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THE PATH OF PERFECTION
so-called meditators sitting like this and snoring. As soon as one closes his eyes, it is natural to feel sleepy; therefore it is recommended that the eyes are half closed. Thus it is said that one should look at the tip of his nose. With one's sight thus concentrated, the mind should be subdued and unagitated. In India, the  yogī  often goes to a jungle to practice such meditation in solitude. But in a jungle, the  yogī  may think, "Maybe some tiger or snake is coming. What is that noise?" In this way, his mind may be agitated; therefore it is especially stated that the  yogī  must be "devoid of fear." A deerskin is especially recommended as a  yoga-āsana , because it contains a chemical property that repels snakes; thus the  yogī  will not be disturbed by serpents. Whatever the case—serpents, tigers, or lions—one can be truly fearless only when he is established in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Due to perverted memory, the conditioned soul is naturally fearful. Fear is due to forgetting one's eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa. According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.37):  bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syād īśād apetasya viparyayo 'smṛtiḥ . Kṛṣṇa consciousness provides the only true basis for fearlessness; therefore perfect practice of  yoga  is not possible for one who is not Kṛṣṇa conscious.
The  yogī  must also be “completely free from sex life.” If one indulges in sex, he cannot concentrate; therefore  brahmacarya , complete celibacy, is recommended to make the mind steady. By practicing celibacy, one cultivates determination. One modern example of such determination is that of Mahatma Gandhi, who was determined to resist the powerful British empire by means of nonviolence. At this time, India was dependent on the British, and the people had no weapons. The Britishers, being more powerful, easily cut down whatever violent revolutions the people attempted. Therefore Gandhi resorted to nonviolence, noncooperation. “I shall not fight with the Britishers,” he declared, “and even if they react with violence, I shall remain nonviolent. In this way the world will sympathize with us.” Such a policy required a great amount of determination, and Gandhi’s determination was very strong because he was a  brahmacārī . Although he had children and a wife, he renounced sex at the age of thirty-six. It was this sexual renunciation that enabled him to be so determined
Moderation in Yoga
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that he was able to lead his country and drive the British from India.
Thus, refraining from sex enables one to be very determined and powerful. It is not necessary to do anything else. This is a secret people are not aware of. If you want to do something with determination, you have to refrain from sex. Regardless of the process—be it  haṭha-yoga ,  bhakti-yoga ,  jñāna-yoga , or whatever—sex indulgence is not allowed. Sex is allowed only for householders who want to beget good children and raise them in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Sex is not meant for sense enjoyment, although enjoyment is there by nature. Unless there is some enjoyment, why should one assume the responsibility of begetting children? That is the secret of nature's gift, but we should not take advantage of it. These are the secrets of life. By taking advantage and indulging in sex life, we are simply wasting our time. If one tells you that you can indulge in sex as much as you like and at the same time become a  yogī , he is cheating you. If some so-called  guru  tells you to give him money in exchange for some  mantra  and that you can go on and engage in all kinds of nonsense, he is just cheating you. Because we want something sublime and yet want it cheaply, we put ourselves in a position to be cheated. This means that we actually want to be cheated. If we want something valuable, we must pay for it. We cannot expect to walk into a jewelry store and demand the most valuable jewel for a mere ten cents. No, we must pay a great deal. Similarly, if we want perfection in  yoga , we have to pay by abstaining from sex. Perfection in  yoga  is not something childish, and  Bhagavad-gītā  instructs us that if we try to make  yoga  into something childish, we will be cheated. There are many cheaters awaiting us, waiting to take our money, giving us nothing, and then leaving. But according to Śrī Kṛṣṇa's authoritative statement in  Bhagavad-gītā , one must be "completely free from sex life." Being free from sex, one should "meditate upon Me within the heart and make Me the ultimate goal of life." This is real meditation.
Kṛṣṇa does not recommend meditation on the void. He specifically states, “meditate upon Me.” The  viṣṇu-mūrti  is situated in one’s heart, and meditation upon Him is the object of  yoga .