92 THE PATH OF PERFECTION Yoga for the Modern Age 93
may be impractical for one man may be practical for another. Ar- to the royal family and was highly elevated in terms of numerous
juna is representative of the common man in the sense that he is qualities, he was a great warrior, he had great longevity, and,
not a mendicant or a sannyasior a scholar. He is on the battlefield ; above all, he was the most intimate friend of Lord Krsna, the
fighting for his kingdom, and in this sense he is an ordinary man Supreme Personality of Godhead. Five thousand years ago, when
engaged in a worldly activity. He is concerned with earning a Arjuna was living, the life span was very long. At that time, people
livelihood, supporting his family, and so on. Arjuna has many used to live up to one thousand years. In the present age of Kali-
problems, just as the common man, and generally this system of yuga, the life span is limited to a hundred years, in Dvapara-yuga,
astanga-yoga is impractical for the ordinary common man. That is the life span was a thousand years; in Treta-yuga, the life span was
the point being made. It is practical for one who has already com- ten thousand years, and in Satya-yuga, the life span was one
pletely renounced everything and can sit in a secluded, sacred hundred thousand years. Thus as the yugas degenerate, the life
place on the side of a hill or in a cave. But who can do this in this span decreases. Even though Arjuna was living at a time when one
age? Although Arjuna was a great warrior, a member of the royal would live and practice meditation for a thousand years, he still
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
i
