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Yoga is the intensity of your want to live without fear || Acharya Prashant, on Bhagwad Gita (2017)
Scriptures and Saints
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3 years ago
Bhagavad Gita
Yoga
Mind
Stillness
Shri Krishna
Kabir Saheb
Self-realization
Consciousness
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that the predicament of Arjun is not merely personal but represents the universal conflict of all mankind. He emphasizes that Shri Krishna and Arjun exist within every individual. Discussing verse 53 of the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, he defines Yoga as the state where the mind, previously confused by sensory inputs and traditional learning, becomes firm and steady. He asserts that the mind is typically burdened by an accumulation of experiences, genetic tendencies, and memories, which creates a state of constant restlessness. This "occupied mind" is identified as the singular illness of humanity, where even the holiest scriptures can become a burden if they are held as mental objects. The speaker highlights that the mind operates within the limits of space and time, meaning it can only grasp finite objects. While the mind seeks the unlimited, it can only encounter the limited, leading to a cycle of perpetual dissatisfaction. He explains that all human activity, including the pursuit of pleasure or ambition, is a disguised attempt to reach a point of stopping or stillness. Acharya Prashant argues that one cannot reach the infinite through the finite; instead, one must recognize the futility of the mind's chase. He suggests that the "holy" labels we attach to certain concepts are the very things that prevent us from letting go of mental burdens. Finally, he teaches that Yoga involves dropping the sense of importance attached to mental content. He encourages a shift from "doing" to "letting be," comparing it to the way the body breathes or digests food without conscious interference. By trusting the intelligence of existence and realizing that peace is not a future goal but a present reality, the mind can achieve stillness. He concludes that one should not fight thoughts but rather maintain a sense of otherness, allowing the mind to function naturally without being entangled in its movements.