dhyānayogaḥ · 6.12
Having seated oneself on the prepared seat, the meditator should make the mind one-pointed, restrain the activities of the mind and senses, and practice meditation for inner purification.
तत्रैकाग्रं मनः(ख्) कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः ।
उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्यात्(द्) योगमात्मविशुद्धये ॥६.१२॥
tatraikāgraṁ manaḥ(kh) kṛtvā yatacittendriyakriyaḥ ।
upaviśyāsane yuñjyāt(d) yogamātmaviśuddhaye ॥
🎧 Listen to the shloka
💡 How to understand this
Krishna is teaching Arjuna what to do after sitting in a clean prayer place.
First, sit properly on your seat. Keep the body steady.
Next, bring the mind to one thing. If you are praying to Krishna, think of Krishna. If you are chanting a mantra, listen to the mantra. If you are thinking, “I want to be calm and kind,” keep that thought gently.
Then, give the senses some rest. Do not keep looking around. Do not keep talking. Do not keep touching toys or screens. Let the eyes, hands, mouth, and ears become quiet for a little while.
Krishna says this helps clean the mind. Just as we wash our hands before eating, prayer and meditation help clean the mind from anger, worry, and too many thoughts.
📖 A story to remember — Maya sat on her prayer mat, but her mind was jumping everywhere.
First, she looked at her bracelet. Then she heard her brother playing in the next room. Then she remembered a cartoon. Then she touched the edge of the mat and began folding it.
Her father sat beside her and said, “Maya, your body is on the mat, but your mind is running around the house.”
Maya laughed. “How do I bring it back?”
Father said, “Let us try three steps. Keep your body still. Keep your hands folded. Now say softly inside, ‘Krishna, help me be calm and kind.’ Whenever the mind runs away, bring it back to that thought.”
Maya closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she remembered the cartoon again. Then she brought the mind back: “Krishna, help me be calm and kind.”
Then she heard her brother laugh. Again she brought the mind back.
After a little while, she felt quieter. Her prayer was not perfect, but it was better. She had learned how to gather the mind.
That is Krishna’s teaching. Sitting is the first step. Bringing the mind back to one good thought is meditation practice.
🤔 Think about it
◈When I pray, does my mind run to toys, games, or sounds?
◈What one good thought can I bring my mind back to?
⭐ Remember this
Having seated oneself on the prepared seat, the meditator should make the mind one-pointed, restrain the activities of the mind and senses, and practice meditation for inner purification.
🎯 Challenge!
Can you explain this shloka to a friend in your own words? Try telling the story to someone in your family!