meditation / yoga

Real yogis meditate upon the transcendental form of the Lord as He stands on the whorl of the lotus of their hearts, the jewel-like nails of His lotus feet glittering. (More...)

The Lord is always smiling, and the devotee should constantly see the Lord in this form, as He looks very mercifully toward the devotee. In this way the meditator should look toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the bestower of all benedictions. (More...)

The word niyatena is very significant in this connection, for it indicates that one should execute the meditation practice as stated above. One should not manufacture a way of meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but should follow the authorized sastras and personalities. By this prescribed method one can practice concentration upon the Lord until he is so fixed that he remains in trance, thinking always of the form of the Lord. The word used here is ekabhutena, which means "with great attention and concentration." If one concentrates on the descriptions of the bodily features of the Lord, he will never fall down. (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 manah krsna pramathi balavad drdham, 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 drdham. 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, astaṅga-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 astaṅga-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-punjah [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...)

The materially absorbed mind of the conditioned soul does not allow him to transcend the limit of the bodily conception of self, and thus the yoga system for meditation (controlling the sitting posture and breathing process and fixing the mind upon the Su

Sukadeva Gosvami answered, One should control the sitting posture, and regulate the breathing process by the yogic pranayama and thus control the mind and the senses, and with intelligence apply the mind to the gross potencies of the Lord [called the virata rupa]. (More...)

The materially-absorbed mind of the conditioned soul does not allow him to transcend the limit of the bodily conception of self, and thus the yoga system for meditation (fixing the mind upon the Supreme, controlling the sitting posture and breathing process) is prescribed in order to mold the character of the gross materialist. Unless such materialists are able to cleanse the materially absorbed mind, it is impossible for them to concentrate upon thoughts of transcendence. And to do so one may fix one's mind on the gross material or external feature of the Lord. The different parts of the gigantic form of the Lord are described in the following verses. The materialistic men are very anxious to have some mystic powers as a result of such controlling process, but the real purpose of yogic regulations is to eradicate the accumulated dirty things like lust, anger, avarice and all such material contaminations. If the mystic yogi is diverted by the accompanying feats of mystic control, then his mission of yogic success is a failure, because the ultimate aim is God realization. He is therefore recommended to fix his gross materialistic mind by a different conception and thus realize the potency of the Lord. As soon as the potencies are understood to be instrumental manifestations of the transcendence, the next step is automatically advanced, and gradually the stage of full realization becomes possible for him. (More...)