Self-mastery is essential
Uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet, atmaiva hy atmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah
Elevate yourself through the power of your mind, and not degrade yourself. The mind can be the friend and also the enemy of the self.
- •The mind can uplift or destroy
- •Take responsibility for your own growth
The mind can be friend or foe
Bandhur atmatmanas tasya yenatmaivatmana jitah, anatmanas tu shatrutve vartetatmaiva shatru-vat
For those who have conquered the mind, it is their friend. For those who have failed to do so, the mind works like an enemy.
- •Conquest of mind determines destiny
- •Internal battle is most important
Mind attains perfect quietude
Yatroparamate chittam niruddham yoga-sevaya, yatra chaivatmanatmanam pashyann atmani tushyati
When the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, attains quietude, and when beholding the self by the self, one is satisfied in the self.
- •Self-realization brings satisfaction
- •Seeing the self in the self
Unified consciousness sees oneness
Sarva-bhuta-stham atmanam sarva-bhutani chatmani, ikshate yoga-yuktatma sarvatra sama-darshanah
The yogis, who are united in consciousness, see the soul in all beings and all beings in the soul. They see the same in all.
- •All beings contain the same soul
- •True vision sees no separation
Seeing the Divine in all beings is the highest form of vision
Yo mam pashyati sarvatra sarvam ca mayi pashyati, tasyaham na pranashyami sa ca me na pranashyati
One who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me — I am never lost to that person, and that person is never lost to Me. This is the essence of the vision of oneness: the devotee who sees the Divine in all and all in the Divine is forever united with the Lord.
- •The yogi who sees oneness is never separated from the Divine
- •This mutual indwelling is the ultimate fruit of devotion and practice
Worshiping the Divine present in all beings is the highest bhakti
Sarva-bhuta-sthitam yo mam bhajaty ekatvam asthitah, sarvatha vartamano 'pi sa yogi mayi vartate
The yogi who worships Me dwelling in all beings, established in unity — that yogi abides in Me regardless of how they live. One who sees the Divine in all beings and lives from that unitive vision is always dwelling in God, regardless of outer circumstances.
- •Unity of vision means abiding in God under all conditions
- •Outer lifestyle matters less than the inner realization of oneness
Divine grace supports sincere devotees
Ananya-chintayanto mam ye janah paryupasate, tesham nityabhiyuktanam yoga-kshemam vahamy aham
To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.
- •Constant devotion attracts divine help
- •Faith and dedication are rewarded
God's impartial love for all
Samo 'ham sarva-bhuteshu na me dveshyo 'sti na priyah, ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya mayi te teshu chapy aham
I am equal to all beings; none is hateful or dear to Me. But those who worship Me with devotion are in Me, and I am in them.
- •Devotion creates intimacy
- •We find God when we seek Him
God is present in all hearts
Aham atma gudakesha sarva-bhutashaya-sthitah, aham adish cha madhyam cha bhutanam anta eva cha
I am the self, O Gudakesha, seated in the hearts of all beings. I am the beginning, middle, and end of all beings.
- •Divine presence in all phases of existence
- •From beginning to end, all is divine
Brahman transcends the senses yet illuminates them
Sarvendriya-gunabhasam sarvendriya-vivarjitam, asaktam sarva-bhric caiva nirgunam guna-bhoktri cha
The knowable is the source of all sense functions yet is itself without any senses. It is unattached yet sustains all; it is without qualities yet experiences all qualities. This apparent paradox reveals the transcendent nature of the Absolute.
- •The Absolute is unattached yet sustains everything
- •Transcendence and immanence coexist in the Supreme
All creation stems from consciousness and matter
Yavat sanjayate kinchit sattvam sthavara-jangamam, kshetra-kshetrajña-samyogat tad viddhi bharatarshabha
Know, O Arjuna, that whatever being, moving or non-moving, is born, it is from the union between the field and the knower of the field.
- •The interplay of spirit and material
- •Understanding the basis of existence
True vision perceives the Divine equally in all beings
Samam sarveshu bhutesu tishthantam parameshvaram, vinashyatsv avinashyantam yah pashyati sa pashyati
One who sees the Supreme Lord equally present in all beings, the imperishable within the perishable — that person truly sees. The hallmark of genuine realization is the perception of the Divine equally in all forms of existence.
- •The imperishable Supersoul dwells within all perishable forms
- •Equal vision toward all beings marks the realized soul
All souls are divine sparks
Mamaivamsho jiva-loke jiva-bhutah sanatanah, manah-shashthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karshati
The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.
- •We are eternally connected to the source
- •The material struggle is temporary
God dwells in every heart
Sarvasya chaham hridi sannivishto mattah smritir jnanam apohanam cha, vedaish cha sarvair aham eva vedyo vedanta-krid veda-vid eva chaham
I am seated in the hearts of all; from Me come memory, knowledge, and understanding. I am verily that which is to be known by all the Vedas; I am indeed the author of Vedanta and the knower of the Vedas.
- •All knowledge comes from the divine
- •The Vedas point to this ultimate truth
God dwells in every heart
Ishvarah sarva-bhutanam hrid-deshe 'rjuna tishthati, bhramayan sarva-bhutani yantrarudhani mayaya
The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.
- •We are guided by divine presence
- •Material nature is a vehicle for learning
Ultimate teaching: complete surrender
Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami ma shuchah
Abandon all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.
- •Divine grace liberates from all karma
- •Let go of fear and trust completely
Mental conquest leads to supreme peace
Jitatmanah prasantasya paramatma samahitah, shitoshna-sukha-duhkheshu tatha manapamanayoh
One who has conquered the mind has already reached the Supreme Self, for they have attained tranquility. To such a person, happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.
- •Equanimity in all conditions
- •Transcending dualities
See yourself in all beings
Atmaupamyena sarvatra samam pashyati yo 'rjuna, sukham va yadi va duhkham sa yogi paramo matah
Those who see with equal vision their own self in all beings, and all beings in their own self, whether in happiness or in distress, are considered to be perfect yogis.
- •Universal empathy and compassion
- •This vision defines a perfect yogi
All sincere devotees are noble regardless of their level
Udarah sarva evaite jnani tv atmaiva me matam, asthitah sa hi yuktatma mam evanuttamam gatim
All these devotees are certainly noble souls, but I consider the jnani to be My very Self. Established in yoga, the jnani has attained Me as the supreme goal. While all four types of devotees are noble, the enlightened devotee (jnani) who sees no distinction between self and God is considered the most exalted.
- •The jnani realizes non-difference between self and God
- •The highest yoga is to see the Supreme as one's own true nature
God is everything to the devotee
Gatir bharta prabhuh sakshi nivasah sharanam suhrit, prabhavah pralayah sthanam nidhanam bijam avyayam
I am the goal, sustainer, master, witness, abode, shelter, and friend. I am the creation and destruction, the basis of everything, the resting place, and the eternal seed.
- •Divine in all roles and relationships
- •Complete dependence on the divine