How does a meditation yogi go from a neophyte stage to an advanced stage?
Krishna literally states that one should elevate oneself (ātmā) by the self (ātmanā) (BG 6.5). When the self (ātmā) is under control, it acts as the friend of the self (ātmā). Otherwise, the non-self (anātmanas) will pose as the enemy of the self. (BG 6.6) In order to properly decipher this apparent enigmatic statement, we need to understand that the self (ātmā) fundamentally refers to the soul but can also contextually refer to the body or the mind because we falsely identify with our body or mind. Non-self (anātmanas) means the illusory conception of the self and therefore non-self also refers to the body or the mind. With this understanding, we can rephrase the above statement (by considering our condition of mental misidentification) as follows: one should elevate oneself by the mind. When the mind is under control, it acts as the friend of the self. Otherwise, the mind will pose as the enemy of the self.
What are the symptoms of a person with a controlled mind or whose mind is acting as a friend?
If one has control over the mind, one has essentially realized the Supersoul (or attained samādhi). This is characterized by the tranquility of the senses (where one is unaffected by the duality of heat and cold), the tranquility of the mind (where one is unaffected by the duality of happiness and distress), and the tranquility of the intelligence (where one is unaffected by the duality of honor and dishonor). (BG 6.7)
The tranquility at the level of the senses is furthermore observable as follows: one is satisfied with one’s knowledge and realization (jñāna-vijñāna-tṛptātmā), established in self-realization (kūṭa-stha), and has equal vision toward gross objects like pebbles, stone, and gold. (BG 6.8)
When one is even more advanced in controlling one’s mind, the tranquility is exhibited at the level of the intelligence (sama-buddhi), which is characterized by an equal vision toward well-wishers, neutral, mediators, envious, friends, enemies, pious and sinners (BG 6.9). In other words, in the most advanced stage, one is expert in emotional and relationship management on a spiritual platform.
Henceforward (beginning from BG 6.10), we will see that this mind control is central to yoga practice and therefore is going to be an integral part of every aspect of the meditation yoga.
