92 THE PATH OF PERFECTION Yoga for the Modern Age 93

to the royal family and was highly elevated in terms of numerous
qualities; he was a great warrior, he had great longevity, and,
above all, he was the most intimate friend of Lord Krsna, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Five thousand years ago, when
Arjuna was living, the life span was very long. At that time, people
used to live up to one thousand years. In the present age of Kali-
yuga, the life span is limited to a hundred years; in Dvapara-yuga,
the life span was a thousand years; in Treta-yuga, the life span was
ten thousand years, and in Satya-yuga, the life span was one
hundred thousand years. Thus as the yugas degenerate, the life
span decreases. Even though Arjuna was living at a time when one
would live and practice meditation for a thousand years, he still

may be impractical for one man may be practical for another. Ar-
juna is representative of the common man in the sense that he is
not a mendicant or a sannyasior a scholar. He is on the battlefield
fighting for his kingdom, and in this sense he is an ordinary man
engaged in a worldly activity. He is concerned with earning a
livelihood, supporting his family, and so on. Arjuna has many
problems, just as the common man, and generally this system of
astanga-yoga is impractical for the ordinary common man. That is
the point being made. It is practical for one who has already com-
pletely renounced everything and can sit in a secluded, sacred
place on the side of a hill or in a cave. But who can do this in this
age? Although Arjuna was a great warrior, a member of the royal

family, and a very advanced person, he proclaims this yoga system considered this system impossible.

impractical. And what are we in comparison to Arjuna? If we at- Five thousand years ago, Arjuna had much better facilities

tempt this system, failure is certain. i than we do now, yet he refused to accept this system of yoga. In
Therefore this system of mysticism described by Lord Krsna to i fact, we do not find any record in history of his practicing it at any

Arjuna beginning with the words sucau dese and ending with yogi time. Therefore, this system must be considered generally im-

paramahis here rejected by Arjuna out of a feeling of inability. As possible in this age of Kali. Of course, it may be possible for some

stated before, it is not possible for an ordinary man to leave home very few, rare men, but for the people in general it is an impossi-

and go to a secluded place in the mountains or jungles to practice ble proposal. If this were so five thousand years ago, what of the

yoga in this age of Kali. The present age is characterized by a bitter present day? Those who are imitating this yoga system in different

struggle for a life of short duration. As Kali-yuga progresses, our so-called schools and societies, although complacent, are certainly

life span gets shorter and shorter. Our forefathers lived for a wasting their time. They are completely ignorant of the desired

hundred years or more, but now people are dying at the age of goal.

sixty or seventy. Gradually the life span will decrease even Since this astanga-yoga system is considered impossible, the

further. Memory, mercy, and other good qualities will also decrease bhakti-yoga system is recommended for everyone. Without train-

in this age. ing or education, one can automatically participate in bhakti-yoga.
In Kali-yuga, people are not serious about self-realization even Even a small child can clap at kirtana. Therefore Lord Caitanya

by simple, practical means, and what to speak of this difficult yoga Mahaprabhu has proclaimed bhakti-yoga the only system practical

system, which regulates the mode of living, the manner of sitting, for this age.

selection of place, and detachment of the mind from material harer nama harer nama

engagements. As a practical man, Arjuna thought it was impossi- harer namaiva kevalam

ble to follow this system of yoga, even though he was favorably kalau nasty eva nasty eva

endowed in many ways. He was not prepared to become a pseudo ; nasty eva gatir anyatha

yogi and practice some gymnastic feats. He was not a pretender but

a soldier and a family man. Therefore he frankly admitted that for “In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of

him this system of yoga would be a waste of time. Arjuna belonged deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no

