50 THE PATH OF PERFECTION Moderation in Yoga 51

defense force. So who is free from anxiety? The conclusion is that overweight, heart attacks, etc., and those who eat insufficiently
if we want peace without anxiety, we have tocometoKrsnacon- | suffer from tuberculosis. Therefore moderation is required, and
sciousness. There is no alternative. moderation in eating means that we eat only what is needed to
In order to attain peace, we must meditate on Krsna, and by keep body and soul together. If we eat more than we need or less,
meditating on Krsna, we can control the body. The first part of the ; we will become diseased. All this is explained in the following
body to control is the tongue, and the next part is the genital. verses:
When these are controlled, everything is controlled. The tongue is
controlled by chanting and eating Arsna-prasdda. As soon as the naty-asnatas tu yogo ’sti
tongue is controlled, the stomach is controlled, and next the na caikantam anasnatah
genitals are controlled. Actually, controlling the body and mind is na cati-svapna-Ssilasya
a very simple process. When the mind is fixed on Krsna and has jagrato naiva carjuna
no other engagement, it is automatically controlled. Activities
should always be centered on working for Krsna—gardening, typ- ‘‘There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one
ing, cooking, cleaning, whatever. By engaging the body, mind, eats too much, or eats too little, sleeps too much, or does not sleep
and activities in the service of Krsna, one attains the supreme nir- enough.” (Bg. 6.16)
vana, which abides in Krsna. Everything is in Krsna; therefore we
cannot find peace outside Krsna conscious activities. yuktahara-vihdrasya
The ultimate goal of yoga is thus clearly explained. Yoga is not yukta-cestasya karmasu
meant for attaining any kind of material facility; it is to enable the yukta-svapnavabodhasya
cessation of all material existence. As long as we require some ma- yogo bhavati duhkha-ha
terial facilities, we will get them. But these facilities will not solve
the problems of life. I have traveled throughout the world, and it ‘**He who is temperate in his habits of eating, sleeping, working,
is my opinion that American boys and girls have the best material and recreation can mitigate all material pains by practicing the
facilities, but does this mean that they have attained peace? Can . yoga system.” (Bg. 6.17) It is not that we are to starve ourselves.
anyone say, ‘‘Yes, Iam completely peaceful’’? If this is so, why The body must be kept fit for any practice; therefore eating is re-
are American youngsters so frustrated and confused? quired, and according to our program, we eat only krsna-prasdada.
As long as we practice yoga in order to attain some material If you can comfortably eat ten pounds of food a day, then eat it,
facility, there will be no question of peace. Yoga should only be but if you try to eat ten pounds out of greed or avarice, you will
practiced in order to understand Krsna. Yoga is meant for the re- suffer.
establishment of our lost relationship with Krsna. Generally, one So in the practice of Krsna consciousness, all these activities
joins a yoga society in order to improve his health, to reduce fat. are present, but they are spiritualized. The cessation of material
People in rich nations eat more, become fat, and then pay exorbi- existence does not mean entering into ‘“‘the void,”’ which is only a
tant prices to so-called yoga instructors in order to reduce. People myth. There is no void anywhere within the creation of the Lord. I
try to reduce by all these artificial gymnastics; they do not under- am not void but spirit soul. If | were void, how would my bodily
stand that if they just eat vegetables or fruits and grains, they will development take place? Where is this ‘“‘void’’? If we sow a seed
never get fat. People get fat because they eat voraciously, because in the ground, it grows into a plant or large tree. The father injects
they eat meat. People who eat voraciously suffer from diabetes, a seed into the womb of the mother, the body grows like a tree.
