Thus far, we have learnt about Sankhya, Buddhi, Karma, Karma Sanyasa, Jnana Karma Sanyasa yogas where Sri Krishna’s core message is centred around the awareness of the immutability of atma (why this is important becomes quite apparent) and focus on Nishkama Karma. While the physical action of performing the action can be achieved, one needs to prepare and train the mind. This is the focus of the chapter which focusses on the aspects of Dhyana or Meditation. Before we get into an analysis of this chapter, I would like to share a couple of personal anecdotes. I feel this is perhaps one of the most powerful chapters of Srimad Bhagwad Gita and has influenced many works worldwide. When I read Rudyard Kipling ’s famous poem IF , I instantly felt that the same was very heavily influenced by this chapter of Gita. Dhyana or meditation is such a simple, yet perhaps the most difficult practice to master. We learn the various stages of dhyana, yoga, sanyasa and samadhi in this chapter and how they...
In the previous chapter, Sri Krishna explains the finer tenets of Jnana and Karma yoga where the path recommended was to perform all our actions as a Yajna to the supreme. The natural question that arises is one of confusion: Should I renounce the actions (karma sanyas) or work (karma). At the onset of the chapter, when Arjuna poses this question, Sri Krishna clearly clarifies this aspect: श्रीभगवानुवाच । संन्यास: कर्मयोगश्च नि:श्रेयसकरावुभौ । तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते ॥ 5.2॥ The Supreme Lord said: Both the path of karm sanyās (renunciation of actions) and karm yog (working in devotion) lead to the supreme goal. But karm yog is superior to karm sanyās. Both the paths lead to the same goal. Through out Srimad Bhagwad Gita, Sri Krishna provides many options to the asaktas to pursue their sadhana, all leading to the ultimate divine reality. This is exactly proclaimed by Paramatma himself. साङ्ख्ययोगौ पृथग्बाला: प्रवदन्ति न पण्डिता: । एकमप्यास्थित: सम्यगुभयोर्विन्दते फलम् ॥...