What does it mean to practice yoga perfectly? Is it possible today? Find out.
There have been many yoga systems popularized in the Western world, especially in this century, but none of them have actually taught the perfection of yoga. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, teaches Arjuna directly the perfection of yoga. It is certainly remarkable that the perfection of yoga was taught in the middle of a battlefield. It was taught to Arjuna, the warrior, just before Arjuna was to engage in a fratricidal battle. Out of sentiment, Arjuna was thinking, “Why should I fight against my own kinsmen?” That reluctance to fight was due to Arjuna’s illusion, and just to eradicate that illusion, Sri Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita to him. One can just imagine how little time must have elapsed while Bhagavad-Gita was being spoken. All the warriors on both sides were poised to fight, so there was very little time indeed–at the utmost, one hour. Within this one hour, the whole Bhagavad-Gita was discussed, and Sri Krishna set forth the perfection of all yoga systems to His friend Arjuna. At the end of this great discourse, Arjuna set aside his misgivings and fought.
In The Perfection of Yoga Srila Prabhupada cuts through the commercialism that now clouds the real meaning of yoga. He explains that beyond postures and exercises, beyond even meditation and breathing techniques, the ancient teachings of yoga aim at lasting, loving union with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.