94 THE PATH OF PERFECTION Yoga for the Modern Age 95
rnp ig very simone omer way There is no other way.”” Chant- “The Blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is un-
tyaksavagamarh dharmyam If w e e results immediately. Pra- doubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible
syst ems, we will remain in darkne at We evill, practice other yoga by constant Practice and by detachment.”” (Bg. 6.35) Krsna does
not we are maki Ss; we wi | not know whether or not say that it is not difficult. Rather, He admits that it is difficult,
ke ing progress. In bhakti-yoga, one can understand but possible by means of constant practice. Constant practice
Yes, now I am making progress.” This is the onl , ing i tivities ind
which one can quickly attain self-realizat y yoga system by means engaging ourselves in some activities that remind us of
life. One doesn’t have t ea ization and liberation in this Krsna. In this Society for Krsna consciousness we therefore have
€ to wait for another lifetime. many activities—kirtana, temple activities, prasada, publications,
~ 4: and so on. Everyone is engaged in some activity with Krsna at the
cancalam hi manah krsna center. Therefore whether one is typing for Krsna, cooking for
pramathi balavad drdham Krsna, chanting for Krsna, or distributing literature for Krsna, he
tasyaham nigraham manye is in the yoga system, and he is also in Krsna. We engage in ac-
vayor iva suduskaram tivities just as in material life, but these activities are molded in
“ oa. . . such a way that they are directly connected with Krsna. Thus
For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate, and very strong, O through every activity, Krsna consciousness is possible, and per-
Krsna, and to subdue itis, it seems to me, more difficult than con- fection in yoga follows automatically.
trolling the wind.”’ (Bg. 6.34) By chanting Hare Krsna, one cap- oo _
tures the mind immediately. Just by saying the name Krsna and asamyatatmana yogo
hearing it, the mind is automatically fixed on Krsna. This means dusprapa iti me matih
that the yoga system is immediately attained. The entire yoga vasyatmana tu yatata
system aims at concentration on the form of Visnu, and Krsna is Sakyo ‘vaptum upayatah
the original personality from whom all these Visnu forms are ex- ‘For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult
panded. Krsna is like the original candle from which all other can- work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by right
‘dies are lit. If one candle is lit, one can light any number of means is assured of success. That is My opinion.” (Bg. 6.36) The
candles, and there is no doubt that each candle is as powerful as Supreme Personality of Godhead declares that one who does not
the original candle. Nonetheless, one has to recognize the original accept the proper treatment to detach the mind from material
candle as the original. Similarly, from Krsna millions of Visnu engagement can hardly achieve success in self-realization. Trying
forms expand, and each Visnu form is as good as Krsna, but Krsna to practice yoga while engaging the mind in material enjoyment is
remains the original. Thus one who concentrates his mind on like trying to ignite a fire while pouring water on it. Similarly, yoga
Lord Sri Krsna, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, im- practice without mental control is a waste of time. I may sit down
mediately attains the perfection of yoga. to meditate and focus my mind on Krsna, and that is very
_ 7 commendable, but there are many yoga societies that teach their
Sri-bhagavan uvaca students to concentrate on the void or on some color. That is, they
asamsayarn maha-baho do not recommend concentration on the form of Visnu. Trying to
mano durnigraham calam concentrate the mind on the impersonal or the void is very dif-
abhyasena tu kaunteya ficult and troublesome. It is stated by Sri Krsna in the Twelfth
vairdgyena ca grhyate Chapter of Bhagavad-gita (12.5),
t
