At some point, Prince Arjuna helplessly laments that the mind is restless, turbulent, strong and unyielding. Hence trying to control it is as difficult as controlling the wind (Dhyana Yoga, verse 34). Lord Krishna, (Dhyana Yoga, verse 35) assures him with tips on this Yoga of Meditation. That is to say, practical advice on meditation, sense- control, equanimity and dispassion (vairagya).
This Yoga of Meditation can help transmute the Mind into a wonderful ally, thereby ushering in inner stability, highest performance and freedom from toxic tendencies. However, keep it purified and nurtured, says the Bhagavad Gita. Train it to inhabit higher realms, lest it reverts to its old patterns. Thus tamed, the body and the senses can fall in line with the mind too.
Also, this harmonized individual find it relatively easier to reach his highest, transcendental, glorious inner Self.
Why Dhyana Yoga? Because the (lower) Self an be the Best friend or Worst enemy, says the Gita
Bhagavad Gita, Yoga of meditation/ Dhyana Yoga verses (Chapter 6, verse 6)
Bandhuraatmaa’tmanastasya yenaatmaivaatmanaa jitah; Anaatmanastu shatrutwe vartetaatmaiva shatruvat.
Translation : The self is the friend of the self for him who has conquered himself by the Self, but to the unconquered self, this self stands in the position of an enemy like the (external) foe
Meaning: The previous verse (Ch 6, quote 5) says Man alone is responsible for elevating or degrading himself by either cultivation or the lack of it of the flimsy mind and lower impulses through the Higher Self (Atman)
This verse clarifies that Dhyana Yoga can helps tame all lower physical, mental and intellectual impulses. Thus conquered the lower Self tamely holds out as a beacon light, coming to our rescue in our life struggles.
However, if all the yearnings, confusions and sorrows of the lower impulses (senses, ego and intellect) are let loose, it can wreck a man. Rankled by a million stimuli, Man starts making one plan after another, neither executing nor achieving any.
As a result of this greed, frustration, anxiety, restlessness, fatigue, overthinking, inaction etc multiply in an endless loop. Moreover, man escapes from this into the lush pastures of sensual pleasures and desires, further messing up things.
What Lord Krishna means is that when the Self (Higher Self/ Atman) takes charge and brings the mind under control then Man can profit by using it judiciously. But the contrary, can poison one’s peace and well-being.
Thus, the Higher Self can become the best friend or the Lower Self can become the worst enemy
Dhyana Yoga cannot be achieved without renouncing ‘thoughts’
Bhagavad Gita Dhyana Yoga/ Yoga of Meditation verses (Chapter 6, verse 2)
Yam sannyaasamiti praahuryogam tam viddhi paandava; Na hyasannyastasankalpo yogee bhavati kashchana
Translation : Do thou, O Arjuna, know Yoga to be that which they call renunciation; no one verily becomes a Yogi who has not renounced thoughts!
Meaning: Lord Krishna here reminds that to become like a Supreme Yogi one must renounce thoughts. By thoughts the drift here is towards agitation creating thoughts.
Thoughts meaning the constant activity of the mind that is planning, desiring, expecting, reacting, overthinking every step of the way. This is because all of this adds up to Sankalpa and the Sankalpa Shakti ever- propels one to run helter-skelter in the fields of action.
So the first step is to go beyond the Mind, go beyond the powerful self-propelling agitation-breeding thought factory inside us.
Be done with Karma Yoga before qualifying for Dhyana Yoga
Dhyana Yoga, Yoga of Meditation, Bhagavad Gita quotes on doing Karma Yoga first (Chapter 6, verse 1)
Sri Bhagavaan Uvaacha: Anaashritah karmaphalam kaaryam karma karoti yah; Sa sannyaasi cha yogee cha na niragnirna chaakriyah.
Translation : The Blessed Lord said: He who performs his bounden duty without depending on the fruits of his actions—he is a Sannyasin and a Yogi, not he who is without fire and without action.
Meaning : Before taking up Dhyana Yoga or renouncing thought, work out all your duties, in the true spirit of Karma Yoga. Execute duties as selfless service with utmost concentration and without worrying about the results or waiting for the rewards.
Only an aspirant who has the character to renounce the fruit of the action and not the action by itself qualifies to embark on this path. Therefore an escapist who ignores his duties and tries to immerse himself in Dhyana Yoga is in the wrong.
Read Bhagavad Gita quotes on Karma here
Meditation, the highest tool to Dhyana Yoga, some tips.
Dhyana Yoga, Yoga of meditation verses from Bhagavad Gita on tips (Chapter 6, quotes 10, 11, 12, 13; also chapter 5, quote 27)
Yogee yunjeeta satatamaatmaanam rahasi sthitah; Ekaakee yatachittaatmaa niraasheeraparigrahah.
Let the Yogi try constantly to keep the mind steady, remaining in solitude, alone, with the mind and the body controlled, and free from hope and greed.
Shuchau deshe pratishthaapya sthiramaasanamaatmanah; Naatyucchritam naatineecham chailaajinakushottaram.
In a clean spot, having established a firm seat of his own, neither too high nor too low, made of a cloth, a skin and kusha grass, one over the other,
Tatraikaagram manah kritwaa yatachittendriyakriyah; Upavishyaasane yunjyaadyogamaatmavishuddhaye.
There, having made the mind one-pointed, with the actions of the mind and the senses controlled, let him, seated on the seat, practise Yoga for the purification of the self.
Samam kaayashirogreevam dhaarayannachalam sthirah; Samprekshya naasikaagram swam dishashchaanavalokayan.
Let him firmly hold his body, head and neck erect and perfectly still, gazing at the tip of his nose, without looking around.
Sparsaan kritwaa bahir baahyaamschakshus chaivaantare bhruvoh; Praanaapaanau samau kritwaa naasaabhyantara chaarinau.
Shutting out (all) external contacts and fixing the gaze between the eyebrows, equalising the outgoing and incoming breaths moving within the nostrils
Meaning: In these Dhyana Yoga verses, Lord Krishna shows the way to purify the mind so that it can mind bloom into a supreme instrument.
A summary of the key pointers for Dhyana Yoga meditation. The aspirant must choose
- A clean place (safe of pests that could distract concentration)
- A safe place, not too high that could pose a risk, nor too low/ underground that could be damp.
- A seat of Kusha grass. In the ancient times tiger/ deer skin were recommended for maintaining body electricity. But it is ill -advised, today. Instead go ahead with a Kusha mat and put a cloth over it if required.
- To keep the body still and mind steady as in no greed/ hope of rewards for this action or any desire to own or stack up inordinate material wealth.
- A posture with the spine erect but relaxed not tensed.
- To concentrate either on the Tip of his nose or on the Centre of his forehead..
- A single pointed mind, with all other actions of the mind and the senses suspended.
Read all about the benefits of mantra meditation here
Meditate with Perfect concentration of mind
Bhagavad Gita on Dhyana Yoga/ Yoga of Meditation through perfect concentration (Chapter 6, verse 19)
Yathaa deepo nivaatastho nengate sopamaa smritaa; Yogino yatachittasya yunjato yogamaatmanah.
Translation : As a lamp placed in a windless spot does not flicker—to such is compared the Yogi of controlled mind, practising Yoga in the Self (or absorbed in the Yoga of the Self).
Meaning : Concentration for success in Dhyana Yoga is akin to the lamp that burns steady in a place without breeze.
Here Breeze/wind refers to the various distractions that could extinguish the delicate lamp of concentration. Distractions could be stimuli that attack from inside like the impulses/yearnings of the mind, body and intellect. Further distractions can be external like the fleeting temptations that try to seduce us.
Therefore cultivate a concentration or one-pointedness that is immune to all types of distractions
Help students enhance their concentration with Bhagavad Gita quotes for students, Gayatri mantra benefits and Om Chanting benefits
Relentlessly keep holding on to the mental quietude
Bhagavad Gita on Dhyana Yoga, Yoga of meditation through one-pointedness (Chapter 6, quote 25, 26)
Shanaih shanairuparamed buddhyaa dhritigriheetayaa; Aatmasamstham manah kritwaa na kinchidapi chintayet.
Translation: Little by little let him attain to quietude by the intellect held firmly; having made the mind establish itself in the Self, let him not think of anything.
Yato yato nishcharati manashchanchalamasthiram; Tatastato niyamyaitad aatmanyeva vasham nayet.
Translation : From whatever cause the restless, unsteady mind wanders away, from that let him restrain it and bring it under the control of the Self alone.
Meaning : Everyone has their moments of perfection but not all are winners. Only those who relentlessly strive to keep up their standards , eventually succeed. This is exactly what Krishna says here.
First he clarifies that achieving quietude through one-pointedness won’t be a cakewalk. ‘Little by little’ meaning small amounts of progress made with daily effort of keeping the mind, body and intellect firmly under control.
Hence, only with resolute Dhyana Yoga practice of meditation will the Mind (Lower Self) get established in the Atman (Higher Self).
Thereafter, he must continue keeping guard on this mind. He must ensure that there is ‘no thought of anything else’. Meaning he does not respond to desire impulses specifically the ones that generate agitation. Renunciation of desires does not mean giving up of the desire to live or to fend for the family or similar such stuff.
Yet, despite his best efforts if the mind does wander away, then he must instantly bring it back. Further he must keep at this ‘bringing back of mind’ because the mind is by nature flimsy, distracted and million pronged. Else he may lose whatever progress he has made.
Sense-control must accompany meditative efforts
Bhagavad Gita verses on Dhyana Yoga, Yoga of Meditation for sense control (Chapter 6, quote 4, 24)
Yadaa hi nendriyaartheshu na karmaswanushajjate; Sarvasankalpasannyaasee yogaaroodhas tadochyate.
Translation : When a man is not attached to the sense-objects or to actions, having renounced all thoughts, then he is said to have attained to Yoga.
Sankalpaprabhavaan kaamaan styaktwaa sarvaan asheshatah; Manasaivendriyagraamam viniyamya samantatah.
Translation : Abandoning without reserve all the desires born of Sankalpa, and completely restraining the whole group of senses by the mind from all sides,
Meaning: The Sanksrit word ‘Yogaroodha’ used here means Mental mastery. Therefore, Mental mastery is when by consistent practice the mind has gained sufficient strength to withstand the desires born out of Sankalpa.
That is to say, his mind is no more roaming around looking for happiness and satisfaction in sense objects. Also, his Indriyaas are well under control and his mind refuses to entertain agitation breeding desires.
This point, where he has renounced compulsive thinking or reacting to it, he has achieved Yogaroodha (mental mastery)
Maintain Equanimity despite difficulties of the body, mind and the intellect.
Bhagavad Gita verses on Dhyana Yoga/ Yoga of Meditation by maintaining equanimity in all times (Chapter 6, quotes 7, 9)
Jitaatmanah prashaantasya paramaatmaa samaahitah; Sheetoshna sukha duhkheshu tathaa maanaapamaanayoh.
Translation: The Supreme Self of him who is self-controlled and peaceful is balanced in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, as also in honour and dishonour.
Suhrinmitraary udaaseena madhyastha dweshya bandhushu; Saadhushwapi cha paapeshu samabuddhirvishishyate.
Translation : He who is of the same mind to the good-hearted, friends, enemies, the indifferent, the neutral, the hateful, the relatives, the righteous and the unrighteous, excels
Meaning : It is easy to be poised and perfect when things are going our way. But how many can keep that up when rankled by discomforts?
The first sloka discuss the whole spectrum of the difficulties a man could possibly face. Heat and cold refers to the sum total of bodily discomforts that a man experiences such as disease, old age, deformities, injuries etc. Pleasure and pain refers to the pair of opposites in the mental zone like attention neglect, love hate, joy, sorrow etc. Honour and dishonour refers to the pains in the intellectual zone
The second sloka discusses the kinds of people we meet, engage and work with in day to day life; eg a prince or a pauper, an intellectual or a fool, saint or sinner, loved one or hated .
Lord Krishna says that no matter what the discomfort and no matter what the company the Mind with supreme control must remain unruffled. This supremely controlled mind must maintain its balance, peace and equipoise in all situations and circumstances.
Elevate mind to higher realms with God-consciousness
Bhagavad Gita verses on Dhyana Yoga with God consciousness (Chapter 6 quote 14)
Prashaantaatmaa vigatabheer brahmachaarivrate sthitah; Manah samyamya macchitto yukta aaseeta matparah.
Translation : Serene-minded, fearless, firm in the vow of a Brahmachari, having controlled the mind, thinking of Me and balanced in mind, let him sit, having Me as his supreme goal.
God- consciousness: ‘Having me as the Supreme Goal’
The previous Yoga of meditation verses described various remedies to detox the mind of agitation breeding thoughts.
But the mind wont be in complete control even after success in these steps.
This is because it is in the nature of the mind to ponder and mull over things. And unless it has greener pastures to meander in, it will go right back to the murky world of sensual pleasures.
Therefore, immerse it in nobler and higher realms of God- consciousness. As the Mundaka Upanishad says, meditate on the Atman for extended periods of time. This gives the mind enough opportunity to fall in love with Divinity. If the idea of a ‘Divine Self’ is hard to focus on, then meditate on the form of your favorite deity.
Once the mind experiences the bliss and serenity of the Divine zone, it develops a deep affinity towards it. Soon the mind starts seeking the pure realms of the Divine and not the agitation breeding realms of the Lower Impulses..
Concept of Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya (celibacy) is insisted upon in all Hindu scriptures, also in Dhyana Yoga. But clearly a householder cannot practice this. But the ones who choose this path see an upsurge in their ability to concentrate one-pointedly. Consequently, the sexual energies are transmuted into soaring spiritual energies.
For the common man, Brahmacharya may practiced in a larger context. As in abstinence not just from physical sex but from all kinds of sensual worldly cravings. That is to say, Brahmacharya could be a detachment, an abstinence from multiple stimuli that attack and reign over our mind, body, intellect and soul.
Avoid extremes to establish firmly in Dhyana Yoga
Bhagavad Gita on Yoga of meditation by avoiding extremes (Chapter 6, quotes16)
Naatyashnatastu yogo’sti nachaikaantamanashnatah; Na chaatiswapnasheelasya jaagrato naiva chaarjuna.
Translation: Verily Yoga is not possible for him who eats too much, nor for him who does not eat at all; nor for him who sleeps too much, nor for him who is (always) awake, O Arjuna!
Meaning : The ones who really want to make progress in Dhyana Yoga should abstain from excess of food, sleep, nourishment, speech, recreation etc. The simpler the lifestyle is, the closer is the man to his Inner Self.
What are the rich rewards of Dhyana Yoga?
Bhagavad Gita verses that describe the glory of one firmly established in Dhyana Yoga/ Yoga of meditation (Chapter 6, quotes 27, 28, 29,20)
Prashaantamanasam hyenam yoginam sukhamuttamam; Upaiti shaantarajasam brahmabhootamakalmasham
Translation: Supreme bliss verily comes to this Yogi whose mind is quite peaceful, whose passion is quieted, who has become Brahman, and who is free from sin.
Yunjannevam sadaa’tmaanam yogee vigatakalmashah; Sukhena brahmasamsparsham atyantam sukham ashnute.
Translation: The Yogi, always engaging the mind thus (in the practice of Yoga), freed from sins, easily enjoys the infinite bliss of contact with Brahman (the Eternal).
Sarvabhootasthamaatmaanam sarvabhootaani chaatmani; Eekshate yogayuktaatmaa sarvatra samadarshanah.
Translation: With the mind harmonised by Yoga he sees the Self abiding in all beings and all beings in the Self; he sees the same everywhere.
Yatroparamate chittam niruddham yogasevayaa; Yatra chaivaatmanaa’tmaanam pashyannaatmani tushyati.
Translation: When the mind, restrained by the practice of Yoga, attains to quietude, and when, seeing the Self by the Self, he is satisfied in his own Self.
Meaning : Why should a common man aspire and work towards Dhyana Yoga?
The prime reason is manifold Sattva filled advantages. Bliss, Peace, Serenity, Clarity, Harmony, Creativity, Wellness of Mind-Body-Soul are just a few of them .
Most importantly Dhyana Yoga can help the aspirant unite with his Higher Self, Atman and thereby with the Brahman (Cosmic Divine) itself.
So go ahead and incorporate a few steps in your daily life right away!
References :
Bhagavad Gita by Swami Sivananda
The Holy Geeta by Swami Chinmayananda
