In chapter eight Krishna speaks nine verses about death, and how to achieve him beyond death through absorption in yoga. That something in our life, in the universe, responds to our readiness to benefit from what yoga has to offer us and then presents us with an invitation. The difference, then, lies only in one's external involvement with the world. Here yoga is connected to light, to primal origins, to sonic transmission and to the eternal. For example, in the first verses of the Gita's third chapter, Lord Krishna introduces two forms of spirituality that might be identified with yoga: the contemplative life and the active one. Krishna will explain that art to Arjuna and, by extenuation, to the rest of us. In chapter seven on the way of realized knowledge, Krishna only speaks six verses in which the words yoga or yukta appears. “But what is the necessity of knowing such things, O Arjuna? The Bhagavad-gita addresses all eight limbs of raja-yoga, the form of yoga popular today as ashtanga yoga or hatha yoga.3 For example, yama, the first limb, consists of five ethical principles: truthfulness, continence, nonviolence, noncovetousness, and abstention from stealing. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by appropriate means is assured of success. How interesting that this follows Krishna’s exposition of love’s value to a yoga practice. Krishna also makes it clear that yoga is not just philosophy, (as in Sankhya’s teachings) but philosophy in action: yoga is a lifestyle requiring active participation. Jnaana Yoga gives: avyaktam paryupaasate (pursuit of the Unmanifest) One of the surprising perspective that unfolds out of this analysis is that Gita often considers “loving service to all living beings seeing the Lord in them” as real Bhakti Yoga. It is similar in meaning to religio, the Latin root of the word religion, which means "to bind together." This is the essential teaching of the Gita, and in its pages Krishna takes Arjuna (and each of us) through each step of the yoga process. As supermodel Christy Turlington, pictured on the cover as an ardent practitioner, is quoted as saying, "Some of my friends simply want to have a yoga butt." Bhakti means devotion. When you heart, comment or share, the article's "Ecosystem" score goes up—helping it to be seen by more readers & helping the author to get paid. So yoga appears in more ways than we imagine. The Bhagavad Gita is the most famous Hindu religious text. In love, one becomes selfless, and thus, instead of giving prominence to one's own desire, one considers the beloved first. Karma-yoga emphasizes working (karma) for the Supreme, jnana-yoga emphasizes focusing one's knowledge (jnana) on the Supreme, dhyana-yoga involves contemplating (dhyana) the Supreme, buddhi-yoga is about directing the intellect (buddhi) toward the Supreme, and bhakti-yoga—the perfection of all yogas—occurs when devotion (bhakti) is emphasized in relation to the Supreme. We're protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Both these books powerfully proclaim the principle of Love-Bhakti as the basis of spiritual develop-ment of man. Then he asks Arjuna to hear how that is so. Though that response in understandable, let's look at the Gita's teachings on yoga and see why for centuries it has been, and still is, considered among the most important textbooks on the subject. Intimate connection with the whole universe, with eternal realms even beyond the manifested universe, and with our own being’s endless capacity to love. Karma is primary, yoga secondary. Krishna's instruction here is especially useful for us today, living in the Western world. The main principle of yoga, in whatever form, is to direct our activity toward linking with God. 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All rights reserved. This refers to an unattached, selfless devotion to the divine. And that such souls will surely come to him: “Surely you shall come to me, thus having absorbed yourself in yoga with me as the supreme goal” (9.34), And again in verse ten of chapter ten: ““For them, who are constantly absorbed in yoga, who offer loving service with natural affection, I offer that yoga of discernment by which they come close to me”. Hey, thanks so much for reading! And clearly you appreciate mindfulness with a sense of humor and integrity! What does this translate into for the life of the modern yoga practitioner? The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. The Bhagvad Gita mentiones some classical Yogic technices together with its unique teachings focoused on regarding daily life as the field in which Moksha can be seeked. (9.14) Krishna then promises prosperity and security for ones so fully absorbed in yoga. How does yoga find us in our lives? I support this whole universe continuously, with one part of myself.” (10.42). Krishna accepts both forms of renunciation, but He describes the active form as more practical and more effective as well. According to Krishna, Arjuna is the best of yogis because he has devotion to the Supreme Lord. Join our family of supporters. The pure fragrance in earth, the brilliance in fire, the life in all beings, austerities, the seed in all beings, discernment, splendor, power devoid of desire and passion, desire that does not conflict with dharma and the qualities in the cosmic ingredients all around us, and inside out own bodies. These fundamental disciplines of yoga are mentioned in the Gita, as is niyama,the second limb, which consists of things like worship, cleanliness, contentment, austerity, and self-reflection. The Bhagavad Gita is considered as one of the most prominent and influential Hindu scripture. Krishna goes on to define what it means to know him “completely” in chapter seven and speaks about all the places he is to be found: We experience Krishna in the taste of water, the radiance of the moon and sun, the sacred utterance in all the Vedas, the sound in space, the prowess in men. We're community-driven. Welcome to elephant's ecosystem. Each and every one of us is born with this “sacred duty” that we must fulfill during this lifetime. In later Vaishnava terminology, this is the preferred yukta-vairagya, or "renouncing the world by acting for the Supreme." Every time you read, share, comment or heart you help an article improve its Rating—which helps Readers see important issues & writers win $$$ from Elephant. By creating an account you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Musings on the Bhagavad Gita 15: The Yoga of Sovereign Secret Science , Bhagavad Gita Online, Bhagavad Gita Indonesia - bhagavadgita.or.id (All translations in this article were taken from Graham M. Schweig’s translation of Bhagavad Gita, published by Harper Collins, 2010), Copyright © 2011. Well, Krishna uses the word yoga over 100 times in the Bhagavad Gita, so he has plenty to say about it! raja yoga bhagavad gita. This verse has the word bhakti in it -appearing for the first time here, as a noun- also appearing a total 14 times in the BG. He describes it as impractical and "too difficult to perform," as it certainly is in our current age of distraction and degradation (known as Kali-yuga). That is my opinion. These acts of devotion, whether they take the form of acts of religious service to God, sacrificial offerings, or dances and ceremonies, must also be done without attachment, that is they must be entirely selfless and done without the expectation of receiving anything in return. One becomes free from such bondage because one learns to work as an "agent" rather than as an "enjoyer"—one learns to work for God, on His behalf. Concluding in verse 27 “be absorbed in yoga by means of yoga” and thus not be bewildered by the “two paths” of darkness and light through which souls exit their bodies. So the second part of the compound (yoga) also becomes prominent—linking with God takes precedence over what the individual wants. In chapter four, verse three, Krishna tells Arjuna that it is through love that we are found. Krishna explains that both processes of yoga, the contemplative and the active, begin with learning how to control the mind, which is essentially dhyana, or meditation: When the yogi, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in transcendence—devoid of all material desires— he is said to be well established in yoga. The Bhagavad Gita ends with an emphatic, final verse that delights in the triumph of those who align themselves with a genuine, loving yoga practitioner and teacher, as Arjuna did with Krishna. Way to reach Brahman, or inactive, yoga is free from longings for selfish desires 6.31 11.55. Being felt like that art to Arjuna via his friend and chariot driver, Krishna says: “ I so..., yoga is connected to light, to the Supreme Lord transmission to! His mind, and augments it with positive spiritual action connected to light, to origins! Most readers of the Bhagavad Gita explains four types of yoga is the necessity of knowing things! 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