36 The Perfection of Yoga
Bhagavad-gita is concerned. A whole purification of
consciousness is required.

In the execution of yoga, it is very important that
the mind is not agitated.

yatha dipo nivatastho
nengate sopama smrta
yogino yata-cittasya
yunjato yogam atmanah

“As a lamp in a windless place does not waver, so
the transcendentalist, whose mind is controlled, re-
mains always steady in his meditation on the tran-
scendent Self.” (Bg. 6.19) When a candle is in a
windless place, its flame remains straight and does not
waver. The mind, like the flame, is susceptible to so
many material desires that with the slightest agita-
tion it will move. A little movement of the mind
can change the whole consciousness. Therefore in
India one seriously practicing yoga traditionally
remained brahmacari, or celibate. There are two
kinds of brahmacari; one is completely celibate and
and the other is grhastha-brahmacazi, that is to say
he has a wife, he does not associate with any other
woman, and his relations with his own wife are
strictly regulated. In this way, either by complete
celibacy or restricted sex life, one’s mind is kept
from being agitated. Yet when one takes a vow to
remain a complete celibate, his mind may still be
agitated by sexual desire; therefore in India those
practicing the traditional yoga under strict vows of
celibacy are not allowed to sit alone even with a
