5
Yoga As
Body And Mind Control
Throughout Bhagavad-gita, Krsna was encouraging

Arjuna to fight, for he was a warrior, and fighting
was his duty. Although Krsna delineates the medita-
tional yoga system in the Sixth Chapter, He does not
stress it nor encourage Arjuna to pursue it as his
path. Krsna admits that this meditational process is
very difficult:

sri bhagavan uvaca

asamsayam maha-baho

mano durnigraham calam
abhyasena tu kaunteya
vairagyena ca grhyate
“The Blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of
Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the
restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice
and by detachment.” (Bg. 6.35) Here Krsna empha-
sizes practice and renunciation as ways to control
the mind. But what is that renunciation? Today it is
hardly possible for us to renounce anything, for we
are so habituated to such a variety of material sense
pleasures. Despite leading a life of uncontrolled sense
indulgence, we attend yoga classes and expect to
attain success. There are so many rules and regula-
tions involved in the proper execution of yoga, and
most of us can hardly give up a simple habit like
smoking. In His discourse on the meditational yoga
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