Page 23 - THE FOURTH DIMENSION

The Patanjali yoga system aims to control the mind and senses by following the by regulating the functions of
the body’s air and withdrawing the senses from all external sense perceptions and activities by the following:

Sacrifice of material possessions.

Sacrifice by performing severe austerities.

Sacrifice by the practice of the eightfold mystic yoga.

Sacrifice by study of the Vedas to attain transcendental knowledge.

Sacrifice of breath restraint to remain in trance by stopping the breathing and eating. This is called pranayama
yoga.

These types of sacrifices are not necessary if one undertakes devotional service (Bhakti-yoga) with full conviction
and faith. The same goal of controlling the mind and senses can be achieved by unflinching devotional service
under the guidance of a bona fide Vaisnava devotee.

Sense gratification is the root cause of material existence. The aim of all the above types of sacrifice is control
of the senses and especially the mind to re-orient one’s life from sense gratification to the pursuit of self-
realization. This is essential for development of intelligence to comprehend higher order material and spiritual
knowledge. Lord Krishna confirms:
tāni sarvāṇi saṁyamya / yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ
vaśe hi yasyendriyāṇi / tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā

“One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known
as a man of steady intelligence.” (Bg 2.61)

With good intelligence one can understand that the goal of life is not sense gratification which only brings
frustration and death. The real goal of life is achieved by devotional service by which one attains knowledge of
the self and his eternal relationship with Lord Krishna. Krishna describes this profound understanding, which is
the fruit of devotional service:

na hi jñānena sadṛśaṁ / pavitram iha vidyate
tat svayaṁ yoga-saṁsiddhaḥ / kālenātmani vindati

“In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature
fruit of all mysticism. And one who has become accomplished in the practice of devotional service enjoys this
knowledge within himself in due course of time.” (Bg 4.38)

Lord Krishna as the Supersoul in the heart reveals transcendental knowledge to the devotee. The devotee then
experiences spiritual peace by virtue of the conviction that simply by engagement in Krishna consciousness one
can achieve the pinnacle of human perfection: pure love of Lord Krishna and eternal association with the Lord
and His eternal associates. Such a faithful and dedicated devotee’s heart is cleansed of material desires and
mundane attachments due to his unalloyed dedication to serving the Lord. In this state of pure love and devotion
He is protected by the Lord’s mercy. Krishna confirms:

yoga-sannyasta-karmāṇaṁ / jñāna-sañchinna-saṁśayam
ātmavantaṁ na karmāṇi / nibadhnanti dhanañjaya

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