समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिर: |
सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन् || 13||
प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थित: |
मन: संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्पर: || 14||
samaṁ kāya-śhiro-grīvaṁ dhārayann achalaṁ sthiraḥ
samprekṣhya nāsikāgraṁ svaṁ diśhaśh chānavalokayan
praśhāntātmā vigata-bhīr brahmachāri-vrate sthitaḥ
manaḥ sanyamya mach-chitto yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ
samam—straight; kāya—body; śhiraḥ—head; grīvam—neck; dhārayan—holding; achalam—unmoving; sthiraḥ—still; samprekṣhya—gazing; nāsika-agram—at the tip of the nose; svam—own; diśhaḥ—directions; cha—and; anavalokayan—not looking; praśhānta—serene; ātmā—mind; vigata-bhīḥ—fearless; brahmachāri-vrate—in the vow of celibacy; sthitaḥ—situated; manaḥ—mind; sanyamya—having controlled; mat-chittaḥ—meditate on me (Shree Krishna); yuktaḥ—engaged; āsīta—should sit; mat-paraḥ—having me as the supreme goal
Translation:
Let him firmly hold the body, head and neck erect, and gazing on the tip of his nose, without looking around, let him sit, serene and fearless, established in the vow of celibacy, self-controlled and balanced, thinking of Me as the Supreme goal.
Commentary:
The Sadhaka should sit on the seat with his body, head and neck erect. By so doing, the current of energy passing upwards through the nerves of the spinal column has a free and unobstructed flow towards the brain-centre called the ‘Sahasrara’ in Rajayoga. It is in that state that high thoughts are generated and higher spiritual experiences come to the yogi. During the time fixed for practice, he should not quit the seat or change the posture (sthirah).
Then he should not look this side or that. The mind is distracted by looking at objects around him. He should fix the gaze on the tip of the nose and start meditation. By this, the mind becomes steady gradually. In the early stages, it is best to fix the gaze on the tip of the nose. The eyes are kept half-open and sleep is thereby prevented. It looks as though the Lord has provided the eyelids for this purpose only out of compassion for mankind.
Having thus fixed the gaze, he should withdraw the mind from everything else and think of the Self only, because the Self is the highest goal. The Lord is no other than the Supreme Self shining in the hearts of all beings.
The Sadhaka should possess four basic virtues – peace, fearlessness, celibacy, and self-control. Peace, deep and limitless like the ocean should fill the mind. There should not be the least trace of fear. When the whole world is only a dream-like reflection, where and what for is fear? When his own Self is everywhere what should he fear? Fear arises only when the Self is forgotten and the objective world assumes the air of reality. The Upanishads declare the same truth.
To some extent, the aspirant has to cultivate dispassion and devotion by spiritual enquiry into the nature of Reality, and then only Dhyana becomes possible. Freedom from fear comes from a firm understanding of the Truth. One should know by clear rational thinking that Atma alone is the Reality and all the rest is only a painted picture caused by the interposition of name and form. When this truth is driven into the mind, naturally fear is eliminated, and when fear is eliminated Dhyana becomes easy.
Celibacy is essential for spiritual life. The body and mind acquire tremendous energy and power by celibacy. The word ‘Brahmacharya’ means actually living and being in Brahman. Ordinarily, the word refers to the control of thoughts and acts of sex and lust. The house-holders have certain principles of celibacy. What is needed is that lustful thoughts should not be allowed to enter the mind of the aspirant. He should keep the mind and body pure. Almost all the world-movers have practised celibacy in some form or other. As the lamp cannot burn without oil, so also, spiritual life is impossible without ‘Brahmacharya’. The semen turns into energy and light. We see a peculiar light illumining the face of those who have practiced celibacy. It is said that several drops of blood becomes a drop of semen. It is energy and it is light. So the preservation of semen is essential for spiritual illumination. That is why celibacy is spoken of as a vow) (Vratam). It is the highest vow unequaled in purity and power.
In this manner, the seeker should practise Dhyanayoga, thinking of the Lord (Atma) only, to the exclusion of everything else. Thus he should merge the mind in the Supreme.
Question: How should the sadhaka sit for meditation?
Answer: With his body, head and neck erect, he should sit still and motionless till the period of practice is over.
Question: Where should the gaze be fixed?
Answer: The gaze should be fixed on the tip of the nose and he should not look around.
Question: What are the qualities required for the Sadhaka?
Answer: Peace, fearlessness, celibacy and self-control.
Question: What is the aim of Dhyana?
Answer: Merging the mind in the Self is the aim of Dhyana.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 6 🔻 (47 Verses)
