Entitled “The Yoga of Meditation”, chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita elucidates meditation as the final gateway to Self Realisation. Meditation is more than just shutting one’s eyes and repeating a mantra or word symbol. It is the highest spiritual technique that needs to be practised diligently and devotedly by qualified practitioners. The essential prerequisite for meditation is a calm mind. A mind burdened with desires and attachments is unable to take off into subtler realms of concentration and meditation.
Krsna begins with the definition of a sannyasi, a renounced person. Renunciation is associated with giving up, abandoning one’s duties and escaping to a safe sanctuary. It is this misunderstanding that has turned away genuine seekers and prevented them from accessing the benefits of renunciation. Krsna describes a sannyasi as one who does what one ought to do, fulfils one’s duties and responsibilities fully, without depending on the fruit of action. A sannyasi is not one without a higher ideal, nor is he an inactive person. Krsna then gives a masterful description of the three stages of spiritual evolution. From an active yogi to a meditative sannyasi and, finally, to the exalted state of a jnani, the enlightened One. He describes the three stages in terms of mental states rather than external appearances. Thus, one does not have to don ochre robes or perform rituals or deny oneself worldly enjoyments to be spiritual. All that is needed is a change in mindset.
Step by step, Krsna takes us through the preparatory disciplines as well as disqualifications for meditation. This is followed by the test of Enlightenment. A realised Soul is one who feels one with everyone. He sees his Self as the Self in all beings. In the end he worships God not in a temple, church or mosque, but in every living being. Thereafter he lives in Atman, whatever his lifestyle. It is pointless to declare love for God when you cannot connect with His images everywhere.
Arjuna, like us, is afraid of leaving the safe confines of his present existence to discover the unknown realm of the Infinite. He asks Krsna what the fate is of those who commit themselves to a spiritual life but die before Realisation. Krsna gives a fitting reply to reveal one of the most insightful laws of life. He says, “One who is righteous will never come to grief. Either now or in the future”. Your efforts will not go in vain. You will carry forward the credits to your future life. A spiritually evolved person who falls short of Realisation will either be born in the home of the happy and wealthy or in the family of a wise yogi. There, endowed with the wisdom acquired in previous lives, he will strive even more to attain Enlightenment.
Thus the Lord assures Arjuna, and all of us, that the way to lasting happiness is a life of Truth.
