – 6.23

                          THEME : Realizations of a yogi in perfection

                          • He thereby relishes boundless transcendental happiness by directly experiencing soul and Supersoul within the heart
                          • Thinking that there is no greater joy than this his focus never departs from within, even amidst greatest difficulties
                          • Thus he escapes all miseries
                          Learnings from Purport 6.20 – 6.23

                          (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                          • By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts
                          • Then one becomes situated in trance / samadhi

                          (b) What is actual Samadhi

                          • It means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence
                          • Without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself

                          (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                          • Unauthorised commentators – They try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation
                            o But they do not understand the real purpose of the Patanjali system
                          • Patanjali system – There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patanjali system, but the monists do not accept this, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness

                          (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                          • PLEASE NOTE: While studying this purport one should understand that Srila Prabhupada is trying to establish the duality of soul and Supersoul as also recommended in Patanjali system
                          • The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the non-dualist, but in this verse “transcendental pleasure realised through transcendental senses” – is accepted; and this is corroborated by Patanjali Muni in his Yoga-sutras (As mentioned in purport)

                          (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                          • Kaivalyam / Citi shakti of Patanjali – This term reveals the true nature of living entity
                            o This Citi shakti, or internal potency, is transcendental
                          • Purushartha means material religiousity, economic development, sense gratification and at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme.
                          • Concept of “Oneness with the Supreme”
                            o Kaivalyam of monist – refers to oneness with the Supreme
                            o According to Patanjali this Kaivalyam is an internal or transcendental potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position.

                          (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                          • “Ceto darpana marjanam...” by Caitanya Mahaprabhu – refers to clearance of impure mirror of the mind and realising one’s pure identity
                          • Svarupena vyavastitah (SB 2.10.6) – To realize constitutional position as an eternal servant
                            o Liberation from material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity
                          • Theory of nirvana also corresponds to this principle – after material cessation, there is manifestation of positive spiritual activities/devotional service
                          • Vedanta sutra – anandamayobhyasat: Ultimate goal of yoga is the natural transcendental pleasure of devotional service
                            o This ultimate goal is easily achieved by execution of bhakti-yoga

                          (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                          • Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches
                          • Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

                          (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                          • Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful
                          • Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication
                          • Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect
                          • Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

                          (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                          • One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness
                          • One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures
                          • Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)
                            o Material upheavals do not affect his duties
                            ▪ He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                          Text 6.24 – 6.25

                          THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                          1. Patience (6.24)
                          2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                          3. Without deviation (6.24)
                          4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                          5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                          6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                          7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                          8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                          9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                          Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                          Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                          (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                          (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                          • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                          (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                          • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                          (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                          • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                          • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                          • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                          Text 6.26

                          THEME : Means of Success

                          • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                          • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                          • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                          Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                          (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                          (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                          • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                          • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                            o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                            o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                          (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                          • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                          • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                          Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                          Text 6.27

                          THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                          • Transcendental happiness
                          • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                          • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                          Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                          (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                          • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                          (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                          (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                          • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                            o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                            o Freedom from all material contamination

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                          Text 6.28

                          THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                          Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                          (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                          • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                          • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                          • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                          Text 6.29

                          THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                          Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                          Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                          (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                          • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                          (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                          • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                          • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                            o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                            o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                          • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                          (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                          • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                          • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                          (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                          (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                          (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                          (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                          • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                            o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                            o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                          Text 6.30

                          THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                          • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                          • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                          Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                          This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                          (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                          • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                          • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                          (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                          • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                          • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                          • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                          • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                          (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                          • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                          (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                          Text 6.31

                          Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                          THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                          Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                          (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                          • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                          • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                          • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                          (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                          • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                            o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                            o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                          • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                            o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                            o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                            o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                          Text 6.32

                          THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                          Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                          (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                          • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                          • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                          (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                          • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                          • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                          • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                          (a) 3 degrees of realization of Krishna or Absolute Truth: Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan

                          (b) Impersonalists and meditators are also partially, imperfectly and indirectly Krishna conscious because:

                          (c) “Instruction for all 3 transcendentalists” – To constantly engage in their pursuits to come to the perfection sooner or later (Yunjita satatam)

                          (d) First business of a transcendentalist – To keep mind always on Krishna – Concentration of mind on Supreme is called samadhi

                          (e) ‘Sucau dese’ (sacred places) refers to places of pilgrimage

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.10 & 6.11: Krishna next describes the basic practices of astanga-yoga.

                          Text 6.11 – 6.14

                          COMMON THEME : One must sit down on a proper seat and fix the mind on one point (Study translations for the basic practices of astanga-yoga)

                          • Texts 6.11 – 6.12 describes the ‘manner of sitting’
                          • Texts 6.13 – 6.14 describes ‘how to meditate’
                          Learnings from Purport 6.11 – 6.14

                          (a) Texts 6.11 – 6.12 refutes so called yoga societies in big cities

                          • Big cities do not offer such circumstances as expected here for yoga practice
                          • Because one who is not self-controlled and disturbed in mind cannot practice meditation
                          • Therefore the best means of spiritual realisation in Kali-yuga is chanting of the Holy Names (Ref. Brhan-naradiya Purana)

                          (b) Celibacy

                          • “Rules of celibacy” by Yajnavalkya (6.13 – 6.14) – The vow of brahmacharya is meant to help one completely abstain from sex indulgence in work, words and mind – at all times, under all circumstances and in all places
                          • Role of celibacy in bhakti-yoga (6.14 purport)
                            o Strict celibacy is a must for jnana and dhyana schools; but only in bhakti school the conception of householder brahmacharya is allowed
                            o Cult of Bhakti-yoga is so powerful that one automatically loses sexual attraction, being engaged in the superior service of the Lord and experiences higher taste (Ref. Bg. 2.59 “visaya vinivartante...”)

                          (c) ‘Vigata-bhir’ – It means “devoid of fear”- It is a very important quality to practice astanga-yoga

                          • Krishna consciousness is the only basis of fearlessness (6.14 purport)
                          • Cause of fear – It is due to the perverted memory of forgetfulness of one’s eternal relationship with Krishna
                          • Supporting References: Ref. SB 11.2.37 – “bhayam dvitiya…”

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.14 & 6.15: The result attained after long practice is next described.

                          Text 6.15

                          THEME : Thus Krishna describes the goal of astanga-yoga as attainment of the Kingdom of God by “cessation of material existence”.

                          Learnings from Purport 6.15

                          (a) Description of “param dhama”/ superior abodes (study 6.15 purport)

                          • Kingdom of God is everywhere, but spiritual sky and planets thereof are called ‘paramdhama’
                          • Supporting references for Lord’s abode
                            o Abode of the Lord is clearly described in Bhagavad-gita as that place where there is no need of sun, moon and electricity (Ref. Bg. 15.6)
                            o Ref. Brahma Samhit 5.37 “Goloka eva...”
                          • Qualification to reach kingdom of God for any yogi – A person with proper understanding of Krishna’s position and His plenary expansion Vishnu indicated by the Lord in the words ‘mac-chitah’ and ‘mat-parah’ (6.13 – 6.14)
                            o Ref. Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.8 “tam eva...” – One can overcome the path of birth and death only by understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.15 & 6.16: Krishna next warns of some obstacles to the aspiring yogi’s progress.

                          Text 6.16 – 16.17

                          COMMON THEME : Regulated lifestyle – A yogi must keep careful balance in eating, sleeping, recreation and work.

                          SUMMARIZED THEME

                          COMPARING ASTANGA YOGA & KRISHNA CONCIOUSNESS IN TERMS OF PRACTICE (6.10 – 6.17)

                          This table shows that all precautions and perfections for transcendentalists are perfectly executed when one is directly in Krishna consciousness.

                          CriteriaAstanga-YogaKrishna Consciousness
                          1. Principle (6.10)Constantly engage body, mind and
                          self in relationship with Supreme                          		Constantly engage body, mind and self
                          in relationship with Supreme
                          2. Relationship
                          with Supreme                           (6.10)                          		Impersonalists and yogis are
                          partially, imperfectly and
                          indirectly Krishna consciousness                          		Devotee is fully Krishna consciousness
                          – perfect and direct relationship with
                          Supreme
                          3. Place of
                          practice                           (6.10)                          		Live alone and secluded place
                          Purpose: To avoid disturbance by
                          external objects                          		Devotee – Stays in good association
                          /Avoid unwanted association – Thus
                          always aloof from material things
                          4. Mind Control –
                          First business
                          of any transcendentalist  (6.10)                          		Struggles hard to fix mind on
                          Supersoul                          		Devotee always thinks of Krishna and
                          never forgets Him (Concentration of
                          mind on the Supreme is called Samadi)
                          5.Consciousness
                          Free of desire
                          and
                          possessiveness                           (6.10)                          		A prerequisite to practice
                          yogarudha stage. In perfect
                          determination, one should not
                          hanker after unnecessary material
                          things that entangle him by
                          “feelings of material
                          possessiveness”                          		Direct Krishna conciosness means
                          “Self-abnegation” right in the
                          beginning stages wherein there is very
                          little chance for material
                          possessiveness. Rupa Goswami’s
                          “Yukta-Vairagya” principle
                          (Study 6.10 purport)
                          6. Manner of
                          sitting                           (6.11-12)
                          • Not too high or too low
                          • Deer Skins / Kusha grass
                          • Straight posture / vision on tip of the nose
                          		No such specifications
                          7.Celibacy (6.13-14)Must for jnana and dhyana
                          schools                          		Only school which allows Grhasta
                          Brahmachari concept
                          8. Fearlessness (6.13-14) –Full Krishna consciousness is the only
                          basis of “fearlessness”
                          9. Object of
                          meditation                           (6.13-14)                          		To see “Vishnu-murti” (object of
                          yoga practice) in the heart, an
                          expansion of Krishna only                          		Devotee always sees Krishna
                          everywhere
                          10. Goal of life (6.13-14)Krishna in the heart of every living
                          entity (indicated by ‘mac-chitah’
                          and ‘mat-parah’ in Text 14)                          		Krishna
                          11. Result –
                          Ultimate goal
                          of yoga
                          practice (6.15)
                          • Cessation of all material
                            existence
                          • Kingdom of God (achieved
                            only by one in perfect
                            understanding of Krishna)
                          		Devotee is a perfect yogi because
                          always absorbed in Krishna’s service
                          and has perfect understanding of
                          Krishna
                          Ref. Ambarish Maharaja
                          12. Regulation in
                          lifestyle                           (6.16-17)                          		Extravagance in the 4 demands of the body – eating, sleeping, mating,
                          defending – is a block in advancement of any yoga
                          • Eating
                          		Quantity: Yogis should eat only
                          what is required to keep body and
                          soul together, anything more is
                          “too much eating”

                          Quality:
                          1) Only food in “goodness”
                          2) Food must be offered In
                          yajna – Otherwise one
                          eats only sin (Ref. Bg.
                          3.13)
                          3) No meat
                          eating/intoxications

                          		Quantity for a devotee:
                          Eats only limited
                          Fast only according to scriptural
                          injunctions
                          No artificial concocted fasting.

                          Quality:
                          Only Krishna prasadam (Ref. Bg. 9.26)

                          • Sleeping
                          		If more than 6 hours
                          1. Lazy
                          2. Dreaming                          		Following Avyartha-Kalatvam
                          Eg: Rupa Goswami and Srila Haridasa
                          Thakura (study purports)
                          • Regulated
                            in work and
                            recreation
                          		–Works only for Krishna; no desire for
                          sense gratification, therefore no
                          material leisure
                          Benefit of Regulation for a Krishna conscious person – Regulation in all above bodily activities brings to a state of no material misery

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.17 & 6.18 : In Texts 6.10 – 6.17, Krishna has described how to meditate. Now Krishna will describe the perfectional stage of astanga-yoga.

                          Text 6.18

                          THEME : A yogi becomes perfect when his consciousness remains perfectly fixed in the self.
                          Criteria for perfection of yoga:

                          • All mental activities disciplined
                          • Situated in transcendence
                          • Free of all material desires:
                          Learnings from Purport 6.18

                          (a) Freedom from material desires

                          • This is the distinguishing characteristic of Yogi and ordinary man – especially the sex desire.
                          • This is automatic, easy and practical for Krishna conscious person – e.g. Ambarish Maharajs (all senses engaged)

                          (b) Archana – prescribed activities in devotional service which is the process of engaging all senses in the service of the Lord

                          (c) Perfect process for transcendental achievement for any ordinary man – Transcendental engagement of mind and senses which is called ‘yukta’ in Bhagavad-gita

                          Text 6.19

                          THEME :

                          Krishna gives an Analogy to explain Text 6.18 i.e. perfection of yoga practice

                          • Just like a lamp in windless place – does not waver; similarly steady mind in samadhi does not waver.
                          • This ‘Perfection of yoga’ exhibited in Krishna consciousness – Truly Krishna conscious person practices constant undisturbed meditation on Supreme Lord.
                          SUMMARISED THEME
                          REALIZATIONS/VISIONS/ACTIONS OF A YOGI IN PERFECTION (STAGE OF SAMADHI)
                          • Realizations in stage of samadhi (6.20 – 6.23) – Status of actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact
                          • Happiness – One experiences boundless transcendental happiness by direct experience of Soul and Supersoul within the heart.
                          • Fixed up – One’s focus never departs from truth
                          • Highest gain – One thinks no greater gain is possible
                          • Unshaken – One remains unshaken even amidst greatest difficulties
                          • Freedom – Free from all miseries arising from material contact
                          • Vision of a perfect yogi (6.29 – 6.30)
                          • Sees Supersoul in everyone’s heart and everyone being supported by Supersoul (6.29)
                          • Never loses sight of Supreme Lord and thus never falls from the path of Yoga (6.30)
                          • Actions of a perfect yogi (6.31 – 6.32)
                          • Realizes Krishna as origin of Supersoul – worships and serves Him in all circumstances (6.31)
                          • Sees equality of all beings – tries to help everyone (no enemy/friend distinction) by turning their consciousness to Krishna (6.32)

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.19 & 6.20 : : This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.

                          Text 6.20 – 6.23

                          THEME : Realizations of a yogi in perfection

                          • He thereby relishes boundless transcendental happiness by directly experiencing soul and Supersoul within the heart
                          • Thinking that there is no greater joy than this his focus never departs from within, even amidst greatest difficulties
                          • Thus he escapes all miseries
                          Learnings from Purport 6.20 – 6.23

                          (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                          • By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts
                          • Then one becomes situated in trance / samadhi

                          (b) What is actual Samadhi

                          • It means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence
                          • Without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself

                          (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                          • Unauthorised commentators – They try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation
                            o But they do not understand the real purpose of the Patanjali system
                          • Patanjali system – There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patanjali system, but the monists do not accept this, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness

                          (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                          • PLEASE NOTE: While studying this purport one should understand that Srila Prabhupada is trying to establish the duality of soul and Supersoul as also recommended in Patanjali system
                          • The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the non-dualist, but in this verse “transcendental pleasure realised through transcendental senses” – is accepted; and this is corroborated by Patanjali Muni in his Yoga-sutras (As mentioned in purport)

                          (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                          • Kaivalyam / Citi shakti of Patanjali – This term reveals the true nature of living entity
                            o This Citi shakti, or internal potency, is transcendental
                          • Purushartha means material religiousity, economic development, sense gratification and at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme.
                          • Concept of “Oneness with the Supreme”
                            o Kaivalyam of monist – refers to oneness with the Supreme
                            o According to Patanjali this Kaivalyam is an internal or transcendental potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position.

                          (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                          • “Ceto darpana marjanam...” by Caitanya Mahaprabhu – refers to clearance of impure mirror of the mind and realising one’s pure identity
                          • Svarupena vyavastitah (SB 2.10.6) – To realize constitutional position as an eternal servant
                            o Liberation from material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity
                          • Theory of nirvana also corresponds to this principle – after material cessation, there is manifestation of positive spiritual activities/devotional service
                          • Vedanta sutra – anandamayobhyasat: Ultimate goal of yoga is the natural transcendental pleasure of devotional service
                            o This ultimate goal is easily achieved by execution of bhakti-yoga

                          (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                          • Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches
                          • Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

                          (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                          • Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful
                          • Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication
                          • Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect
                          • Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

                          (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                          • One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness
                          • One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures
                          • Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)
                            o Material upheavals do not affect his duties
                            ▪ He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                          Text 6.24 – 6.25

                          THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                          1. Patience (6.24)
                          2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                          3. Without deviation (6.24)
                          4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                          5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                          6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                          7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                          8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                          9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                          Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                          Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                          (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                          (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                          • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                          (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                          • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                          (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                          • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                          • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                          • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                          Text 6.26

                          THEME : Means of Success

                          • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                          • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                          • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                          Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                          (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                          (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                          • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                          • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                            o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                            o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                          (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                          • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                          • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                          Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                          Text 6.27

                          THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                          • Transcendental happiness
                          • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                          • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                          Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                          (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                          • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                          (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                          (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                          • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                            o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                            o Freedom from all material contamination

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                          Text 6.28

                          THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                          Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                          (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                          • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                          • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                          • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                          Text 6.29

                          THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                          Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                          Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                          (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                          • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                          (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                          • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                          • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                            o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                            o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                          • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                          (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                          • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                          • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                          (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                          (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                          (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                          (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                          • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                            o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                            o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                          Text 6.30

                          THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                          • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                          • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                          Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                          This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                          (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                          • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                          • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                          (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                          • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                          • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                          • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                          • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                          (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                          • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                          (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                          Text 6.31

                          Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                          THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                          Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                          (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                          • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                          • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                          • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                          (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                          • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                            o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                            o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                          • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                            o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                            o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                            o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                          Text 6.32

                          THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                          Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                          (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                          • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                          • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                          (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                          • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                          • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                          • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                          LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                            (a) 3 degrees of realization of Krishna or Absolute Truth: Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan

                            (b) Impersonalists and meditators are also partially, imperfectly and indirectly Krishna conscious because:

                            (c) “Instruction for all 3 transcendentalists” – To constantly engage in their pursuits to come to the perfection sooner or later (Yunjita satatam)

                            (d) First business of a transcendentalist – To keep mind always on Krishna – Concentration of mind on Supreme is called samadhi

                            (e) ‘Sucau dese’ (sacred places) refers to places of pilgrimage

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.10 & 6.11: Krishna next describes the basic practices of astanga-yoga.

                            Text 6.11 – 6.14

                            COMMON THEME : One must sit down on a proper seat and fix the mind on one point (Study translations for the basic practices of astanga-yoga)

                            • Texts 6.11 – 6.12 describes the ‘manner of sitting’
                            • Texts 6.13 – 6.14 describes ‘how to meditate’
                            Learnings from Purport 6.11 – 6.14

                            (a) Texts 6.11 – 6.12 refutes so called yoga societies in big cities

                            • Big cities do not offer such circumstances as expected here for yoga practice
                            • Because one who is not self-controlled and disturbed in mind cannot practice meditation
                            • Therefore the best means of spiritual realisation in Kali-yuga is chanting of the Holy Names (Ref. Brhan-naradiya Purana)

                            (b) Celibacy

                            • “Rules of celibacy” by Yajnavalkya (6.13 – 6.14) – The vow of brahmacharya is meant to help one completely abstain from sex indulgence in work, words and mind – at all times, under all circumstances and in all places
                            • Role of celibacy in bhakti-yoga (6.14 purport)
                              o Strict celibacy is a must for jnana and dhyana schools; but only in bhakti school the conception of householder brahmacharya is allowed
                              o Cult of Bhakti-yoga is so powerful that one automatically loses sexual attraction, being engaged in the superior service of the Lord and experiences higher taste (Ref. Bg. 2.59 “visaya vinivartante...”)

                            (c) ‘Vigata-bhir’ – It means “devoid of fear”- It is a very important quality to practice astanga-yoga

                            • Krishna consciousness is the only basis of fearlessness (6.14 purport)
                            • Cause of fear – It is due to the perverted memory of forgetfulness of one’s eternal relationship with Krishna
                            • Supporting References: Ref. SB 11.2.37 – “bhayam dvitiya…”

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.14 & 6.15: The result attained after long practice is next described.

                            Text 6.15

                            THEME : Thus Krishna describes the goal of astanga-yoga as attainment of the Kingdom of God by “cessation of material existence”.

                            Learnings from Purport 6.15

                            (a) Description of “param dhama”/ superior abodes (study 6.15 purport)

                            • Kingdom of God is everywhere, but spiritual sky and planets thereof are called ‘paramdhama’
                            • Supporting references for Lord’s abode
                              o Abode of the Lord is clearly described in Bhagavad-gita as that place where there is no need of sun, moon and electricity (Ref. Bg. 15.6)
                              o Ref. Brahma Samhit 5.37 “Goloka eva...”
                            • Qualification to reach kingdom of God for any yogi – A person with proper understanding of Krishna’s position and His plenary expansion Vishnu indicated by the Lord in the words ‘mac-chitah’ and ‘mat-parah’ (6.13 – 6.14)
                              o Ref. Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.8 “tam eva...” – One can overcome the path of birth and death only by understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.15 & 6.16: Krishna next warns of some obstacles to the aspiring yogi’s progress.

                            Text 6.16 – 16.17

                            COMMON THEME : Regulated lifestyle – A yogi must keep careful balance in eating, sleeping, recreation and work.

                            SUMMARIZED THEME

                            COMPARING ASTANGA YOGA & KRISHNA CONCIOUSNESS IN TERMS OF PRACTICE (6.10 – 6.17)

                            This table shows that all precautions and perfections for transcendentalists are perfectly executed when one is directly in Krishna consciousness.

                            CriteriaAstanga-YogaKrishna Consciousness
                            1. Principle (6.10)Constantly engage body, mind and
                            self in relationship with Supreme                            		Constantly engage body, mind and self
                            in relationship with Supreme
                            2. Relationship
                            with Supreme                             (6.10)                            		Impersonalists and yogis are
                            partially, imperfectly and
                            indirectly Krishna consciousness                            		Devotee is fully Krishna consciousness
                            – perfect and direct relationship with
                            Supreme
                            3. Place of
                            practice                             (6.10)                            		Live alone and secluded place
                            Purpose: To avoid disturbance by
                            external objects                            		Devotee – Stays in good association
                            /Avoid unwanted association – Thus
                            always aloof from material things
                            4. Mind Control –
                            First business
                            of any transcendentalist  (6.10)                            		Struggles hard to fix mind on
                            Supersoul                            		Devotee always thinks of Krishna and
                            never forgets Him (Concentration of
                            mind on the Supreme is called Samadi)
                            5.Consciousness
                            Free of desire
                            and
                            possessiveness                             (6.10)                            		A prerequisite to practice
                            yogarudha stage. In perfect
                            determination, one should not
                            hanker after unnecessary material
                            things that entangle him by
                            “feelings of material
                            possessiveness”                            		Direct Krishna conciosness means
                            “Self-abnegation” right in the
                            beginning stages wherein there is very
                            little chance for material
                            possessiveness. Rupa Goswami’s
                            “Yukta-Vairagya” principle
                            (Study 6.10 purport)
                            6. Manner of
                            sitting                             (6.11-12)
                            • Not too high or too low
                            • Deer Skins / Kusha grass
                            • Straight posture / vision on tip of the nose
                            		No such specifications
                            7.Celibacy (6.13-14)Must for jnana and dhyana
                            schools                            		Only school which allows Grhasta
                            Brahmachari concept
                            8. Fearlessness (6.13-14) –Full Krishna consciousness is the only
                            basis of “fearlessness”
                            9. Object of
                            meditation                             (6.13-14)                            		To see “Vishnu-murti” (object of
                            yoga practice) in the heart, an
                            expansion of Krishna only                            		Devotee always sees Krishna
                            everywhere
                            10. Goal of life (6.13-14)Krishna in the heart of every living
                            entity (indicated by ‘mac-chitah’
                            and ‘mat-parah’ in Text 14)                            		Krishna
                            11. Result –
                            Ultimate goal
                            of yoga
                            practice (6.15)
                            • Cessation of all material
                              existence
                            • Kingdom of God (achieved
                              only by one in perfect
                              understanding of Krishna)
                            		Devotee is a perfect yogi because
                            always absorbed in Krishna’s service
                            and has perfect understanding of
                            Krishna
                            Ref. Ambarish Maharaja
                            12. Regulation in
                            lifestyle                             (6.16-17)                            		Extravagance in the 4 demands of the body – eating, sleeping, mating,
                            defending – is a block in advancement of any yoga
                            • Eating
                            		Quantity: Yogis should eat only
                            what is required to keep body and
                            soul together, anything more is
                            “too much eating”

                            Quality:
                            1) Only food in “goodness”
                            2) Food must be offered In
                            yajna – Otherwise one
                            eats only sin (Ref. Bg.
                            3.13)
                            3) No meat
                            eating/intoxications

                            		Quantity for a devotee:
                            Eats only limited
                            Fast only according to scriptural
                            injunctions
                            No artificial concocted fasting.

                            Quality:
                            Only Krishna prasadam (Ref. Bg. 9.26)

                            • Sleeping
                            		If more than 6 hours
                            1. Lazy
                            2. Dreaming                            		Following Avyartha-Kalatvam
                            Eg: Rupa Goswami and Srila Haridasa
                            Thakura (study purports)
                            • Regulated
                              in work and
                              recreation
                            		–Works only for Krishna; no desire for
                            sense gratification, therefore no
                            material leisure
                            Benefit of Regulation for a Krishna conscious person – Regulation in all above bodily activities brings to a state of no material misery

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.17 & 6.18 : In Texts 6.10 – 6.17, Krishna has described how to meditate. Now Krishna will describe the perfectional stage of astanga-yoga.

                            Text 6.18

                            THEME : A yogi becomes perfect when his consciousness remains perfectly fixed in the self.
                            Criteria for perfection of yoga:

                            • All mental activities disciplined
                            • Situated in transcendence
                            • Free of all material desires:
                            Learnings from Purport 6.18

                            (a) Freedom from material desires

                            • This is the distinguishing characteristic of Yogi and ordinary man – especially the sex desire.
                            • This is automatic, easy and practical for Krishna conscious person – e.g. Ambarish Maharajs (all senses engaged)

                            (b) Archana – prescribed activities in devotional service which is the process of engaging all senses in the service of the Lord

                            (c) Perfect process for transcendental achievement for any ordinary man – Transcendental engagement of mind and senses which is called ‘yukta’ in Bhagavad-gita

                            Text 6.19

                            THEME :

                            Krishna gives an Analogy to explain Text 6.18 i.e. perfection of yoga practice

                            • Just like a lamp in windless place – does not waver; similarly steady mind in samadhi does not waver.
                            • This ‘Perfection of yoga’ exhibited in Krishna consciousness – Truly Krishna conscious person practices constant undisturbed meditation on Supreme Lord.
                            SUMMARISED THEME
                            REALIZATIONS/VISIONS/ACTIONS OF A YOGI IN PERFECTION (STAGE OF SAMADHI)
                            • Realizations in stage of samadhi (6.20 – 6.23) – Status of actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact
                            • Happiness – One experiences boundless transcendental happiness by direct experience of Soul and Supersoul within the heart.
                            • Fixed up – One’s focus never departs from truth
                            • Highest gain – One thinks no greater gain is possible
                            • Unshaken – One remains unshaken even amidst greatest difficulties
                            • Freedom – Free from all miseries arising from material contact
                            • Vision of a perfect yogi (6.29 – 6.30)
                            • Sees Supersoul in everyone’s heart and everyone being supported by Supersoul (6.29)
                            • Never loses sight of Supreme Lord and thus never falls from the path of Yoga (6.30)
                            • Actions of a perfect yogi (6.31 – 6.32)
                            • Realizes Krishna as origin of Supersoul – worships and serves Him in all circumstances (6.31)
                            • Sees equality of all beings – tries to help everyone (no enemy/friend distinction) by turning their consciousness to Krishna (6.32)

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.19 & 6.20 : : This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.

                            Text 6.20 – 6.23

                            THEME : Realizations of a yogi in perfection

                            • He thereby relishes boundless transcendental happiness by directly experiencing soul and Supersoul within the heart
                            • Thinking that there is no greater joy than this his focus never departs from within, even amidst greatest difficulties
                            • Thus he escapes all miseries
                            Learnings from Purport 6.20 – 6.23

                            (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                            • By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts
                            • Then one becomes situated in trance / samadhi

                            (b) What is actual Samadhi

                            • It means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence
                            • Without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself

                            (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                            • Unauthorised commentators – They try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation
                              o But they do not understand the real purpose of the Patanjali system
                            • Patanjali system – There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patanjali system, but the monists do not accept this, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness

                            (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                            • PLEASE NOTE: While studying this purport one should understand that Srila Prabhupada is trying to establish the duality of soul and Supersoul as also recommended in Patanjali system
                            • The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the non-dualist, but in this verse “transcendental pleasure realised through transcendental senses” – is accepted; and this is corroborated by Patanjali Muni in his Yoga-sutras (As mentioned in purport)

                            (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                            • Kaivalyam / Citi shakti of Patanjali – This term reveals the true nature of living entity
                              o This Citi shakti, or internal potency, is transcendental
                            • Purushartha means material religiousity, economic development, sense gratification and at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme.
                            • Concept of “Oneness with the Supreme”
                              o Kaivalyam of monist – refers to oneness with the Supreme
                              o According to Patanjali this Kaivalyam is an internal or transcendental potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position.

                            (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                            • “Ceto darpana marjanam...” by Caitanya Mahaprabhu – refers to clearance of impure mirror of the mind and realising one’s pure identity
                            • Svarupena vyavastitah (SB 2.10.6) – To realize constitutional position as an eternal servant
                              o Liberation from material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity
                            • Theory of nirvana also corresponds to this principle – after material cessation, there is manifestation of positive spiritual activities/devotional service
                            • Vedanta sutra – anandamayobhyasat: Ultimate goal of yoga is the natural transcendental pleasure of devotional service
                              o This ultimate goal is easily achieved by execution of bhakti-yoga

                            (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                            • Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches
                            • Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

                            (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                            • Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful
                            • Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication
                            • Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect
                            • Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

                            (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                            • One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness
                            • One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures
                            • Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)
                              o Material upheavals do not affect his duties
                              ▪ He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                            Text 6.24 – 6.25

                            THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                            1. Patience (6.24)
                            2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                            3. Without deviation (6.24)
                            4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                            5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                            6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                            7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                            8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                            9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                            Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                            Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                            (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                            (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                            • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                            (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                            • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                            (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                            • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                            • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                            • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                            Text 6.26

                            THEME : Means of Success

                            • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                            • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                            • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                            Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                            (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                            (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                            • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                            • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                              o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                              o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                            (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                            • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                            • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                            Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                            Text 6.27

                            THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                            • Transcendental happiness
                            • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                            • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                            Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                            (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                            • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                            (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                            (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                            • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                              o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                              o Freedom from all material contamination

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                            Text 6.28

                            THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                            Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                            (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                            • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                            • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                            • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                            Text 6.29

                            THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                            Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                            Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                            (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                            • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                            (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                            • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                            • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                              o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                              o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                            • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                            (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                            • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                            • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                            (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                            (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                            (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                            (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                            • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                              o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                              o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                            Text 6.30

                            THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                            • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                            • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                            Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                            This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                            (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                            • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                            • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                            (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                            • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                            • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                            • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                            • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                            (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                            • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                            (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                            Text 6.31

                            Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                            THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                            Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                            (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                            • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                            • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                            • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                            (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                            • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                              o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                              o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                            • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                              o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                              o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                              o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                            Text 6.32

                            THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                            Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                            (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                            • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                            • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                            (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                            • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                            • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                            • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

                            FURTHER STAGES IN THE PRACTICE OF YOGA (6.10– 6.32)

                            SUBSECTION A: 6.10 – 6.17: Basic practices of meditation (Meditation is the advanced stage of astanga-yoga)
                            SUBSECTION B: 6.18 – 6.32: Perfection in meditation

                            LINK WITH LAST SECTION : After describing the perfectional stage of yoga, Krishna explains the procedure to achieve this goal. In Texts 10-32, Krishna describes the practices of astangayoga, first in the perfected stage and then in the beginning stage.

                            Text 6.10

                            THEME : : One must be free of “possesiveness” and “material desires” to practice astanga yoga, in a secluded place where he can control mind by fixing on Supersoul

                            • It is the beginning of explanation for “How to practice in yogarudha stage”
                            Learnings from Purport 6.10

                            (a) 3 degrees of realization of Krishna or Absolute Truth: Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan

                            (b) Impersonalists and meditators are also partially, imperfectly and indirectly Krishna conscious because:

                            • Impersonal Brahman is the spiritual ray of Krishna
                            • Supersoul is the all-pervading partial expansion of Krishna
                            • Only Krishna Himself as Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate realization

                            (c) “Instruction for all 3 transcendentalists” – To constantly engage in their pursuits to come to the perfection sooner or later (Yunjita satatam)

                            • Krishna Conscious person is the topmost transcendentalist because he actually knows the meaning of Brahman and Paramatma

                            (d) First business of a transcendentalist – To keep mind always on Krishna – Concentration of mind on Supreme is called samadhi

                            (e) ‘Sucau dese’ (sacred places) refers to places of pilgrimage

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.10 & 6.11: Krishna next describes the basic practices of astanga-yoga.

                            Text 6.11 – 6.14

                            COMMON THEME : One must sit down on a proper seat and fix the mind on one point (Study translations for the basic practices of astanga-yoga)

                            • Texts 6.11 – 6.12 describes the ‘manner of sitting’
                            • Texts 6.13 – 6.14 describes ‘how to meditate’
                            Learnings from Purport 6.11 – 6.14

                            (a) Texts 6.11 – 6.12 refutes so called yoga societies in big cities

                            • Big cities do not offer such circumstances as expected here for yoga practice
                            • Because one who is not self-controlled and disturbed in mind cannot practice meditation
                            • Therefore the best means of spiritual realisation in Kali-yuga is chanting of the Holy Names (Ref. Brhan-naradiya Purana)

                            (b) Celibacy

                            • “Rules of celibacy” by Yajnavalkya (6.13 – 6.14) – The vow of brahmacharya is meant to help one completely abstain from sex indulgence in work, words and mind – at all times, under all circumstances and in all places
                            • Role of celibacy in bhakti-yoga (6.14 purport)
                              o Strict celibacy is a must for jnana and dhyana schools; but only in bhakti school the conception of householder brahmacharya is allowed
                              o Cult of Bhakti-yoga is so powerful that one automatically loses sexual attraction, being engaged in the superior service of the Lord and experiences higher taste (Ref. Bg. 2.59 “visaya vinivartante...”)

                            (c) ‘Vigata-bhir’ – It means “devoid of fear”- It is a very important quality to practice astanga-yoga

                            • Krishna consciousness is the only basis of fearlessness (6.14 purport)
                            • Cause of fear – It is due to the perverted memory of forgetfulness of one’s eternal relationship with Krishna
                            • Supporting References: Ref. SB 11.2.37 – “bhayam dvitiya…”

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.14 & 6.15: The result attained after long practice is next described.

                            Text 6.15

                            THEME : Thus Krishna describes the goal of astanga-yoga as attainment of the Kingdom of God by “cessation of material existence”.

                            Learnings from Purport 6.15

                            (a) Description of “param dhama”/ superior abodes (study 6.15 purport)

                            • Kingdom of God is everywhere, but spiritual sky and planets thereof are called ‘paramdhama’
                            • Supporting references for Lord’s abode
                              o Abode of the Lord is clearly described in Bhagavad-gita as that place where there is no need of sun, moon and electricity (Ref. Bg. 15.6)
                              o Ref. Brahma Samhit 5.37 “Goloka eva...”
                            • Qualification to reach kingdom of God for any yogi – A person with proper understanding of Krishna’s position and His plenary expansion Vishnu indicated by the Lord in the words ‘mac-chitah’ and ‘mat-parah’ (6.13 – 6.14)
                              o Ref. Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.8 “tam eva...” – One can overcome the path of birth and death only by understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.15 & 6.16: Krishna next warns of some obstacles to the aspiring yogi’s progress.

                            Text 6.16 – 16.17

                            COMMON THEME : Regulated lifestyle – A yogi must keep careful balance in eating, sleeping, recreation and work.

                            SUMMARIZED THEME

                            COMPARING ASTANGA YOGA & KRISHNA CONCIOUSNESS IN TERMS OF PRACTICE (6.10 – 6.17)

                            This table shows that all precautions and perfections for transcendentalists are perfectly executed when one is directly in Krishna consciousness.

                            CriteriaAstanga-YogaKrishna Consciousness
                            1. Principle (6.10)Constantly engage body, mind and
                            self in relationship with Supreme                            		Constantly engage body, mind and self
                            in relationship with Supreme
                            2. Relationship
                            with Supreme                             (6.10)                            		Impersonalists and yogis are
                            partially, imperfectly and
                            indirectly Krishna consciousness                            		Devotee is fully Krishna consciousness
                            – perfect and direct relationship with
                            Supreme
                            3. Place of
                            practice                             (6.10)                            		Live alone and secluded place
                            Purpose: To avoid disturbance by
                            external objects                            		Devotee – Stays in good association
                            /Avoid unwanted association – Thus
                            always aloof from material things
                            4. Mind Control –
                            First business
                            of any transcendentalist  (6.10)                            		Struggles hard to fix mind on
                            Supersoul                            		Devotee always thinks of Krishna and
                            never forgets Him (Concentration of
                            mind on the Supreme is called Samadi)
                            5.Consciousness
                            Free of desire
                            and
                            possessiveness                             (6.10)                            		A prerequisite to practice
                            yogarudha stage. In perfect
                            determination, one should not
                            hanker after unnecessary material
                            things that entangle him by
                            “feelings of material
                            possessiveness”                            		Direct Krishna conciosness means
                            “Self-abnegation” right in the
                            beginning stages wherein there is very
                            little chance for material
                            possessiveness. Rupa Goswami’s
                            “Yukta-Vairagya” principle
                            (Study 6.10 purport)
                            6. Manner of
                            sitting                             (6.11-12)
                            • Not too high or too low
                            • Deer Skins / Kusha grass
                            • Straight posture / vision on tip of the nose
                            		No such specifications
                            7.Celibacy (6.13-14)Must for jnana and dhyana
                            schools                            		Only school which allows Grhasta
                            Brahmachari concept
                            8. Fearlessness (6.13-14) –Full Krishna consciousness is the only
                            basis of “fearlessness”
                            9. Object of
                            meditation                             (6.13-14)                            		To see “Vishnu-murti” (object of
                            yoga practice) in the heart, an
                            expansion of Krishna only                            		Devotee always sees Krishna
                            everywhere
                            10. Goal of life (6.13-14)Krishna in the heart of every living
                            entity (indicated by ‘mac-chitah’
                            and ‘mat-parah’ in Text 14)                            		Krishna
                            11. Result –
                            Ultimate goal
                            of yoga
                            practice (6.15)
                            • Cessation of all material
                              existence
                            • Kingdom of God (achieved
                              only by one in perfect
                              understanding of Krishna)
                            		Devotee is a perfect yogi because
                            always absorbed in Krishna’s service
                            and has perfect understanding of
                            Krishna
                            Ref. Ambarish Maharaja
                            12. Regulation in
                            lifestyle                             (6.16-17)                            		Extravagance in the 4 demands of the body – eating, sleeping, mating,
                            defending – is a block in advancement of any yoga
                            • Eating
                            		Quantity: Yogis should eat only
                            what is required to keep body and
                            soul together, anything more is
                            “too much eating”

                            Quality:
                            1) Only food in “goodness”
                            2) Food must be offered In
                            yajna – Otherwise one
                            eats only sin (Ref. Bg.
                            3.13)
                            3) No meat
                            eating/intoxications

                            		Quantity for a devotee:
                            Eats only limited
                            Fast only according to scriptural
                            injunctions
                            No artificial concocted fasting.

                            Quality:
                            Only Krishna prasadam (Ref. Bg. 9.26)

                            • Sleeping
                            		If more than 6 hours
                            1. Lazy
                            2. Dreaming                            		Following Avyartha-Kalatvam
                            Eg: Rupa Goswami and Srila Haridasa
                            Thakura (study purports)
                            • Regulated
                              in work and
                              recreation
                            		–Works only for Krishna; no desire for
                            sense gratification, therefore no
                            material leisure
                            Benefit of Regulation for a Krishna conscious person – Regulation in all above bodily activities brings to a state of no material misery

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.17 & 6.18 : In Texts 6.10 – 6.17, Krishna has described how to meditate. Now Krishna will describe the perfectional stage of astanga-yoga.

                            Text 6.18

                            THEME : A yogi becomes perfect when his consciousness remains perfectly fixed in the self.
                            Criteria for perfection of yoga:

                            • All mental activities disciplined
                            • Situated in transcendence
                            • Free of all material desires:
                            Learnings from Purport 6.18

                            (a) Freedom from material desires

                            • This is the distinguishing characteristic of Yogi and ordinary man – especially the sex desire.
                            • This is automatic, easy and practical for Krishna conscious person – e.g. Ambarish Maharajs (all senses engaged)

                            (b) Archana – prescribed activities in devotional service which is the process of engaging all senses in the service of the Lord

                            (c) Perfect process for transcendental achievement for any ordinary man – Transcendental engagement of mind and senses which is called ‘yukta’ in Bhagavad-gita

                            Text 6.19

                            THEME :

                            Krishna gives an Analogy to explain Text 6.18 i.e. perfection of yoga practice

                            • Just like a lamp in windless place – does not waver; similarly steady mind in samadhi does not waver.
                            • This ‘Perfection of yoga’ exhibited in Krishna consciousness – Truly Krishna conscious person practices constant undisturbed meditation on Supreme Lord.
                            SUMMARISED THEME
                            REALIZATIONS/VISIONS/ACTIONS OF A YOGI IN PERFECTION (STAGE OF SAMADHI)
                            • Realizations in stage of samadhi (6.20 – 6.23) – Status of actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact
                            • Happiness – One experiences boundless transcendental happiness by direct experience of Soul and Supersoul within the heart.
                            • Fixed up – One’s focus never departs from truth
                            • Highest gain – One thinks no greater gain is possible
                            • Unshaken – One remains unshaken even amidst greatest difficulties
                            • Freedom – Free from all miseries arising from material contact
                            • Vision of a perfect yogi (6.29 – 6.30)
                            • Sees Supersoul in everyone’s heart and everyone being supported by Supersoul (6.29)
                            • Never loses sight of Supreme Lord and thus never falls from the path of Yoga (6.30)
                            • Actions of a perfect yogi (6.31 – 6.32)
                            • Realizes Krishna as origin of Supersoul – worships and serves Him in all circumstances (6.31)
                            • Sees equality of all beings – tries to help everyone (no enemy/friend distinction) by turning their consciousness to Krishna (6.32)

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.19 & 6.20 : : This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.

                            Text 6.20 – 6.23

                            THEME : Realizations of a yogi in perfection

                            • He thereby relishes boundless transcendental happiness by directly experiencing soul and Supersoul within the heart
                            • Thinking that there is no greater joy than this his focus never departs from within, even amidst greatest difficulties
                            • Thus he escapes all miseries
                            Learnings from Purport 6.20 – 6.23

                            (a) Primary characteristic of yoga principle

                            • By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts
                            • Then one becomes situated in trance / samadhi

                            (b) What is actual Samadhi

                            • It means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence
                            • Without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself

                            (c) “Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” – This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

                            • Unauthorised commentators – They try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation
                              o But they do not understand the real purpose of the Patanjali system
                            • Patanjali system – There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patanjali system, but the monists do not accept this, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness

                            (d) Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

                            • PLEASE NOTE: While studying this purport one should understand that Srila Prabhupada is trying to establish the duality of soul and Supersoul as also recommended in Patanjali system
                            • The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the non-dualist, but in this verse “transcendental pleasure realised through transcendental senses” – is accepted; and this is corroborated by Patanjali Muni in his Yoga-sutras (As mentioned in purport)

                            (e) Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of Patanjali’s yoga-sutra Text 3.34

                            • Kaivalyam / Citi shakti of Patanjali – This term reveals the true nature of living entity
                              o This Citi shakti, or internal potency, is transcendental
                            • Purushartha means material religiousity, economic development, sense gratification and at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme.
                            • Concept of “Oneness with the Supreme”
                              o Kaivalyam of monist – refers to oneness with the Supreme
                              o According to Patanjali this Kaivalyam is an internal or transcendental potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position.

                            (f) Other references given by Srila Prabhupada supporting the Patanjali’s concept of Kaivalyam

                            • “Ceto darpana marjanam...” by Caitanya Mahaprabhu – refers to clearance of impure mirror of the mind and realising one’s pure identity
                            • Svarupena vyavastitah (SB 2.10.6) – To realize constitutional position as an eternal servant
                              o Liberation from material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity
                            • Theory of nirvana also corresponds to this principle – after material cessation, there is manifestation of positive spiritual activities/devotional service
                            • Vedanta sutra – anandamayobhyasat: Ultimate goal of yoga is the natural transcendental pleasure of devotional service
                              o This ultimate goal is easily achieved by execution of bhakti-yoga

                            (g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

                            • Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches
                            • Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

                            (h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

                            • Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful
                            • Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication
                            • Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect
                            • Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

                            (i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

                            • One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness
                            • One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures
                            • Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)
                              o Material upheavals do not affect his duties
                              ▪ He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.23 & 6.24 : In Texts 6.24 – 6.25, Krishna prescribes the methods to attain the yogarudha (advanced) stage.

                            Text 6.24 – 6.25

                            THEME : Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

                            1. Patience (6.24)
                            2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)
                            3. Without deviation (6.24)
                            4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)
                            5. Control senses by mind (6.24)
                            6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)
                            7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)
                            8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)
                            9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25 :We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

                            Learnings from Purport 6.24 – 6.25 : 

                            Srila Rupa Goswami offers similar methods as recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

                            (a) Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) – One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

                            (b) Pratyahara – It implies to gradually cease sense activities

                            • How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

                            (c) Samadhi – It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

                            • How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

                            (d) By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

                            • At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life
                            • Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification
                            • One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26 : The means of success is next described.

                            Text 6.26

                            THEME : Means of Success

                            • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’
                            • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope
                            • Bring mind back under the control of the self
                            Learnings from Purport 6.26 :

                            (a) Nature of Mind – Flickering and unsteady

                            (b) Principle which a self-realized yogi follows with respect to the mind

                            • One has to control the mind; the mind should not control him
                            • One who controls the mind is called goswami and one who is controlled is called godasa
                              o Goswami knows the standard of sense happiness
                              o Transcendental sense happiness – The senses are engaged in the service of Hrsikesha the supreme owner of senses

                            (c) Krishna consciousness is defined as serving Krishna with purified senses

                            • That is the way of bringing the senses under full control
                            • And thus Krishna consciousness offers the highest perfection of yoga practice

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.26 & 6.27 : In text 6.26 Krishna uses three adjectives to describe the mind.
                            Niscalati (wandering), cancalam (flickering) and asthiram (unsteady). By steady intelligence the yogi must overcome all those mental tendencies. He cannot indulge his mind and gratify his senses. He must know for certain that yielding to the mind will destroy his tranquility. Rather, he should be fixed in the Self, not in his thoughts, which may be influenced by his previous passionate conditioning.

                            Text 6.27

                            THEME : Brahma-bhuta platform – Gradually one will experience: (6.27)

                            • Transcendental happiness
                            • Freedom from the modes of material nature and sinful reactions
                            • Realizes the self (qualitative oneness with the Supreme)
                            Learnings from Purport 6.27 :

                            (a) Definition of Brahma-bhuta platform – It is the state of being free from material contamination and situated in the transcendental service of the Lord

                            • Ref. Bg. 18.54 “mad-bhaktim labhate…”

                            (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – One should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Lord

                            (c) Krishna consciousness offers the same benefits

                            • Two benefits of always engaging in transcendental loving service
                              o To be factually liberated from the mode of passion
                              o Freedom from all material contamination

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.27 & 6.28 : In Texts 6.28 – 6.32, Krishna explains that the perfection of yoga is realizing the Supersoul.

                            Text 6.28

                            THEME : Brahma-samsparsha platform – One achieves full perfection and bliss by being in constant touch with the Supreme, and thus one engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

                            Learnings from Purport 6.28 :

                            (a) Self realization – defined as knowing one’s constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme

                            • Identity – Individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme
                            • Constitutional position is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord
                            • This transcendental contact with the Supreme is called ‘brahma-samsparsha’

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.28 & 6.29 : Krishna further clarifies this point in the next verse.

                            Text 6.29

                            THEME : A realized yogi sees the Supersoul in everyone’s heart and sees everyone being supported by the Supersoul .

                            Text 6.29 and 6.30 focuses on “The vision of a perfect yogi”

                            Learnings from Purport 6.29 :

                            (a) Krishna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because

                            • He sees Krishna, the Supreme, in everyone’s heart as Supersoul (Ref. Bg. 18.61 “ishvara sarva…”) and thus he appreciates the Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                            (b) The Supreme neutrality of the Lord

                            • Same Lord in Paramatma feature is situated in the heart of a dog and that of a brahmana
                            • Same Lord is present in the heart of both, a believer and a non-believer
                              o Ref. Smrti “atatatvac ca…” – The Lord, being the source of all beings, is like the mother and the maintainer
                              o Analogy: As the mother is neutral to all different kinds of children, the Supreme father (or mother) is also neutral. Consequently the Supersoul is always in every living being.
                            • Lord is eternally transcendental and not materially affected by His presence in the heart of a dog or a brahmana

                            (c) Distinction between individual soul and Supersoul

                            • Individual soul is situated in individual heart – but he is not present in all the hearts
                            • One who is not factually in yoga practice cannot see so clearly

                            (d) “All beings in Me” – The Living entity always remains in the Lord’s energy; either material or spiritual

                            (e) “Lord in all beings” – to see the supreme neutrality of the Lord who is present in dog/Brahman; believer/non-believer

                            (f) Analogy: Mother/ maintainer – neutral to all living beings

                            (g) Vision of equality is perfect in a person in Krishna consciousness

                            • Yogi sees equally because he see’s all living entities, although in different situations according to the results of fruitive work, in all circumstances remain as the servant of God
                              o In material (external) energy one serves the material senses
                              o In spiritual (internal) energy one serves the Supreme Lord directly

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.29 & 6.30 : The benefits of such a vision are next delineated.

                            Text 6.30

                            THEME : He thus never loses the sight of the Supreme Lord, and never falls from the path of yoga (6.30)

                            • For one who sees Me everywhere and seeing everything in Me, for him…
                            • I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me
                            Learnings from Purport 6.30 :

                            This purport explains how a Krishna conscious persons fulfils the vision of a perfect yogi

                            (a) A Krishna conscious person certainly sees Lord Krishna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krishna

                            • While seeing all the separate manifestations of the material nature, He is conscious of Krishna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krishna’s energy.
                            • Basic principle of Krishna consciousness – Nothing can exist without Krishna and Krishna is the Lord of everything.

                            (b) Krishna consciousness is the development of love for Krishna

                            • Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 “premanjana cchurita...”
                            • It is the position transcendental even to the material liberation
                            • An intimate relationship between the Lord and the devotee exists
                            • In that stage the living entity can never be annihilated, nor is the Personality of Godhead ever out of the sight of the devotee.

                            (c) To merge in Krishna is spiritual annihilation. A devotee takes no such risk

                            • In Krishna consciousness, the devotee becomes one with Krishna in the sense that Krishna becomes everything for the devotee and the devotee becomes full in loving Krishna.

                            (d) Text 6.30 refers to yogi turning in to a pure devotee – He cannot live for a movement without seeing the Lord within Himself.

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.30 & 6.31 : In the following verse Krishna directly describes Supersoul realization as worshipful service to Him, if the yogi has proper knowledge.

                            Text 6.31

                            Text 31 and 32 mentions “Actions of a perfect yogi”

                            THEME : Realizing Krishna to be the origin of Supersoul, the perfect yogi worships and serves Him and thus always remains in Him in all circumstances.

                            Learnings from Purport 6.31 :

                            (a) How a yogi sees the Supersoul

                            • One sees within himself the plenary portion of Krishna as Vishnu – With four hands, holding conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower
                            • The yogi should know that Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, who is present as Supersoul in everyone’s heart
                            • There is no difference between the innumerable Supersouls present in the innumerable hearts of living entities

                            (b) There is no difference between a Krishna conscious person engaged in transcendental service of Krishna and a perfect yogi engaged in meditation on the Supersoul

                            • Yogi in Krishna consciousness – Even though he may be engaged in various activities in material world – remains always situated in Krishna
                              o Ref. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.187: “nikhilasv apy…” – A devotee acting in Krishna consciousness is already liberated
                              o Ref. Narada-pancaratra “dik-kalady…” – By concentrating one’s attention on the transcendental form of Krishna, who is all pervading and beyond time and space, one becomes absorbed in thinking of Krishna and then one attains the happy state of transcendental association with Him
                            • Krishna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice
                              o Understanding that Krishna is present as Paramatma in everyone’s heart, and Vishnu is non-different from Krishna, makes the yogi faultless
                              o Ref Gopal-tapani-upanisad 1.2.1 – This confirms the inconceivable potency of the Lord: “Although the Lord is one, He is present in innumerable hearts as many”
                              o Ref. Smrti sastra: “Vishnu is one, and yet He is certainly all-pervading…”

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.31 & 6.32 : By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.

                            Text 6.32

                            THEME : Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna

                            Learnings from Purport 6.32 :

                            (a) A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi – Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience

                            • The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
                            • The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend

                            (b) A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness

                            • Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman…”
                            • He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
                            • This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation

                            LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 : After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.

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