Yoga as Rejected by Arjuna 27

These are the characteristics of man living in Kali-
yuga, a degraded age. So properly speaking we can
never attain success in this meditational yoga system
described by Krsna. At the utmost we can only grat-
ify our personal whims by some pseudo-adaptation
of this system. Thus people are paying money
lo altend some classes in gymnastic exercises and
decep-breathing, and they’re happy if they think
they can lengthen their lifetimes by a few years or
enjoy better sex life. But we must understand that
this is not the actual yoga system. In this age
that’ meditational system cannot be properly exe-
culed. Instead, all of the perfections of that system
can be realized through bhakti-yoga, the sublime
process of Krsna consciousness, specifically mantra-
yoga, the glorification of Sri Krsna through the
chanting of Hare Krsna. That is recommended in
Vedic Scriptures and is introduced by great authori-
lies like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Indeed, the Bhagavad-
gild proclaims that the mahaimas, the great souls,
are always chanting the glories of the Lord. If one
wants to be a mahdatma in terms of the Vedic litera-
lure, in terms of Bhagavad-gita and in terms of the
vrcat authorities, then one has to adopt this process
of Krsna consciousness and of chanting Hare Krsna.
But if we’re content at making a show of meditation
hy sitting very straight in lotus position and going
into a trance like some sort of performer, then that
is a different thing. But we should understand that
such show-bottle performances have nothing to do
with the actual perfection of yoga. The material
(lisease cannot be cured by artificial medicine. We
have to take the real cure straight from Krsna.
