(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)
One Who See’s The Self By Pure Mind And Rejoices In The Truth Never Departs From It
यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया |
यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति || 6.20||
सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् |
वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वत: || 6.21||
यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं तत: |
यस्मिन्स्थितो न दु:खेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते || 6.22||
तं विद्याद् दु:खसंयोगवियोगं योगसञ्ज्ञितम् |
स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा || 6.23||
yatroparamate chittaṁ niruddhaṁ yoga-sevayā
yatra chaivātmanātmānaṁ paśhyann ātmani tuṣhyati|| 20||
sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam
vetti yatra na chaivāyaṁ sthitaśh chalati tattvataḥ|| 21||
yaṁ labdhvā chāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ
yasmin sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vichālyate|| 22||
taṁ vidyād duḥkha-sanyoga-viyogaṁ yogasaṅjñitam
sa niśhchayena yoktavyo yogo ’nirviṇṇa-chetasā|| 23||
Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 6- Ver. 20 to 23:
The yogi is able to see the soul through the cleansed mind, and he rejoices in the inner bliss, when the mind is restrained from material activities by the practise of Yoga. One feels absolute infinite divine ecstasy in the blissful state of Yoga known as samadhi, and one never deviates from the Eternal Truth when in this state. After achieving such state, one does not regard any other achievement to be more significant. Even in the middle of the worst disaster, one’s foundation is not shattered. Yoga is the state of being free of the bonds of misery. This Yoga should be done with zeal and dedication, free of pessimism.
Explanation
When one’s mind is cleansed, they can experience themselves as separate from their body, mind, and intellect. When the mind is unclean, perception of the soul is clouded, and any scriptural knowledge of the atma received is simply theoretical. However, when the mind is pure, the soul can be seen immediately through realisation. Shri Krishna further claims that the satisfaction our minds derive from the material world is finite and transitory.
Connecting our mind to the self, or aatmaa, is the only way to achieve boundless and permanent happiness. However, this occurs only once the mind has been disconnected from material objects. We experience a profound and permanent level of contentment and bliss when the mind has disengaged from material objects and is ready to settle into the self, when the mind has totally turned inward and has settled into the aatmaa or the self.
For aeons, we’ve been searching for absolute joy, and everything we do is in the pursuit of it. The mind and senses, on the other hand, experience only a hazy mirror of actual happiness from the objects of gratification. This sensual pleasure does not satisfy the hunger of the soul within, which yearns for God’s limitless delight. The soul experiences indescribable and magnificent happiness beyond the purview of the senses when the mind is in contact with God. The soul has nothing left to desire, and as a result, it becomes securely rooted in the Absolute Truth, never straying from it.
Once the perfected meditator recognises this self as his genuine nature, he will no longer feel the need to assume any other identity or position in order to feel fulfilled. The limitless delight of God is attained through the condition of Yog. Because there is nothing higher, the soul automatically thinks that it has arrived at its destination after experiencing this limitless happiness. God’s pure bliss is likewise eternal, but it can never be taken from a yogi who has experienced it. Even if he or she is in a physical body, a Deity soul remains in a state of divine consciousness.
Plain meditation without understanding fails to destabilise us if our intellect has diligently studied about the eternal essence – that it is beyond birth and death, that it is changeless, that it cannot be destroyed, and so on – and our mind has become established in the eternal essence through meditation. We become like a rock that stands firm in the face of a storm, rather than a tree that is uprooted. As a result, meditation allows us to enjoy the best of both worlds. It brings us delight regardless of future sorrows and shields us from the effects of severe grief.
Maya’s material energy is likened to darkness. It has engulfed us in darkness and is causing us to suffer throughout the world. When we bring the light of God into our hearts, however, the darkness of Maya is naturally banished. As a result, Yoga denotes both the accomplishment of happiness and the liberation from misery. Shree Krishna repeatedly highlights both. Only meditation allows the meditator to be free of all sorrows.
The meditator should have solid and unchanging determination to follow the path of meditation. The meditator should not be deterred from his purpose by any means. According to Shri Krishna, the yoga of meditation is the only way to break or remove our connection with grief. We can never be touched by sadness if we have mastered ourselves in meditation.
We won’t associate with sufferings again after meditation, even if we can’t stop them from approaching us. This capacity is a result of the mental stability gained by meditation. So, in addition to helping us advance spiritually, meditation also provides us with something we crave on a tangible level: escape from miseries.
He claims that in order to achieve the state of the perfected meditator, we must make a firm commitment. He underlines that the goal should be to achieve the state of the perfected meditator. Obstacles will arise along the path that may demotivate us or cause us to become disheartened and dissatisfied. As a result, he advises against allowing the mind to grow depressed. We stand up and continue every time we come across an impediment that takes us off the path of meditation.
Verse & what we can learn
The mind will naturally turn inside. When you see Atman in the Self by the Self, the mind is stilled. The mind will be unsettled and edgy as long as it is outward-looking. The process of acquisition never finishes, and the process of enjoyment never begins. There is tranquilly when it searches within. There is endless bliss when you find Atman. There is no turning back once you have established yourself in Atman. It’s something you never lose. There is no going back into delusion after you have attained Atman.
The Highest is Atman. After you’ve reached Realisation, you’ll realise there’s nothing better. It’s the pinnacle of achievement. Then even the deepest grief has no effect on you. You now own the Infinite. Even if you take everything away from Infinite, there is still Infinite. Nothing has the power to reduce Infinity. Similarly, once you’ve graduated from ephemeral, childlike thrills to spiritual fulfilment, material loss has no effect on you.
We have foolishly enslaved ourself to misery and pain. The issue isn’t with the rest of the world. Pain is caused by your illogical identification with your body, mind, and intellect. The world will have an impact on your matter layers, including your body, mind, and intellect. You, on the other hand, are insignificant. Spirit is who you are.
Because of your relationship and association with the matter layers, you only appear to be affected. The difficulty arises from the focus of one’s thoughts on the body, mind, and intellect. Consider your body, mind, and intellect, and you will transform into them. After then, whatever happens to them has an impact on you. When you think of Atman, the tie between you and the world begins to dissolve. Your influence is lessened. There is no affectation when one’s identification with Atman is complete.
With firm conviction and an unsettled mind, you must follow Atman. The spiritual path does not yield results right away. In truth, you only feel the sorrow of having to give up worldly pleasures at first. It’s easy to become disillusioned and give up. It is necessary to be persistent and not to be disappointed. For this to happen, the mind must surrender to the intellect’s purpose of Realisation. Free yourself from the shackles of the world. You will soon be rid of the tension, grief, and pain that come with existence. Enlightenment bliss arrives much later.
To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.
There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There are also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.
In the Next verses, Shri Krishna tells Arjuna about the practice of yoga.
Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…