The Result Of Steadiness

In verses 24-27, the concept of determination and steadiness is stressed. There is an old adage that "one finds God quickest whose yearning is strongest," and similarly Krsna here is urging that kind of determination. Unless one is determined, there is no possibility of advancement. Similarly, the words "full conviction" are used, and again: "From whatever and wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self." So one must "certainly withdraw it." And the result of such steadiness or perseverance is stated in the 29th and 30th verses: "A true yogi observes Me in all beings and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized man sees Me everywhere. For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me." As stated, the end of the yoga system is Krsna. Unless and until one sees Krsna everywhere, until one understands that Krsna is the Supreme Person and that everywhere He is expanded by His energy, there is no perfection. But that is not easy to accomplish, and it is only possible by the grace of the Lord and the self-realized devotee.

In the 33rd verse, Arjuna complains to Krsna that this system seems to him impractical and impossible to perform. Arjuna was a great soul, a great devotee and intimate friend of Lord Krsna, and even 5,000 years ago, when the state of Kali-yuga was not advanced, Arjuna said that he did not think that this system was practical. Arjuna had so many great qualifications, including royal birth and sufficient leisure. He was a great warrior and had a long duration of life. He was also extremely intelligent. Still he thought that it was not possible for himself to follow this system of yoga. And, as it is confirmed in all sastras or scriptures, this system is not possible for any ordinary man in this present age. Those who are imitating this system in so-called schools and yoga societies, although complacent, are certainly worthless as far as spiritual advancement is concerned. They are completely missing the desired goal-Krsna. This can be proved by the test which applies equally to all philosophies and all religions-simply, how is one developing love of God. Actually that love is within all of us, but it is covered by material contamination. It is the job of any philosophy or religion to revive it.