BG 06.10-17: The Process of Meditation Yoga

Meditation (dhyāna) Yoga or aṣṭāṅga-yoga is a step-by-step strenuous process to detangle the soul from the influence of matter. True to the definition of yoga given by Sage Patanjali (yogas citta vṛtti nirodhaḥ), the goal here is to stop the churning of the mind and move from the neophyte stage to the advanced stage of yoga.

Krishna describes the set-up of the meditation yoga process in great detail. He delineates the importance of both the internal and external modifications to make this process successful. We sequentially enumerate these details as follows:

1. BG 6.10: Externally, one should resign from active life and go to a secluded place (rahasi sthitaḥ), and stay alone (ekākī). Internally, one should constantly engage the body, mind, and self (ātmānaḿ), and become free from desires and possessiveness (nirāśīr aparigrahaḥ).
2. BG 6.11-12: Externally, one should reside in a sacred place (śucaudeśe), firmly fixed (sthiram) on a seat neither too high nor too low (nāty-ucchritaḿ nāti-nīcaḿ), with kuśa grass covered over by soft cloth and deerskin (cailājina-kuśottaram). Internally, the mind should be fixed on one point (tatraikāgraḿ manaḥ kṛtvā); with the mind and senses controlled (yata-cittendriya-kriyaḥ), one should practice yoga to purify the heart (ātma-viśuddhaye).
3. BG 6.13-14: Externally, the body, head, and neck should be aligned in a straight line (samaḿ kāya-śiro-grīvaḿ) at all times. Internally, one should approach the divinity with an unagitated mind (praśāntātmā), free from fear (vigata-bhī), fixed in the vow of celibacy (brahmacāri-vratesthitaḥ), with the mind subdued (manaḥ saḿyamya), meditating on Krishna (mac-citta), making Krishna the ultimate goal of life (yuktaāsīta mat-paraḥ).

When this process is done with a regulated mind, the result is (i) peace (śāntiḿ), (ii) cessation of material existence (nirvāṇa-paramāḿ), ultimately (iii) attainment of Krishna’s abode (mat-saḿsthāmadhigacchati). (BG 6.15)

What are the preconditions for the meditation yoga to give the practitioner freedom from miseries?

There are four sources of energy operative in one’s life: eating, sleeping, breathing, and meditation. Regulation in eating (āhāra), sleeping (svapna), recreation or breathing (vihāra), meditation (avabodha), and all endeavors (karma) when done in relation with the Supreme Lord (yukta) will give one freedom from miseries by the practice of the meditation yoga. (BG 6.16–17)