Bhagavad Gita
The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita has its own special word—Yoga. This word Yoga is derived from the root “Yuj,” which means “to join.” Join with what? Join with oneself—that is, the soul. And join with the Supreme, the Divine.
The one who connects with oneself, that is, the soul, and who connects with the Divine, is called a Yogi.
We have forgotten our real nature and are considering ourselves to be the body. So, what should we connect with? With our real nature. And what do we call that real nature? The commonly used name is the soul.
So, to connect with the soul, and to connect with the Divine—this is Yoga.
Now let us clarify what is meant by connecting with the soul.
It means maintaining constant awareness of our true nature. Right now, are we able to remember our true nature? No, we are not. So, connecting means continuously remembering our real nature.
Understanding oneself as the soul and seeing the body as an instrument. Right now, we think “I am the body,” but what should we understand? That the body is an instrument.
In the simplest words, we can say—consider the body as a chariot and yourself as the one who drives it. There is a chariot and there is a charioteer. The body is the chariot, and the soul is the charioteer.
If we understand ourselves as the charioteer, then we can guide this chariot in the desired direction while keeping full control over it. Right now, are we able to guide our body, mind, and senses in the desired direction?
No, we are not. Why? Because the one who is supposed to guide is not present.
Who will guide in the desired direction? The one who is the charioteer, the one who holds the reins. If the charioteer is absent, then how will the body, mind, and senses move in the right direction?
That is why, when a person leaves the body, we call the body “arthi”—meaning the one whose charioteer has gone, and only the body remains.
So, our body is the chariot, and the soul—that is, “I”—is the one who drives this chariot. This is the meaning of connecting with the soul.
Now, what is the meaning of connecting with the Divine?
It means to constantly remember that indescribable conscious power which is the foundation of this world.
Right now, are we able to remember that foundation of existence, the Divine? No.
So, connecting with the Divine means continuously remembering that foundational reality of existence.
Or we can say that we surrender to this vast existence. Or we develop a deep sense of acceptance toward it.
This vast existence is itself the expanded form of the Divine. As we have studied, the One became many.
So, we surrender to this vast existence. We do not keep questioning—“Why this? Why that?” Instead, we maintain deep acceptance.
What does that mean?
There are flowers in this existence, and there are thorns. So we accept both. Where will we throw the thorns? They are also part of existence.
There are good people and bad people. If we accept the good, where will we throw the bad? They are also part of existence.
There is happiness, there is sorrow. There is victory, there is defeat. These dualities exist within a deeper order.
We can say that this entire universe operates under laws created by an indescribable Divine power.
Who is running this vast existence?
This question arises within us. Is the Divine running it? To understand, we can say that the laws created by the Divine are running this universe.
Therefore, whatever happens—good or bad—we should understand it as the will of that Divine power.
And then surrender to this existence. Or in other words, maintain deep acceptance.
Just like a small child is completely surrendered to its parents. The child does not question. If the father is holding the child’s hand and walking, even if there is a pit, the child does not worry—“Why is there a pit?” or “Will I fall?”
Similarly, we should surrender to the Divine as our ultimate parent.
Whatever happens, good or bad, we should not keep questioning again and again—“Why did this happen?”
Krishna says that only by being established in Yoga can one face life’s challenges easily.
If we are not established in Yoga, are we able to face life’s challenges easily? The answer is no.
So Krishna says—if you want to face life’s challenges easily, become a Yogi.
Through Arjuna, Krishna is inspiring us to become established in Yoga.
Sixth Chapter
This was a brief introduction.
In the sixth chapter, the qualities of a Yogi are described in detail. Along with that, some important points are also explained.
Now I will briefly present the qualities of a Yogi.
From verses 7 to 32, it is said:
A Yogi’s inner being is satisfied with knowledge and realization.
The Yogi is established in the Self.
The Yogi has conquered the senses.
The Yogi has equal vision—seeing gold and stone equally, heat and cold equally, pleasure and pain equally, honor and dishonor equally.
The Yogi has equal understanding toward both saint and sinner.
The Yogi controls the mind and senses.
The Yogi is free from expectations and free from accumulation.
The Yogi is established in discipline, fearless, self-controlled, and balanced in lifestyle.
The Yogi’s sleeping, waking, and actions are balanced.
The Yogi’s mind is free from desires, steady, and calm.
The Yogi is content within, established in oneness, and remains undisturbed even in great sorrow.
The Yogi considers realization of the Divine as the highest gain.
When we reflect on these qualities, it appears that the qualities of a Yogi, a realized being, a liberated soul, a devotee—all are essentially the same.
Important Points
First Point
A person is their own friend and their own enemy. No one else is responsible for their happiness or sorrow. Therefore, one must uplift oneself.
Second Point
Meditation is helpful in becoming established in Yoga. Krishna briefly mentions this.
Third Point – Practice and Detachment
The mind can move in two directions:
Toward the world (attachment)
Toward the Self (detachment)
Detachment means turning back toward oneself.
Practice means gradually transforming one’s habits and conditioning.
Nature of Happiness
The Yogi experiences ultimate, one-pointed, eternal happiness.
This happiness does not depend on any person, object, or situation.
What we usually call happiness—excitement, pleasure—that is not what Krishna means.
Here, happiness means stability of mind.
When one accepts everything equally, the mind becomes steady. That steadiness itself is happiness.
Unsuccessful Yogi
Arjuna asks—what happens if someone does not attain perfection in Yoga?
Krishna says such a person never goes to ruin. They take birth again in favorable conditions and continue their journey.
Best Yogi
Krishna says that the one who worships with faith is the श्रेष्ठ (highest) Yogi.
Such a person forms a deep relationship with the Divine and shares everything within.
New Meaning of Sannyasa
The Gita presents a new meaning of Sannyasa.
It is not about leaving home or waiting for old age.
A Sannyasi is one who:
Gives up desires
Gives up expectations
Gives up the sense of doership
A person living in the world, doing all actions but free from attachment—that is a Sannyasi.
Such a Sannyasi is the same as a Yogi.
Renunciation is not leaving things—it is leaving desires.