dear acharyaji,

Namaste
Why do you say that Ashtang yoga of sage Patanjali is
meant for less intelligent persons who have no better
knowledge. On the contrary it is meant for intelligent
people.The ashtang yoga is one of six Darshans in
vaidik systeme of life. Chapter 6 of Bhagavad-gita is
nothing but essence of Ashtang yog .Ultimate aim of
which is to reach Kaivalya,chitishakti or swarup
pratishta or awakening original Krishna
consciousness, which is also eternal, full of
knowledge and full of bliss.May I request you to
please let all sadhakas know the reason for inclusion
of chapter six in Bhagavad gita?
With my obeisances,
Janardan Mali

On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 10:54 AM, Sankarshan Das

Adhikari <sda@ultimateselfrealization.com> wrote:

From: Sri Vrindavana Dhama, India

My Dear Janardana,
Please accept my blessings.All glories to Srila
Prabhupada. Thank you very much for seeking
clarification of your doubt. Your request is a sign of
your intelligence.
Regarding intelligence--there is intelligent, more
intelligent,and most intelligent. While of course, we
accept that anyone who takes to the self-realization
path is intelligent, at the same time we see that
those who adopt a pathway which can bring
perfection in one lifetime are more intelligent than
those who adopt a pathway which takes many
lifetimes. If you will carefully examine chapter six of
the Bhagavad-gita you will see in the final verse
that Lord Krishna states that out of all yogis, the
one who takes to the path of bhakti is on the
highest platform. So the eightfold yogic path is meant
for those who are not able to come to the highest
platform of bhakti. Chapter six is included in the
Bhagavad-gita by Lord Sri Krishna for comparing
the astanga, eightfold yoga system with bhakti yoga
to show that bhakti yoga is better. The proof is that
the prime recipient of the Bhagavad-gita, Sri
Arjuna, did not execute the
eightfold yoga path. He instead demonstrated the
perfect example of bhakti yoga by fully
surrendering to the instructions of Lord Sri Krishna.
So it is not my words. It is Lord Sri Krishna Himself
who is stating that bhakti yoga, the yoga of
devotion, surpasses the eightfold system. And we
see in history that the great stalwart yogi,
Visvamrita, who achieved samadhi, the highest
platform of the eightfold path, immediately fell
victim to sex desire when tempted by the heavenly
damsel, Menaka. And we also see that the great
devotee Haridas Thakur even without executing the
eightfold path was able to withstand the repeated
advances of a beautiful naked young woman in the
dead of night in a solitary place because

of his complete absorption in chanting the holy

names of God in mood of love and devotion. In
conclusion, it is confirmed in chapter six of the
Bhagavad-gita and in historical example that

the path of devotion is superior to the eightfold

yoga system. This is why we can make a clear
distinction between these two paths. I hope this
meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic
mood.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Param pujya Acharayaji,

Namaste and thank you very much for your guidance.
To tell you the truth your clarification is not
convincing.

In verse 46 of chapter 6, Shri Krishna advises Arjuna

to become yogi because yogi is Superior to
Tapasvi.for achieving some A Tapasvi is a person who
practices various kinds of disciplines and undertakes
meditation for achieving some specific psychic power-
worldly things.He is not striving for ultimate goal
.Yogi is also considered to be even superior to dnyani
-vedic scholar having Vedic literary knowledge, which
will not take him to ultimate goal.Further the Yogi
striving for krishna consciencness through those
dhyan yoga as unfolded in earlier shlokas is far
superior to Karmibhyah who are merely committed to
the performance of Vedic rituals, seeking some kind
of fruits of their actions. Therefore be yogi striving
for ultimate goal throgh dhyan yoga unfolded above
(in earlier shlokas ).

If you will carefully examine chapter six of the

Bhagavad-gita you will see in the final verse that Lord
Krishna states that out of all yogis, the one who takes
to the path of bhakti is on the highest platform. This
means first he should be yogi. Do you agree or not?

Who says there is no bahkti in Ashtang yoga. A

cursory look to Samadhipad (part 1) sutra number 23
and sutra number 1 of Sadhanpad(second part) of
Patanjali Yog Darshan, one will notice that to reach
the highest platform there is a method namely Ishvar
Pranidhan- complete surrender to Ishvar/shri Krishna.
In day to day life ,Tapa,svadhyay and Ishvar
pranidhan are necessary to reduce /attenuate
cleshas or afflictions so as to have Samadhi Bhavana
or Krishna consciousness.
I did not like your saying that the above process
(Ashtang Yog) is recommended for less intelligent
persons who have no better knowledge.This is against
the advice given to Urjuna by the Yogeshvar Shri
Krishna.
Anyway I am really grateful to you for providing daily
inspirational thought which gives satvik food to my
mind/thought.
With my obeisances and Highest regards,
Janardan Mali