Bhakti is the Ultimate Perfection of Yoga

Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the modern conception of yoga as a physical exercise is vastly incomplete. True yoga means linking with the Supreme. By bypassing the lesser achievements of mystic powers and directly engaging in devotional service, a sincere soul attains the ultimate perfection of yoga: an eternal, loving relationship with Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

The Illusion of Mystic Powers

While many practitioners are attracted to the mystic yoga process to acquire the eight material perfections (such as becoming smaller than the smallest or creating planets), Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that these are temporary material opulences. A pure devotee recognizes that these powers cannot solve the real problem of repeated birth and death.

• Someone may aspire for one of the eight yogic perfections in the mystic yoga process, such as to become the smallest, to become the heaviest, or to acquire anything he desires, but these achievements are material; they are not perfection.
• Yogic perfection makes available eight material opulences - anima, laghima, mahima, prapti, prakamya, isitva, vasitva and kamavasayita.
• A pure devotee is not interested in yogic perfection, travel to higher planetary systems, or oneness with Brahman.

Fixing the Mind on the Supreme

The genuine aṣṭāṅga-yoga system was designed to control the turbulent mind and withdraw the senses from material engagement. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the perfection of this meditation is to continuously focus the mind on the Viṣṇu form of the Lord situated within the heart.

• All the senses have to be stopped in their external activities, and the mind must be concentrated on visnu-murti, the form of Lord Visnu. That is the perfection of yoga. The mind is very turbulent, so it has to be fixed upon the heart.
• If you want perfection in yoga system, don't be satisfied only by practicing a course of asana. You have to go further. Actually, the perfection of yoga system means when you are in samadhi, always thinking of the Visnu form of the Lord within your heart.
• Real perfection of yoga means to fix up the mind at the lotus feet of Krsna.

Bhakti as the Highest Yoga

The culmination of all yogic processes is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites the Bhagavad-gītā to prove that the first-class yogī is the pure devotee who spontaneously serves the Lord with faith and love, rendering all other forms of yoga secondary.

• Bhakti-yoga or Krsna consciousness is the ultimate perfection of all yogas, as will be explained in the next verse (BG 6.47).
• Krsna clearly says that he who concentrates upon His personal form and who worships Him with faith and devotion is to be considered most perfect in yoga.
• As the river is going after the sea spontaneously, without any artificial attempt, so such spontaneous love for Krsna, or God, that is the perfection of yoga.

Returning to the Spiritual Sky

The final test of yogic perfection is successfully transferring the soul out of the material universe. By constantly thinking of Kṛṣṇa and acting in complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the devotee effortlessly leaves the material body and enters the eternal spiritual sky.

• The perfection of yoga system means to get eternal life, blissful life and full of knowledge. So we have to execute any yoga system with that aim. Not that I attend some yoga class to reduce fat or to keep my body very fit for sense gratification.
• Lord Krsna says, murdhny adhayatmanah pranam asthito yoga-dharanam: "The perfection of yoga is to transfer oneself to the spiritual world." - BG 8.12.
• By perfection of the yoga system one not only can travel through material space, but can surpass material space and enter the spiritual sky. We learn this fact also from an incident concerning Durvasa Muni and Maharaja Ambarisa.
• To act in Krsna consciousness is the perfection of life and the highest perfection of yoga.

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda perfectly dismantles the popular misconception that yoga is merely a system of physical health or a method to acquire magical powers. While mystic yogīs may achieve extraordinary material feats, they remain bound by material nature. True perfection in yoga requires controlling the restless mind and fixing it steadfastly on the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu. Ultimately, the highest and most accessible path to this perfection is bhakti-yoga, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. By chanting the holy names, rendering spontaneous loving service, and acting solely for Kṛṣṇa's pleasure, the devotee naturally achieves the greatest yogic feat: transcending the material universe and returning to the spiritual sky to associate eternally with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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