When a person knows that the ultimate goal of all Yoga is Krsna, and seeks Krsna in Krsna consciousness and devotional service, he is acting in bhakti-yoga, or buddhi-yoga, which is the complete yoga (BG 10.10 purport).
The impracticality of yoga systems other than bhakti-yoga:
For practicing yoga, one should go to a sanctified place, “sucau dese” (BG 6.11) which refers to places of pilgrimage such as Prayaga, Mathura, Vrndavana, Hrsikesa and Hardwar and where the sacred rivers like the Yamuna and the Ganges flow. In this age of Kali, it is impossible for an ordinary man to leave home and go to a secluded place in the mountains or jungles to practice yoga (BG 6.33 purport).
For practicing meditation, one has to be unagitated by controlling the mind and the senses, “ yata-cittendriya-kriyah’’ (BG 6.12). But in Kali-yuga, people are not only short-lived and struggling hard for existence, but also callous about self-realization even by easy and practical means, then what to speak of the difficult yoga system, which needs thorough regluation in the way of living, sitting, and being self-controlled (BG 6.33 purport).
Even Arjuna, despite having much favorable conditions than us said, I do not see, “Aham na pasyami” (BG 6.33) this system practical and endurable for me because the mind is restless and unsteady, “cancalatvat” (BG 6.33). Belonging to a Royal family, he was a great warrior and was so intelligent that he understood the whole Gita in an hour for us which may take several life times. He was such an exalted personality that he was Lord Krishna’s direct friend (SP Lecture on BG 6.32-40, New York, September 14, 1966). Five thousand years ago, the long-lived Arjuna having much better facilities than we do now refused to accept this system of yoga finding it impractical for him. Then what to speak of us - the ordinary people of Kali-yuga. However, this may be possible for some very few exceptional persons, but for the common people it is not at all practicable (BG 6.33 purport).
How bhakti-yoga contains all the components of the other yoga systems:
Krsna is realized in different degrees as Brahman, Paramatma and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The impersonalist trying to realize Krisna as Brahman and the meditative yogi trying to realize Krisna as Paramatma are imperfectly Krsna conscious. But a devotee is the topmost transcendentalist because he has the complete and perfect knowlegde of Brahma and Paramatma as well as the Supreme Personality of Godhead (BG 6.10 purport).
Ascerticism without self-knowledge and Empiric knowledge without surrender to Krsna are both imperfect. On the other hand, fruititive work without Krsna consciousness is a mere wastage of time (BG 6.46 purport). But a Bhakti-yogi having the knowledge of his constitutional position as the eternal servant of the Supreme Lord, performs all activities for the pleasure of the Lord and always thinks of the Lord within himself, “mat-gatena antah-atmana” (BG 6.47). Knowing that everything belongs to Krsna, he is always free from desrires, “nirasih” (BG 6.10) and feelings of personal possession, “aparigrahah” (BG 6.10) thus being the most ascetic. Hence bhakti yoga has all the elements of other Yogas- knowledge, work, renunciation and meditation.
How bhakti-yoga can be practiced without having practiced other yoga systems:
According to Brhan-naradiya Purana in Kali Yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the best means of spiritual realization is chanting the holy name of the Lord and there is no other way (BG 6.11-12 purport). This process of bhakti can be practiced by anyone anywhere irrespective of age, race, class and country (BG 9.32 purport).
Srila Prabhupada compared bhakti-yoga as an elevator. By taking the help of an elevator one can directly reach the top floor rather than going step by step in the staircase (SP Lecture on BG 6.46-47, LA February 21, 1969). Simiraly a person practicing bhakti-yoga can reach the highest platform of Krsna consciouness without practicing the other yoga systems.
So, it is clear that bhakti-yoga is the most practicable yoga in this Kali Yuga and does not require performing other yoga systems. Bhakti-yoga itself contains all the components of the other yoga practices. Therefore a devotee rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord, “bhajatam priti-purvakam” (BG 10.10) is the perfect and greatest yogi, “yukta-tamah” (BG 6.47).
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