Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga, The Yoga of Self-Control and Meditation

Shri Krishna Balaram sharanam!

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Verse 6.1: One who carries out his karma without desire for its rewards/fruits is a true yogi and a true sanyasi (renunciant), and not one who performs no duties.

Verse 6.4: A person is a karma yogi, when he gives up material desires, and neither is he motivated by rewards/fruits of his karma, nor does he act for sense gratification.

Verse 6.5: One must attain self-control with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. One's mind can become his best friend and his enemy as well.

Verse 6.6: For a yogi who has controlled his mind, the mind is his best friend. However, for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain his greatest enemy.

Verse 6.7: For a yogi who has controlled his mind, divine happiness and peace is achieved. For him, happiness and sorrow, honor and dishonor, pleasant and unpleasant sense perceptions are same.

Verse 6.8: A person is a yogi when he realizes his divine sat-chit-ananda nature (truth-consciousness-happiness), which is then the root of his divine happiness and peace within. And he is fully saturated with knowledge and wisdom at the spiritual level.

Verse 6.9: A yogi possesses right intellect by which he considers well-wishers, friends, enemies, the neutral, sinners, and pious all with an equal mind.

Verse 6.15: A yogi who constantly practices control of his mind and intellect attains shanti nirvana (eternal peace and happiness), and eventually the Divine world. 

Verse 6.16: One can not become a yogi, if he eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough. A yogi should keep his actions in moderation.

Verse 6.17: One can become a yogi if he regulates his habits of eating, sleeping, work, and recreation at the level of body, mind, and intellect.

Verse 6.25: Gradually, step by step, one must bring his body, mind, and intellect in the control of his self (atman). 

Verse 6.26: From wherever the flickering and unsteady mind and intellect wander, one must bring them back to their true position of self, i.e. sat-chit-ananda (divine truth-consciousness-happiness). 

Verse 6.34: Arjuna says, the mind is restless, obstinate, and strong. Controlling it is more difficult than controlling wind.

Verse 6.35: Shri Krishna says, undoubtedly, it is extremely difficult to control the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment from sense gratification.

Verse 6.37&38: Arjuna asks, what happens to the yogi who tries to attain his divine position, but is unable to achieve it? Is he torn apart like a riven cloud?

Verse 6.40&41: Shri Krishna says, one whose intentions are good is never overcome by evil in this world or the next. Such a person gets another chance to progress on the divine path by being born in a family of righteous and wise people.

Verse 6.45: By constant practice and endeavors in many many births, the yogi attains his divine position of sat-chit-ananda (divine truth-consciousness-happiness).

Verse 6.47: Shri Krishna says, of all yogis, one whose heart and soul is always directed towards Me, is attached to Me, and is devoted to Me, is the best.

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Maa Radha Govind sharanam!