Discovering the Real Meaning of Yoga and Dharma
The vast expanse of Vedic literature can be bewildering without the guidance of a realized soul to reveal its true intent. Acting as this perfect guide, Śrīla Prabhupāda systematically clears away centuries of speculative philosophy to present the direct, unadulterated meaning of the scriptures. By understanding the genuine definitions of spiritual terms, the sincere seeker is easily led to the ultimate goal of devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
The True Purpose of Yoga
In the modern world, the practice of yoga is frequently reduced to physical gymnastics or silent meditation for stress relief. However, the original Sanskrit root of the word implies "to connect" or "to link." To correct this widespread misunderstanding, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that any yoga system that fails to control the senses and establish a connection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead is ultimately useless. The perfection of yoga is achieved only when the individual soul unites in consciousness with the Supreme Soul.
- Generally yoga is understood as meditation. But yoga, real meaning of yoga - to keep, to keep in touch with the Supreme - that is called yoga, to keep in touch.
- At the present moment we are in subtraction - God minus myself. I have no sense of God; therefore I am in minus condition. So yoga means God plus I. That is the real meaning of yoga. So long I was God-minus, now God-plus.
- If there is no control of mind and no control of senses, the so-called yoga practice is bogus. It has no meaning. Yoga indriya samyama. Yoga means to control the senses. That is the real meaning of yoga.
- Sa kaleneha yogo nastah parantapa. That was lost. Although it is eternal, still, because the parampara system or the disciplic succession broke, therefore the real meaning or real purport of Bhagavad-gita was not received.
The Eternal Occupational Duty
The term dharma is commonly translated as "religion," leading people to believe it is a type of faith that can be changed according to whim. In truth, the authentic definition of dharma refers to the intrinsic, inseparable characteristic of an object, just as heat is the dharma of fire. Unveiling this profound philosophy, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the eternal dharma of the spirit soul is to serve the Supreme Lord. When society forgets this essential duty, it inevitably falls into degradation and suffering.
- Dharma is not a religious sentiment. Dharma means our occupational duty, real meaning. I think I have given it in Srimad-Bhagavatam. So when we forget our duty, that is called dharmasya glanih. Glanih means deterioration of our real occupational duty.
- Arjuna is asking, "What is the real meaning of atma?" Atma means the soul. You are also atma. I am also atma. Every one of us, the minute particle, part and parcel of Krsna.
- Atmanam sarvato rakset means... real meaning is you should give protection to the atma, means trying to save this soul, your soul, or yourself, from this transmigration of the body. And the plain truth, very simple truth, is given in Bhagavad-gita.
- The first principle of austerity is brahmacarya, restricted sex life. The real meaning of brahmacarya is complete celibacy, and according to Vedic culture in the beginning of life one should strictly follow the regulations of brahmacarya.
Demystifying the Vedānta Philosophy
The Vedānta-sūtra represents the absolute summary of all Vedic knowledge, yet it has been heavily subjected to word jugglery and speculative interpretation. Impersonalists attempt to strip the Absolute Truth of its spiritual form and personality, leading innocent people away from the path of devotion. To combat this illusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda fiercely defended the direct meaning of the texts, asserting that any honest reading points exclusively to Kṛṣṇa. Understanding this direct meaning requires hearing from authorized sources rather than mundane scholars.
- As stated in the Bhagavad-gita, whoever hears Vedanta philosophy from Krsna is actually aware of the real meaning of Vedanta. The Mayavadis call themselves Vedantists but do not at all understand the purport of Vedanta philosophy.
- Nobody requires any lamp to see the sun. Everyone can see. But if it is covered by the cloud, it is very difficult to see. So this Mayavada interpretation is, explanation, means covering the real meaning. That's all.
- In order to understand the real meaning of the Vedanta-sutra, I (Lord Caitanya) never followed the explanation of the Sankara-sampradaya or Mayavadi sannyasis. I'm very much afraid of the illogical arguments of the Mayavadi philosophers.
- When Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he advised the Lord to learn Vedanta philosophy from him, but later he became a student of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to understand the real meaning of Vedanta.
Uncovering the Māyāvādī Distortions
The impersonalist philosophy, or Māyāvāda, is particularly dangerous because it intentionally obscures the true nature of God under the guise of deep spiritual insight. This philosophy was historically propagated to deviate people from devotional service and focus on voidism or monism. Fearlessly exposing this deception, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains how these indirect interpretations completely ruin the actual intent of the scriptures. True intelligence lies in rejecting these linguistic distortions and accepting the Supreme Lord's spiritual form.
- In this philosophy, which is certainly very inauspicious for people in general, I (Siva as Sankaracarya) have misrepresented the real meaning of the Vedas and recommended that one give up all activities in order to achieve freedom from karma.
- Mayavadi sannyasis accept that the commentary by Sri Sankaracarya known as Sariraka-bhasya gives the real meaning of the Vedanta-sutra.
- Prakasananda Sarasvati also admitted that because Sankaracarya wanted to establish his philosophy of monism, therefore he had to cover the real meaning of Vedanta-sutra.
- Such unscrupulous deviation from the real meaning of the Vedanta-sutra has created a class of men who by word jugglery try to derive various indirect meanings from the Vedic literatures, especially the Bhagavad-gita.
Application of the Ultimate Truth
Once the direct meaning of the Vedic literature is understood, the natural result is an active, loving engagement in the service of the Lord. This pure devotional service is not restricted to theoretical knowledge; it manifests in a practical desire to preach and spread spiritual consciousness. Capturing the highest essence of this knowledge, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the ultimate conclusion of all scriptures is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, mirroring the perfect spiritual atmosphere of Vṛndāvana.
- In the spiritual world, Vrndavana everyone - Mother Yasoda, Nanda Maharaja, Srimati Radharani, the gopis, the cowherd boys, Sridama, Sudama, the land, the water, the trees, the birds - all are trying to satisfy Krsna. That is the real meaning of Vrndavana.
- Our first and foremost business is to spread Krsna consciousness. So utilize every opportunity that Krsna gives you for preaching His message, that is real meaning of temple management.
- If one accepts the real or direct meaning of these Vedic statements, one can understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead has a spiritual body - sac-cid-ananda-vigraha.
- Since Krsna is the Absolute Truth, there are no mundane distinctions such as moral and immoral. Whatever He does is good. This is the real meaning of "God is good." He is good in all circumstances.
Conclusion
The vast and complex wisdom of the Vedas is remarkably simple when received through the pure lens of disciplic succession. By expertly clarifying the original intent of all spiritual terminology, Śrīla Prabhupāda saves humanity from the dangerous pitfalls of impersonalism and superficial religiosity. When one grasps the real meaning of dharma and yoga, life seamlessly transforms into an unbroken, joyous practice of love and devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Real Meaning. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.
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