God and the Yogīs - The True Focus of Mystic Meditation
The practice of mystic yoga has been widely misunderstood in the modern age as a method for physical health or magical prowess. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the true, authorized purpose of the yoga system is to completely absorb the mind in meditation upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead situated within the heart.
The Object of Yogic Meditation
True meditation requires a specific object of focus. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that a genuine yogī does not meditate on a void or an imaginary concept, but rather focuses their mind entirely on the beautiful, transcendental form of Lord Viṣṇu residing within the core of the heart.
- Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah (SB 12.13.1). A yogi is fully absorbed in thoughts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for he has no other business than to think of the Lord always within the heart.
- The word dhyana-dhisnyam is significant in this verse (SB 10.3.28) because the form of Lord Visnu is meditated upon by yogis (dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah).
- Your form as Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is appreciated by yogis in meditation. Please make this form invisible to those who see with material eyes - SB 10.3.28.
- Thus always merged in devotional service, the yogi visualizes the Lord standing, moving, lying down or sitting within him, for the pastimes of the Supreme Lord are always beautiful and attractive.
The Supreme Source of Mystic Power
Because the Lord is the origin of all energies, He naturally possesses all mystic perfections without effort. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that any power a mundane yogī acquires is infinitesimal and strictly dependent upon the charitable disposition of the Supreme Lord, who remains infinitely greater.
- He (God) is above all; no one is equal to or greater than Him. Nor can anyone reach His level of perfection in any of the above powers by any amount of penance or yogic demonstrations. The yogis are dependent on His mercy.
- The Supreme Lord, by His own potency, is unlimitedly more powerful than any yogi, He is unlimitedly more learned than any jnani, He is unlimitedly richer than any wealthy person, He is unlimitedly more beautiful than any beautiful living being.
- Out of His immensely charitable disposition He can award some temporary powers to the yogis because of the yogis hankering after them.
- The insignificant opulences numbering eight (the asta-siddhis, attained by yogis for temporary overlordship) are also under His control, but He is naturally full with all such powers without any effort, and therefore He is the Supreme Lord.
The Pitfalls of Mystic Fantasies
The pursuit of mystic powers can easily become a trap of false ego. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that while yogīs, jñānīs, and karmīs are fundamentally motivated by the desire to satisfy their own senses through magical feats or liberation, a pure devotee seeks only to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.
- Yogis also try to satisfy themselves, by thinking that they can achieve different mystic perfections. But only devotees try to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The devotees' process of self-realization is completely different from the processes of the karmis, jnanis and yogis. Everyone else is trying to satisfy himself, whereas the devotee tries only to satisfy the Lord.
- If some yogi shows some mystic power, and little gold if he can manufacture, we accept him as God. But we forget the real yogi who has created millions of gold mines, floating in the air.
- Some yogi can show. He'll press his beads, and there milk will come. So there are so many yogic fantasies. But that does not mean that he knows God.
The Ultimate Destination
The destination achieved by a transcendentalist is determined by the purity of their meditation. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that while standard yogīs merge into the impersonal effulgence of the Lord, the topmost yogī is the pure devotee who lovingly serves the Lord and enters the spiritual planets.
- The jnanis and yogis enter into the impersonal rays of the Supreme, but the bhaktas enter into the spiritual planets known as the Vaikunthas.
- The personified Vedas continued, "Your (the Lord's) enemies also concentrate upon You, thinking always of how to kill You, and yogis undertake great penances and austerities just to attain Your impersonal effulgence."
- In the Bhagavad-gita it is clearly defined that the most elevated and powerful mystic yogi is one who can constantly think of the Supreme Lord within his heart and engage in the loving service of the Lord.
- The yogis, equipped with transcendental knowledge and renunciation and engaged in devotional service for their eternal benefit, take shelter of My lotus feet, and since I am the Lord, they are thus eligible to enter into the kingdom of Godhead without fear.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully defines the true purpose and ultimate limitation of the mystic yoga system. The authentic practice of yoga is not meant for acquiring cheap magical tricks or temporary material overlordship; its sole purpose is to fix the mind unswervingly upon the beautiful, four-handed form of Lord Viṣṇu situated within the heart. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original and supreme mystic, possessing all aṣṭa-siddhis flawlessly and without effort. Foolish people who equate a mundane yogī with God because of a petty display of power are blind to the fact that the Supreme Lord effortlessly floats millions of planets in space. Because standard yogīs, jñānīs, and karmīs are ultimately driven by the selfish desire for their own satisfaction, their highest achievement is merging into the brahmajyoti—the exact same destination awarded to the demons who constantly think of the Lord as an enemy. Conversely, the Bhagavad-gītā declares that the topmost yogī is the pure devotee who constantly meditates on the Lord with a desire to please Him through loving service. Such unalloyed devotion bypasses the impersonal effulgence entirely, allowing the devotee to enter the eternal, blissful spiritual planets of Vaikuṇṭha.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God and the Yogis. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.