(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)
A Yogi Is Someone Who Is Always Attempting To Merge With Atman
तपस्विभ्योऽधिकोयोगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपिमतोऽधिक:|
कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिकोयोगी तस्माद्योगीभवार्जुन|| 6.46||
tapasvibhyo ’dhiko yogi jñānibhyo ’pi mato ’dhikaḥ
karmibhyaśh chādhiko yogi tasmād yogī bhavārjuna||6.46||
Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 6- Ver. 46:
The yogi is superior to men of austerity, even to men of knowledge, and even to men of action. As a result, O Arjuna, become a yogi.
Explanation
As an aid in the pursuit of salvation, a ascetic accepts voluntary pain and anguish and leads an exceedingly austere lifestyle, refraining from sensual pleasures and the accumulation of material goods. A jnani is a person who actively participates in the development of knowledge.
A karmi is someone who conducts Vedic rites in order to gain material wealth and access to the celestial realms. The yogi, according to Shree Krishna, is superior to all of them. The explanation for this is straightforward. The yogi is pursuing God rather than the world. As a result, the yogi’s achievement is centred on the spiritual plane.
With this shloka, Shri Krishna brings the topic of meditation to a close. He now puts meditation as the ultimate way of obtaining nirvana, having addressed the need for meditation, the definition of meditation, the process of meditation, and the fate of a meditator. He claims that those who practise austerities, labour selflessly, or study the texts are inferior to yogis or meditators. And, regardless of how far one has progressed spiritually in previous lives, meditation is the sole way to achieve liberation. That is why he advises Arjuna to take up meditation.
Shri Krishna describes three different types of spiritual aspirants: the taspasvi, who practises austerities, the karmayogi, who works selflessly, and the jnyaani, who studies texts. The tapasvi is a person who practises austerities such as fasting, donating wealth, taking a vow of silence, and so on in order to limit their exposure to the material world. The jnaani is a spiritual scholar who continues to expand and distribute his or her knowledge through books, meetings of holy people, and speeches.
Although each of these activities has its place and helps the seeker progress along his spiritual journey, they do not lead to the ultimate goal of liberation. Furthermore, any of these practises will result in monetary gains. Arjuna is advised by Shri Krishna not to become “stuck” in any of these disciplines, but rather to work his way up to meditation as the culmination of his spiritual practise. Otherwise, the tapasvi may damage himself via severe austerity, the karmayogi may be unable to remove himself from his activities, and the jnaani may obtain a great deal of theoretical knowledge but produce anything real.
As a result, Shri Krishna advises Arjuna to adopt the meditation path outlined in this chapter. This entails cultivating the vision of equanimity, in which one sees oneself in all things and all things in oneself.
Verse & what we can learn
A yogi is someone who is always trying to connect with Atman. She/he recognises that the world is a false projection with no intrinsic value. He or she is looking for the truth, the reality. Everything she/he does is aimed at achieving that goal. She/he is uninterested in everything, including the spiritual path.
A yogi keeps the goal in mind at all times and recognises that the pathways are but means to an end. They are also a part of the global community. They are only significant to the extent that they aid in the attainment of Enlightenment. They are likewise limited in number. The objective is to reach the Infinite. From the start, the yogi is objective and maintains his or her attention on the goal. She/he does not allow the world, no matter how enticing, to divert from Atman’s aim.
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 verse, Shri Krishna tells Arjuna more about yogis.
Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…