Chapter 6 – Dhyana Yoga

In this chapter, Lord Krishna explains in detail all about Dhyāna.

The word Dhyāna loosely translates to “meditation” in English. However, while meditation generally refers to thinking deeply about something, Dhyāna is a well-defined process aimed at experiencing the divine truth — the truth of our very existence, the true source of bliss.
One who seeks this experience of truth is called a Yogi. The Lord begins by explaining who qualifies to be called a Yogi:
One who has given up desires for the results of actions, yet continues to act relentlessly — he is a Yogi; not someone who merely sits idle. The Lord states that Sanyāsa and Yoga mean the same — such a person is not bound by any desire for self-gratification.

Sanyāsa and Yoga Are the Same – How?

Here, the term Yoga refers to Buddhi Yoga (Buddhi = intellect), which the Lord explained earlier in Chapters 2 and 3 while elaborating on Karma Yoga.

To refresh your memory, it is about incorporating the Yajña spirit into our actions — giving up the sense of entitlement to results and the associated pride in what we do. One must excel in performing actions with this attitude if one wishes to gain any control over the mind at all.

Why so? How so?

Think about it — when you no longer care about the result or about how others perceive your action (ego or pride), your mind naturally becomes more stable, composed, and balanced.
And this cannot be achieved without performing actions.
Therefore, learning to perform actions in the Yajña spirit is the first step for anyone beginning this journey of exploring the truth. Only after one becomes well-versed in this style of performing actions can one truly sit alone in contemplation of truth.
Having thus established the foundation, the Lord now elaborates on the traits of such a practicing Yogi.

Understanding the Mind
We must first understand what our mind is capable of. The Lord expresses this beautifully in the verse:
uddharet ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet
ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ

Meaning: Use your mind to elevate yourself toward divinity, and not to degrade yourself (by being lost in desires).
One who understands this well will use the mind as a friend to uplift himself; otherwise, the mind itself becomes his obstacle or foe.
This is not only advice for one’s spiritual journey but also a powerful message for dealing with anxiety and depression.
Only you can help yourself — never let your mind dwell on negatives. Pull it out of that dark hole by focusing your energies on positivity.

Qualities of a Yogi
A true Yogi is one who has conquered his mind - he remains calm, undisturbed by dualities such as heat or cold, happiness or distress, honour or dishonour.
These examples are particularly interesting as they represent the three realms of our existence:

The physical realm – heat and cold
The mental realm – happiness and distress
The intellectual realm – honour and dishonour

Such a Yogi is firmly established in knowledge and is free from doubts. The Lord says that for such a person, there is no difference between a stone and a piece of gold!

What kind of knowledge makes one forsake gold for a stone? Is it truly the right knowledge? The answer lies in asking — what will you do with either of them? How long will you keep them? Where will you take them?

Note – it is perfectly normal if you still feel gold is better! Continue your Karma Yoga sincerely. In time, your perspective may change naturally. This shift in valuation is not imposed — it is realized.

A Yogi views and treats everyone with the same love and affection. The Lord enumerates all kinds of people — the kind-hearted, friends, foes, relatives, neutral, pious, hateful, and sinful. No matter who it is, a Yogi remains impartial and acts without bias.

He neither eats too much nor too little; he neither sleeps excessively nor too little. Here, “eating” refers not only to food but to everything we consume through our senses.

Moderation in all things is the key.
Recall the saying - “Eat to live, not live to eat.”
Where and How to Practice Dhyāna

Find a clean, secluded place - free from distractions. Sit in a stable, comfortable posture.
The Lord specifies sitting on a firm mat, with a layer of kusa grass topped with deer skin.
Keep your spine, neck, and head in a straight line.

Focus your gaze on the tip of your nose, and eventually close your eyes. This activates your Ājñā Chakra (between the eyebrows) and prevents your attention from wandering.
Calm your mind completely, and being fearless, focus only on the Lord.
Engage your mind fully in contemplation of that eternal truth — the divine presence within you. This leads you to the experience of eternal bliss.
The Lord gives the example of a steady flame in a windless room — that is how your mind should be: unwavering, yet radiating light.
Similarly, though the mind emits thoughts constantly, all thoughts should remain steady and devoted to the Lord.

What You Experience in Dhyāna

When the mind is freed from external distractions, it begins to see or experience the divine within.
This happens only when the mind loses interest in the external world and turns completely inward.
The Lord says this state is one of unparalleled bliss — beyond the comprehension of the mind!
Whoever reaches it remains firmly established in awareness of the eternal truth. Having realized this, the mind ceases to crave anything more.

This cessation of dependence on the external world for happiness is called Yoga.
The external material world is a source of sorrow because all happiness derived from it is short-lived.

For example — you buy a brand-new Ferrari. Your joy knows no bounds… until a reckless driver scratches it! Or until you see a newer, better model!

The same source of happiness suddenly turns sour — and that sourness lingers longer than the earlier joy.
This is true of everything we consume from the external world. Hence, lasting happiness can never be found there.
How to Practice – The Right Mental Attitude
The Lord’s instructions in this chapter are so detailed that they leave one in awe.
He says — this happens gradually, step by step. You must have conviction and faith in the divinity within you. Engage your mind and intellect constantly in that focus — thinking of nothing else.

The mind will wander — that is its nature. Train it to notice when it strays and gently bring it back to rest upon the divine.

When one practices with faith and perseverance, the Lord — the eternal knowledge, eternal energy, eternal bliss — becomes easily accessible.

A true Yogi thus perceives divinity in all beings, and that same divinity manifests within him.
Now, Listen to Arjuna (Your Inner Voice)
Our friend Arjuna has questions — the same that may arise in your mind now.

Arjuna:
You have beautifully explained everything about Yoga. But knowing how restless my mind is, I don’t see how it’s possible to achieve! The mind is so turbulent and powerful — controlling it feels like trying to control the wind!

Lord Krishna:
Indeed, conquering the mind is difficult. But only through consistent practice and detachment can it be accomplished.
One who doesn’t wish to control the mind cannot reach this state. But for one who practices sincerely, it is certainly attainable.
Then Arjuna, ever the practical thinker, asks another question.

Arjuna:
Suppose someone begins this path but gets distracted by worldly pleasures midway and gives up — what happens to such a person? Will he not lose everything?
(The undertone here is familiar — when you restrain something for long, losing control often leads to overindulgence. Think of your first fast — how you might have feasted the next day and regretted it later!)

Lord Krishna:
Acts of self-control in pursuit of eternal knowledge never go to waste. Each step helps in burning away desires, and every bit of progress stays with you permanently.

Eventually, this progress places you among the right people and the right environment — in this life or the next — supporting your spiritual evolution.

Even if it is in the next birth, you will resume your journey from where you left off.
So, there is nothing to lose — begin your journey today, right now!

The mind, when is devoid of external distractions, is now able to ‘see’ or experience the divine lord within you. This can happen ONLY when the mind is no longer interested in external existence, thus completely unaware of external world. The focus then naturally shifts inwards.
The lord says, such a state is unparalleled bliss, and is beyond the comprehension of the mind! Whoever reaches that state, remains firm there, in complete awareness of that eternal truth. Having realised this eternal truth, the mind naturally stops craving for anything more. This act of mind, of cutting off dependency on external material world to seek happiness, is what is known as YOGA!
Here external material world is referred as a source of sorrow – as all perceived happiness is only short-lived. For example, assuming you bought a brand new beauty of a beast – Ferrari car. Your happiness knows no bound. Until one reckless driver driving past you makes a small scratch on the car! Or, until you see another latest of Ferrari that looks even more elegant and beautiful! The same source of happiness, suddenly turned into a tinge of sourness! Now that sourness lingers more than the earlier happiness!
This, in principle happens with everything we consume from external world! Hence, there’s no way to satisfy the mind permanently by relying only on external world. 

DISCLAIMER: 

This is our sincere attempt to summarise the Gitōpadeśa through a series of short blogs. This is not a full translation or commentary of the divine text. We seek forgiveness — from both the reader and the Lord — for inevitable omissions made to keep the blog concise.
These write-ups include both the writer’s personal reflections and summarised interpretations of various shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita. The intent is not to comment on the Gita, but to inspire readers to study it in its entirety.
The writer is neither a scholar nor a hermit — merely someone in between, with the firm belief that it is the Lord who makes him do whatever he does. Being human, he still errs. Please forgive all such mistakes.

Sarvam Krishnarpanamasthu!