When we want to drive to a particular destination, we stay straight on the path that will take us there. But if factors beyond our control such as traffic jams or damaged roads prevent us from taking that way, then we choose alternate paths that briefly take us elsewhere before we can return to the straight path. And even when we are on the straight path, the car by its default motion tends to go off track. By steering regularly, we bring it back on track and eventually reach the destination.
Spiritual life is like a journey, wherein we take our consciousness from the world to Krishna. Bhakti-yoga offers us the best path, the straightest trajectory, to traverse that journey. What keeps us on that path is the central principle of bhakti: fixing the mind on Krishna.
Yet we all know that fixing the mind thus is far from easy. Significantly, the Gita anticipates our difficulty and equips us with a sound strategy to deal with it: being resilient as the stepping-stone to becoming consistent.
In its sixth chapter (06.20-23), it gives an enchanting description of the fruit of consistent yoga practice – the everlasting ecstasy of absorption in transcendence. This description provides the motivation and inspiration for implementing its practical recommendation (06.26): be resilient – even if the mind wanders here and there and everywhere, steer it back on track.
Regular scriptural study and spiritual association remind us of the glorious destination awaiting us, thereby granting us the strength to be resilient in our devotion, no matter how often and how obtusely the mind distracts us. The resulting contact with Krishna gradually purifies the mind, disabusing it of its distracting infatuations. This enables us to make our devotion consistent, opening the door to ecstasy eternal.
I needed to hear this lesson. Because of illness, I have been struggling with chanting my rounds each. This text was a real encouragement . I do not have to wallow in the pigsty of guilt, but slowly get out of Maya’s mud hole and rectify my position and get back on the real path of service. Thanks Gita Wisdom; this lesson really spoke to to my heart. Please keep on presenting your wisdom and insights. JKH