Category:Becoming a Yogi
Theme Analysis
In this category, Śrīla Prabhupāda contrasts the difficult, mechanical path of aṣṭāṅga-yoga with the natural and accessible process of bhakti-yoga. The analysis reveals that true yoga is not about gymnastics or breathing exercises, but about re-establishing one's lost connection with the Supreme Lord. While traditional yoga requires strict celibacy, seclusion, and sensory deprivation—which are nearly impossible in the modern age—Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that one can become a "first-class yogi" immediately simply by thinking of Kṛṣṇa within the heart.
- The Definition of Yoga: Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the word yoga means "to link." Therefore, the goal of a yogi is to connect with the Supreme; one who indulges in sense gratification (bhogi) cannot be a yogi.
- The Topmost System: Citing the Bhagavad-gītā (6.47), the analysis establishes that the yogi who constantly thinks of Kṛṣṇa with faith and love is considered the highest of all.
- Simplicity of the Path: Unlike the arduous path of silent meditation in the forest, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and hearing about the Lord, one attains the perfection of yoga without difficulty.
- Practical Application: The quotes illustrate that one does not need to abandon their duties to become a yogi; like Arjuna, one can remain a warrior or a worker and still be a perfect mystic by dedicating their activities to Kṛṣṇa.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Easy Path to Becoming a First-Class Yogi.
Pages in category "Becoming a Yogi"
The following 58 pages are in this category, out of 58 total.
A
- A devotee can immediately become a perfect yogi because he practices keeping Krsna constantly within the core of his heart. This is another way to practice yoga easily
- A man who has no control over the tongue at first can hardly become a yogi. Yogi and bhogi are two opposite terms. The bhogi, or the merry man who eats and drinks, cannot be a yogi, for a yogi is never allowed to eat and drink unrestrictedly
- As soon as one always thinks of Krsna, he becomes a perfect yogi, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantaratmana (BG 6.47)). This antaratma, the mind, is conditioned by material nature
- As soon as one chants Hare Krsna, immediately he remembers Krsna, Krsna's activities, Krsna's pastimes, Krsna's form, Krsna's quality, Krsna's attributes - everything. That is called to absorb the mind in Krsna. You become immediately the first-class yogi
B
- Becoming a voluntary servant, carrying out orders, establishing a friendly relationship, or offering all of one's possessions, in the service of God. By such practice of yoga, or linking up in the service of the Lord, one is recognized by the Lord Himself
- Being attracted by the transcendental qualities of Krsna, such yogis become great saints. At that time, not being hampered by the yogic process, they engage in unalloyed devotional service
- Bhakti-yoga means buddhi-yoga, one who is highly intelligent. Or somehow or other he has become intelligent that, "I shall take to Krsna consciousness." Then his life is perfect immediately, and gradually he will realize Krsna
- Bhakti-yoga process, if you can execute one percent, oh, it becomes asset, and next life you are guaranteed, because you will be given the facility of executing bhakti-yoga further. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, in every sastra
- By executing devotional service one automatically becomes an expert jnani and an expert yogi. In other words, jnana and yoga are different preliminary stages of devotional service
- By seeing the Lord during arati, by offering bhoga and by constantly thinking of the form of the Deity, one becomes a first-class yogi. This is the best process of yoga
- By virtue of the divine consciousness of his previous life, he automatically becomes attracted to the yogic principles-even without seeking them. BG 6.44 - 1972
F
- For an ordinary man in the bodily concept of life, the practice of yoga may be helpful, but one who immediately takes to devotional service can immediately become a perfect yogi without difficulty
- For one who has not controlled his senses, going to the forest to become a so-called yogi is meaningless
H
- He (Visvamitra) became a great yogi, and yet he failed to check his senses and thus was obliged to become the father of Sakuntala, the beauty queen of world history
- Here it is authoritative statement that no one can become a yogi unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification. This is the first condition
- How is it that Krsna is asking Arjuna to become a yogi and at the same time participate in a ghastly civil war. That is the mystery of Bhagavad-gita
I
- If he is properly executing this meditational yoga, he stays alone in the jungles, forests or mountains and avoids society altogether. At all times he must be convinced for whom he has become a yogi
- If one is able to control the mind, then he becomes real yogi, and at that time, dhyanavasthita, meditation. Dhyanavasthita tad gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah (SB 12.13.1). Then he sees the Paramatma always. That is perfection of yoga
- If one practices devotional service by always keeping Krsna within the core of his heart (man-manah), he immediately becomes a first-class yogi. Furthermore, keeping Krsna within the mind is not a difficult task for the devotee
- If we can control the tongue not to touch anything which is not offered to Krsna, and if we do not allow the tongue to talk anything except Krsna, Hare Krsna maha-mantra, then you become the greatest yogi
- If you continue that thinking, Krsna, how He's standing, how He is playing on flute, how Radharani is there - in this way, if you think, then you become the greatest yogi
- If you indulge in intoxication, if you indulge in meat-eating, and if you indulge in gambling and sporting - all nonsense - you cannot at the same time become a yogi
- If you want to learn Krsna, if you want to know Krsna, then you have to take this process, mayy asakta-manah partha yogam. And if you practice this yoga, krsna-yoga, or bhakti-yoga, then you become the topmost of all yogis
- In Bhagavad-gita Krsna asks Arjuna to become a yogi, but He never tells him to cease from fighting. Quite the contrary. Of course one may ask how a person may be a yogi and at the same time a warrior
- In the modern age, however, there are so many rascals who recommend that while one has genitals he should enjoy women as much as he likes, and at the same time he can become a yogi
- In this way (dedicating all activities to Krsna) one becomes the highest yogi and the highest sannyasi. That is the secret
- Instead of becoming a yogi, you take shelter of Yogesvara. Then all yogic power will be within your control. Just like a rich man's son, if he is in trouble, the whole father estate is behind him. So why should he hanker after earning money?
- Is there any yoga system in the world that you can become a yogi simply by eating? Is there any yoga system? Just try to understand. Is there any yoga system simply by digging earth for gardening one can become a yogi? Is there any yoga system?
- It is better to be situated in one's position and to try to attain Krsna consciousness under superior training (than to give up one's prescrbied duties and become a so-called yogi). Thus one may be freed from the clutches of maya. BG 1972 purports
- It is not that after one practices some sitting postures he immediately becomes perfect. One has to perform yoga a long time - "many, many births" - to become mature, and a yogi has to practice in a secluded place
K
- Krsna advised Arjuna to become a yogi, but Arjuna said that - Krsna, it is not possible for me. Because I am a politician, I am a soldier, I cannot sit down to practice yoga superficially. My mind will be disturbed in political affairs, in state affairs
- Krsna has said that, Of all the yogis, one who is thinking of Me within himself, he's the first-class yogi. So you can become a first-class yogi at home without any expenditure, without any loss
O
- One cannot enjoy sex life daily at home or elsewhere and attend a so-called yoga class and thus become a yogi. One has to practice controlling the mind and avoiding all kinds of sense gratification, of which sex life is the chief. BG 1972 purports
- Our real purpose of life is to become yogi. Yogi means to reestablish our connection, our lost connection, with God. At the present moment, in our material condition, we have forgotten our relationship, our eternal relationship with Krsna
S
- Simply chant Hare Krsna and you become first-class yogi. And as soon as you become first-class yogi, all power is within you. Perhaps you do not know the yogic perfection, eight kinds of power
- So this Krsna consciousness movement is teaching people how to become first-class yogi. Sa me yuktatamo matah. Yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. This is real yogi. To practice yoga
- So-called yogis advertise that one can go on enjoying as one likes and simultaneously become a yogi, but this is totally unauthorized. It is very clearly explained here (in SB 3.28.4) that one must observe celibacy
- Sri Krsna tells Arjuna that he must understand that renunciation (sannyasa) and yoga are the same because without being freed from desire and sense gratification one can become neither a yogi nor a sannyasi
T
- That is not yoga practice, smoking ganja, bidi, intoxication, tea, and he has become a yogi. These are useless, all bogus. Yoga means he has controlled his senses. Yoga indriya-samyamah
- That is the perfection of yoga. One cannot become a perfect yogi simply by showing some sitting postures, nor by such sitting postures or so-called meditation can one become God, as is being advertised
- The demigods fully absorb themselves in meditation upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead to become perfect yogis, but because of the presence of demons, their hearts are filled with the activities of the demons
- The four divisions of human life, namely the brahmacari, the grhastha, the vanaprastha, and the sannyasi, are all meant to help men become perfect yogis or transcendentalists. BG 1972 purports
- The next process (after hearing and chanting) is smaranam - always remembering Krsna. When one is perfect in chanting and hearing, he will always remember Krsna. In this third stage, he becomes the greatest yogi
- The word kanaphata refers to one who has put a hole in his ear to wear an earring made of ivory. Maharaja Prataparudra was so depressed by not getting to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that he decided to become such a yogi
- There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much, or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough. BG 6.16 - 1972
- This Krsna consciousness movement is educating people to become first-class yogi. Think of Krsna. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare - Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. It is not bogus thing. It is actual fact. You can become yogi
- This Krsna consciousness movement means to train people to become the topmost yogi. Topmost yogi. Because they have controlled their senses. No meat eating, no intoxication, not even smoking or drinking tea. This is yoga
- This yoga practice begins simply by hearing. You have got these ears. You simply just lend your ears and you become yogi
W
- We are teaching our disciples to think of Krsna always, twenty-four hours. This Hare Krsna, if you chant and hear the word "Krsna," then you become the topmost yogi. And simplest method - anyone can practice it
- What is called renunciation is the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the Supreme, for no one can become a yogi unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification. BG 6.2 - 1972
- When one actually becomes a perfect yogi, by meditation he can see the supreme friend and surrender unto Him. This is the beginning of bhakti-yoga, or actual life in Krsna consciousness
- When you are perfect in chanting and hearing, then you'll always remember Krsna. That means in the third stage you become the greatest yogi
- Where is such yogi? Find out. Where is such yogi? He should remain alone, and in a secluded place and a sacred place. And he should not change his asana. Then he becomes a yogi. These are the preliminary things
- Without being fully in Krsna consciousness, no one should suddenly give up his prescribed duties and become a so-called yogi or transcendentalist artificially. BG 1972 purports