Yoga as Meditation on Krsna 17
chanting, are considered the most important. At a
public kirtana one person can chant Hare Krsna,
Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama,
Ilare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, while a group
listens, and at the end of the mantra, the group can
respond, and in this way there is a reciprocation of
hearing and chanting. This can easily be performed
in one’s own home, with a small group of friends or
with many people in a large public place. One may
altempt to practice meditational yoga in a large city
or in a society, but one must understand that this
is one’s own concocticn and is not the method
recommended in Bhagavad-gita.

The whole process of the yoga system is to purify
oneself. And what is this purification? Purification
ensues upon the realization of one’s actual identity.
Purification is realizing that “Il am pure spirit—I am
not this matter.” Due to material contact, we are
identifying ourselves with matter, and we are think-
ing, “I am this body.” But in order to perform real
yoga one must realize his constitutional position as
heing distinct from matter. The purpose of seeking
out a secluded place and executing the meditational
process is to come to this understanding. It is not
possible to come to this understanding if one exe-
cutes the process improperly. In any case, this is the
consideration of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam

kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
