meditation / yoga

So, who is the highest? The one who meditates upon me constantly within his heart That is a yogi. So, yes not just sitting at a place with one's eyes closed. That is also a technique and some day in future one may be able to think of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord but the perfection of yoga is to constantly meditate upon the lotus feet of Krsna. That is why Prahlada Maharaja says, manye tad-arpita-mano-vacane 'hitartha [SB 7.9.9], even though a person may be born in the family of dog eaters but at all times if he is able to meditate upon Krsna's lotus feet, manye tad-arpita-manah tad-arpita-manah, tad-arpita means when one has devoted his mind completely to the Supreme Lord, then he will naturally meditate upon Him. The mind has to think. The mind cannot stay without thinking even for a second. Therefore, we should engage our minds upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65], this is yoga. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji: The Lord says just this-always think of me. One should think of the form of the Lord, the qualities of the Lord, His pastimes and one should meditate upon His holy name, this it the path to devotion.    (More...)

Five thousand years ago a personality like Arjuna, who was so qualified that he could talk with Krsna as ordinary friend... How much exalted he was, just we can imagine. And born in the royal family, very exalted position, great warrior. He said that "Krsna, I cannot execute this yoga system. It is not possible." Cancalam hi manaḥ krsna pramathi balavad drḍham, tasyaham nigraham manye: "My mind is so disturbed that to control the mind is exactly like that to control the wind." Suppose there is very heavy wind, and if one tries to stop it by spreading his hand, is it possible? It is not possible. He has given this example. Pramathi balavad drḍham. Mind is so uncontrollable, just like madman. Mind's business is like that. Immediately I am accepting something, and again rejecting. Everyone has got this experience. Therefore he frankly said that "To control the mind is not possible for me. I cannot do it."    (More...)

Prabhupada: Yes, here is the secret of training the mind. The whole yoga system, astahga-yoga system-dhyana, dharana, asana, pranayama, like that-they are meant for only controlling the mind. Mind is the center of sensual activities. The purpose of astahga-yoga is to train up the mind, because the mind is very restless. Arjuna, five hundred years ago, he also appreciated the mind is very restless. So he declined to practice the hatha-yoga system. He said clearly that "Krsna, it is not possible for me to control the mind." In another place in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, "The mind is the most dearmost friend, and mind is the bitterest enemy." Everyone's bitterest enemy and dearest friend is there. That is the mind. It requires little training.    (More...)

In this way Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised that harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam . In this age, Kali-yuga, it is very difficult to perform the yoga system. This is also yoga, bhakti-yoga. Other yoga system is very difficult to execute. It is not possible. Even if it is possible-it may be possible for one or two persons-but bhakti-yoga is so nice that even a small child can practice it. We see practically the small children, they also taking part in it, without any education, without any culture, without any knowledge, automatically chanting, dancing, taking caranamrta, offering respect to the Vaisnava. Automatically it is becoming. And that makes his life successful. Bhakti-yoga is so nice. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat [Bg 2.40]. Even little bit practiced, it will never go in vain. It will be an asset. Krta-punya-punjaḥ [SB 10.12.11] In this way... Just like if you put a one single paisa in the bank deposit, that is your money. It will be never lost. And when it becomes a lump sum, the bank asks you to... Credit you get, one hundred rupees or similar. Similarly, bhakti-yoga is so nice that whatever you acquire, intentionally or unintentionally, even if you neglectfully chant Hare Krsna by imitating others, by joking others, it will have effect.    (More...)