OVERVIEW – THE YOGA OF MEDITATION
Yogi becomes Jnani Verses 1 – 9
Preparation for Meditation Verses 10 – 15
Prerequisites for Meditation Verses 16 – 18
Control Calms the Mind Verses 19 – 24
Meditation ushers Realisation Verses 25 – 28
Test of Realisation Verses 29 – 32
Mind difficult to Control Verses 33 – 36
What if Unsuccessful Verses 37 – 42
Yogi attains Goal Verses 43 – 47
1. YOGI BECOMES JNANI 1 – 9
Krsna begins by defining a Sannyasi. A sannyasi is one who does what he ought to do without anxiety for the fruit of action, not one who gives up action. Sannyasa and yoga are stages on the same path. Yoga is in the initial stage when you are still full of desires and are outward-looking. As you progress on the spiritual path and offload desires you become inward-looking and contemplative. This is called sannyasa. In the final stages all desires drop and you become a Jnani, an enlightened Soul.
2. PREPARATION FOR MEDITATION 10 – 15
The three yogas – Karma Yoga Path of Action, Bhakti Yoga Path of Devotion and Jnana Yoga Path of Knowledge help reduce the number of desires, improve the quality of desires and change the direction of desires. As long as the mind is replete with desires it is restless and rushing out into the world to the various fields of desire. It is not available for meditation. With these practices the mind becomes calm and withdrawn from the world. It is ready to take off into the subtler realms of contemplation and meditation.
The preparation for actual meditation begins with a clean, quiet environment, the right seat and posture, and a serene, focussed mind.
3. PREREQUISITES FOR MEDITATION 16 – 18
Krsna gives the qualifications and disqualifications for meditation. All life’s activities must be regulated so that nothing agitates the mind. The middle path of neither excessive indulgence nor too much withdrawal from the world is best. The mind is free from craving for worldly things and is fixed on the Self alone.
4. CONTROL CALMS THE MIND 19 – 24
The controlled mind is likened to a lamp in a windless place – steady, looking upward. Yoga, which is the separation from union with pain, must be pursued with conviction. With total control over the senses and renouncing all desires one gradually obtains serenity. Then one is not moved even by great sorrow. Union with Self must be pursued with firm conviction and undespondent mind because the results do not show immediately.
5. MEDITATION USHERS REALISATION 25 – 28
Gradually, step by step, one attains serenity with a resolute intellect fixing the mind in the Self alone. Whenever the mind wanders, it should be reined in. Then the yogi attains the unending bliss of union with Brahman.
6. TEST OF REALISATION 29 – 32
Spiritual development is gauged by the ability to see through differences and zero in on Atman which is the same in all living beings. Just as a goldsmith sees gold in all ornaments. Then you worship God, not in a temple but in all beings.
7. MIND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL 33 – 36
Arjuna does not see how the restless mind can be made steady. He compares the mind, which is fickle, violent, powerful and unyielding, to wind. Krsna says the mind can be controlled by vairagya abstinence and abhyasa practice.
8. WHAT IF UNSUCCESSFUL 37 – 42
Arjuna is worried that his efforts will be totally lost if he dies before gaining Realisation. Krsna reassures him that the doer of good will never meet with misfortune. A complete failure will be transported to a happy and prosperous environment. One who evolves spiritually but falls short of Enlightenment will be born in the home of wise yogis.
9. YOGI ATTAINS GOAL 43 – 47
There, one progresses effortlessly by the previous practice to Brahman. Of all yogis, one who worships Brahman with shraddha is considered to be most united.