Yogi yunjita satatam atmanam rahasi sthitah, ekaki yata-cittatma nirashir aparigrahah
Let the yogi constantly engage the self in meditation, dwelling in solitude, alone, with mind and self controlled, free from desire and possessiveness. These are the outer and inner conditions Krishna recommends for meditation practice: solitude, aloneness, self-control, and non-possessiveness.
- •Solitude supports the development of deep meditation
- •Freedom from desire and possessiveness is essential for inner stillness
- •Consistency in practice is more valuable than occasional intense effort
Mayi cha ananya-yogena bhaktir avyabhicharini, vivikta-desha-sevitvam aratir jana-samsadi
Unwavering devotion to Me through single-minded yoga, inclination toward solitary places, and aversion to the company of worldly people — these mark the knower of Truth. Pure devotion to God is itself the highest knowledge.
- •Unswerving devotion to the Divine is essential
- •Solitude supports spiritual practice
- •Avoiding excessive worldly association preserves clarity
vivikta-sevi laghv-asi yata-vak-kaya-manasah dhyana-yoga-paro nityam vairagyam samupasritah
Living in solitude, eating lightly, controlling speech, body, and mind, always engaged in the yoga of meditation, taking refuge in dispassion — these further qualities prepare the seeker for the realization of Brahman.
- •Solitude, light diet, and sensory restraint support deep meditation
- •Consistent practice of dhyana yoga is central to Brahman-realization
- •Vairagya — dispassion — is the essential internal refuge on the path to liberation