64 THE PATH OF PERFECTION Determination and Steadiness in Yoga 65
yam labdhva caparam labham j consciousness, one should first realize, ‘‘I am Krsna’s. I am not
manyate nadhikam tatah : © this matter. I am not of this nation or of this society. I do not
yasmin sthito na duhkhena belong to this rascal or that rascal. I am simply Krsna’s.”” This is
gurunapi vicalyate motionless; this is full knowledge, realizing our actual position as
tam vidyad duhkha-samyoga- part and parcel of Krsna. As stated in the Fifteenth Chapter
viyogam yoga-samjnitam (Bg. 15.7), mamaivamso jiva-loke: ‘‘The living entities in this con-
ditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts.”” As soon as we
“The stage of perfection is called trance, or samadhi, when one’s | understand this, we immediately cease our material activities, and
mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by : this is what is meant by being motionless. In this state, one sees
practice of yoga. This is characterized by one’s ability to see the the Self by the pure mind and relishes and rejoices in the Self.
Self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the Self. In that ‘Pure mind” means understanding, ‘‘I belong to Krsna.”’ At the
joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happi- present moment, the mind is contaminated because we are think-
ness and enjoys himself through transcendental senses. Es- ing, ‘‘I belong to this; I belong to that.”? The mind is pure when it
tablished thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon understands, ‘‘I belong to Krsna.”
gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in Rejoicing in the Self means rejoicing with Krsna. Krsna is the
such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest Supersoul, or the Superself. I am the individual soul, or the in-
difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising dividual self. The Superself and the self enjoy together. Enjoy-
from material contact.” ment cannot be alone; there must be two. What experience do we
Samadhi does not mean making oneself void or merging into have of solitary enjoyment? Solitary enjoyment is not possible.
the void. That is impossible. Kleso ‘dhikataras tesam avyaktasakta- Enjoyment means two: Krsna, who is the Supersoul, and the in-
cetasam. Some yogis say that one has to put an end to all activities dividual soul.
and make himself motionless, but how is this possible? By nature, If one is convinced that ‘‘I am part and parcel of Krsna,”’ one is
the living entity is a moving, acting spirit. ‘‘Motionless’? means not disturbed even in the midst of the greatest difficulties, because
putting an end to material motion and being fixed in Krsna con- one knows that Krsna will give protection. That is surrender. To i
sciousness. In such a state, one is no longer disturbed by material attain this position, one must try his best, use his intelligence,
propensities. As one becomes materially motionless, one’s mo- and believe in Krsna. Bdlasya neha saranam pitarau nrsimha {
tions in Krsna consciousness increase. As one becomes active in (Bhag. 7.9.19). If Krsna does not protect us, nothing can save us.
- Krsna consciousness, one becomes automatically motionless in If Krsna neglects us, there is no remedy, and whatever measures
respect to material activities. we take to try to protect ourselves will be ultimately defeated.
I have often used the example of a restless child. Since it is im- There may be many expert physicians treating a diseased man, but
possible to make such a child motionless, it is necessary to give that is no guarantee that he will live. If Krsna so wills, a person will
him some playthings or some pictures to look at. In this way, he die despite the best physicians and medicines. On the other hand,
will be engaged, or motionless in the sense that he will not be if Krsna is protecting us, we will survive even without medical
committing some mischief. But if one really wants to make him treatment. When one is fully surrendered to Krsna, he becomes
motionless, one must give him some engagement in Krsna con- happy, knowing that regardless of the situation, Krsna will protect
sciousness. Then there will be no scope for mischievous activities, him. He is just like a child who is fully surrendered to his parents,
due to realization in Krsna consciousness. To be engaged in Krsna confident that they are there to protect him. As stated by
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