Chapter 6 · Class prep
A printable handout for teaching this chapter. For each verse with Personal Guidance, you'll see Prabhupāda's translation, the essence, two or three practical applications, and a discussion prompt. Press ⌘P / Ctrl P to print as a handout.
BG 6.1
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who lights no fire and performs no duty.
Essence. The true sannyāsī is one who acts in dharma without attachment to results — not one who simply abandons fire and prescribed rituals.
- Don't equate giving up rituals with spiritual progress; check the inner stance.
- Continue your duties with a renounced mind rather than abandoning them.
- Honor those who serve in the world more than those who only flee it.
BG 6.2
What is called renunciation you should know to be the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the Supreme, O son of Pāṇḍu, for one can never become a yogī unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification.
Essence. Sannyāsa and yoga are the same — no one becomes a yogi without renouncing the desire for sense-gratification.
- Treat renunciation of sense-craving as the prerequisite, not the optional add-on.
- Audit which sense-cravings you've been indulging while calling yourself a yogi.
- Reduce one craving per season as steady practice.
BG 6.3
For one who is a neophyte in the eightfold yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who is already elevated in yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.
Essence. For the aspiring yogi, work is the means; for the established yogi, cessation of activity is the means — different stages, different means.
- Match the means to your stage; don't borrow another stage's means.
- If you're aspiring, work; if established, rest in stillness.
- Honestly assess your stage and act accordingly.
BG 6.4
A person is said to be elevated in yoga when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in fruitive activities.
Essence. When one has renounced all material desires and is not engaged in sense-gratification or fruitive work, he is said to be elevated in yoga.
- Recognize the marker of elevation: no material desire, no fruitive engagement, no sense-gratification chase.
- Don't claim elevation prematurely.
- Use the marker as honest self-check, not flattery.
BG 6.5
One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.
Essence. Elevate yourself by your own mind, do not degrade yourself — for the mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and also his enemy.
- Take responsibility for elevating yourself; no one else can.
- Treat your mind sometimes as friend, sometimes as opponent — depending on its current state.
- Refuse self-degradation as a habit.
BG 6.6
For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.
Essence. For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; for one who has failed, the mind is the greatest enemy.
- Recognize the all-or-nothing nature: a half-conquered mind is still adversary.
- Pursue full mastery, not partial control.
- Use chanting and scripture as instruments of conquest.
BG 6.7
For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquillity. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.
Essence. The mastered self has reached the Supersoul already — peaceful in heat and cold, joy and distress, honor and dishonor.
- Use dualities as the testing ground: heat/cold, honor/dishonor.
- Don't seek even pleasant conditions; seek inner peace under any condition.
- Treat every disturbance as an invitation to stabilize.
BG 6.8
A person is said to be established in self-realization and is called a yogī [or mystic] when he is fully satisfied by virtue of acquired knowledge and realization. Such a person is situated in transcendence and is self-controlled. He sees everything – whether it be pebbles, stones or gold – as the same.
Essence. Satisfied by knowledge and realization, situated in the height — sense-controlled, equipoised in clay, stone, and gold — that one is liberated.
- Cultivate true satisfaction through realization, not accumulation.
- Practice equipoise toward objects of varying material value.
- Use clay/stone/gold as the daily test.
BG 6.9
A person is considered still further advanced when he regards honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral, mediators, the envious, friends and enemies, the pious and the sinners all with an equal mind.
Essence. Equal toward well-wishers, friends, enemies, the envious, the pious, the sinner — that one is advanced.
- Notice differential treatment based on like/dislike — and gradually equalize.
- Practice sending good wishes even toward the envious or hostile.
- Treat the test as the practice.
BG 6.10
A transcendentalist should always engage his body, mind and self in relationship with the Supreme; he should live alone in a secluded place and should always carefully control his mind. He should be free from desires and feelings of possessiveness.
Essence. The yogi should constantly engage his body and mind in remembrance of the Supreme — alone, controlled, free from desires and possessiveness.
- Build solitude (alone time) into your week — without phone or chatter.
- Use that time for remembrance, not entertainment.
- Reduce possessiveness one item at a time.
BG 6.11-12
To practice yoga, one should go to a secluded place and should lay kuśa grass on the ground and then cover it with a deerskin and a soft cloth. The seat should be neither too high nor too low and should be situated in a sacred place. The yogī should then sit on it very firmly and practice yoga to purify the heart by controlling his mind, senses and activities and fixing the mind on one point.
Essence. Establishing a clean place, a moderate seat, neither too high nor too low — the yogi practices fixing the mind on one object for purification.
- Establish a clean, simple, dedicated space for practice — even a corner.
- Don't overcomplicate the setup; balance, not extremity.
- Honor the place as set apart for the Lord.
BG 6.13-14
One should hold one’s body, neck and head erect in a straight line and stare steadily at the tip of the nose. Thus, with an unagitated, subdued mind, devoid of fear, completely free from sex life, one should meditate upon Me within the heart and make Me the ultimate goal of life.
Essence. Holding body, neck, and head straight, gazing at the tip of the nose — fearless, vow of celibacy, controlled mind, fixing the mind on Me — the supreme goal.
- If undertaking formal aṣṭāṅga-yoga, do so under qualified guidance.
- Apply the spirit even outside formal posture: erect bearing, focused gaze, calm vow.
- Make Kṛṣṇa the explicit object of meditation, not abstract emptiness.
BG 6.15
Thus practicing constant control of the body, mind and activities, the mystic transcendentalist, his mind regulated, attains to the kingdom of God [or the abode of Kṛṣṇa] by cessation of material existence.
Essence. Always engaged thus, the yogi of controlled mind attains the kingdom of God — peace, the cessation of material existence.
- Trust that consistent, controlled engagement reaches its goal.
- Don't be impressed by sporadic spiritual highs; cultivate steadiness.
- Use this verse as motivation for daily, even tedious, practice.
BG 6.16
There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogī, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.
Essence. There is no possibility of becoming a yogi if one eats too much or too little, sleeps too much or too little.
- Apply the yukta principle to food and sleep — moderate, regulated, sufficient.
- Track for one week: are you eating and sleeping well-regulated?
- Resist both fasting fads and over-indulgence.
BG 6.17
He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.
Essence. He who is regulated in eating, sleeping, recreation, and work — by the practice of yoga, all material pains are diminished.
- Regulate not only sādhana but also recreation and work.
- Recognize that disciplined ordinary life supports deep practice.
- Don't compartmentalize 'spiritual' from 'mundane.'
BG 6.18
When the yogī, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in transcendence – devoid of all material desires – he is said to be well established in yoga.
Essence. When the controlled mind is established in the Self alone, free from longing for sense-gratification — he is established in yoga.
- Notice when the mind is genuinely 'in the Self' versus merely quiet.
- Use longing as a diagnostic — its absence is the marker.
- Don't mistake numbness for established yoga.
BG 6.19
As a lamp in a windless place does not waver, so the transcendentalist, whose mind is controlled, remains always steady in his meditation on the transcendent Self.
Essence. As a lamp in a windless place does not waver, so the controlled mind of a yogi engaged in transcendent meditation is steady.
- Aim for windless-flame steadiness, not spectacular displays.
- Reduce the 'wind' (distraction, agitation) more than chase the flame.
- Use this image when comparing your sādhana to others.
BG 6.20-23
In the stage of perfection called trance, or samādhi, one’s mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by one’s ability to see the Self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the Self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact.
Essence. In the stage of perfection — when the mind is restrained and self sees Self in self — supreme happiness is found, immovable from pain.
- Trust that this stage exists and is attainable.
- Recognize that pain has no power to dislodge a soul truly established in Self.
- Aim for that immovability rather than for pleasant feelings.
BG 6.24
One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with determination and faith and not be deviated from the path. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of mental speculation and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind.
Essence. Engage in yoga with determination and faith, not deviating from the path — with patience and full conviction.
- Cultivate dṛḍha (firm) determination over fluctuating enthusiasm.
- Practice patience as itself a yogic virtue.
- Conviction grows through practice, not through preaching to oneself.
BG 6.25
Gradually, step by step, one should become situated in trance by means of intelligence sustained by full conviction, and thus the mind should be fixed on the Self alone and should think of nothing else.
Essence. Step by step, with intelligence, withdraw from material engagement — fix the mind on the Self alone.
- Take one small step at a time; don't try to leap.
- Use intelligence (buddhi), not emotion, to direct withdrawal.
- Replace, don't just remove — fill the space with Self.
BG 6.26
From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.
Essence. Wherever the unsteady mind wanders — bring it back, again and again, to the control of the Self.
- Treat the bringing-back as the practice itself; the wandering is not failure.
- Make many small returns rather than one big effort.
- Be patient with the mind's wandering nature.
BG 6.27
The yogī whose mind is fixed on Me verily attains the highest perfection of transcendental happiness. He is beyond the mode of passion, he realizes his qualitative identity with the Supreme, and thus he is freed from all reactions to past deeds.
Essence. The yogi whose mind is fixed on Me, his passion stilled, his sins destroyed, attains the highest happiness — peace, identity with Brahman.
- Cultivate a fixed object of meditation (Kṛṣṇa Himself).
- Don't rotate objects of meditation; depth requires fixity.
- Trust that the highest happiness arises from this fixity.
BG 6.28
Thus the self-controlled yogī, constantly engaged in yoga practice, becomes free from all material contamination and achieves the highest stage of perfect happiness in transcendental loving service to the Lord.
Essence. Constantly engaged thus, free from contamination, the yogi easily attains contact with the Supreme — supreme happiness.
- Trust that consistency, not intensity, brings contact.
- Reduce contamination (asat-saṅga, vikarma) as practice ground.
- Don't strain — easy contact follows from steady practice.
BG 6.29
A true yogī observes Me in all beings and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized person sees Me, the same Supreme Lord, everywhere.
Essence. The true yogi sees Me in all beings and all beings in Me — he sees Me everywhere.
- Practice seeing Kṛṣṇa in each person you meet today.
- Practice seeing all beings within Kṛṣṇa.
- Use this dual seeing as living meditation.
BG 6.30
For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.
Essence. He who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me — for him I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.
- Trust the mutual non-loss: Kṛṣṇa never loses you when you see Him.
- Use this verse during periods of feeling spiritually distant.
- Renew the seeing each day.
BG 6.31
Such a yogī, who engages in the worshipful service of the Supersoul, knowing that I and the Supersoul are one, remains always in Me in all circumstances.
Essence. The yogi who knows that I and the Supersoul are one, abiding in all beings — wherever situated, he abides in Me.
- Cultivate awareness of the Supersoul (Paramātmā) within all.
- Recognize that you abide in Him wherever you go.
- No need to relocate to find Him — He is already here.
BG 6.32
He is a perfect yogī who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress, O Arjuna!
Essence. The perfect yogi sees by similar comparison to his own self the equality of all beings — in happiness and distress.
- Apply 'as I want for myself' to others — not just abstractly but concretely.
- Notice when you'd want comfort for yourself but accept distress for another.
- Equalize through imagination of self.
BG 6.33
Arjuna said: O Madhusūdana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady.
Essence. Arjuna asks: this system seems impossible — the mind is restless, like the wind.
- Welcome honest acknowledgment of difficulty; don't pretend it's easy.
- Bring the difficulty to your guide, as Arjuna did.
- Don't quit the path; ask how to walk it given the wind.
BG 6.34
The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.
Essence. The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate, very strong — to control it is harder than controlling the wind.
- Honor the difficulty; don't expect quick mastery.
- Treat each small mind-controlled moment as victory.
- Don't flagellate yourself over the wind's strength.
BG 6.35
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.
Essence. Yes, it is difficult — but by suitable practice and by detachment, it can be controlled.
- Practice (abhyāsa) and detachment (vairāgya) — both, together.
- Don't substitute one for the other.
- Treat the formula as Kṛṣṇa's clear answer.
BG 6.36
For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by appropriate means is assured of success. That is My opinion.
Essence. For one whose mind is unbridled, yoga is hard to attain — but for the self-controlled, it is attainable by the right means.
- Recognize that mind-control precedes yoga, not follows it.
- Build the foundation of self-control first.
- Trust that the right means deliver.
BG 6.37
Arjuna said: O Kṛṣṇa, what is the destination of the unsuccessful transcendentalist, who in the beginning takes to the process of self-realization with faith but who later desists due to worldly-mindedness and thus does not attain perfection in mysticism?
Essence. Arjuna asks: what happens to the seeker who has faith but fails to attain perfection — does he lose both worlds?
- Honor the question — many seekers worry about half-finished journeys.
- Bring this fear to Kṛṣṇa rather than letting it stop you.
- Notice that even Arjuna voiced this concern.
BG 6.38
O mighty-armed Kṛṣṇa, does not such a man, who is bewildered from the path of transcendence, fall away from both spiritual and material success and perish like a riven cloud, with no position in any sphere?
Essence. Bewildered on the path of Brahman — does he not perish like a torn cloud, with no place anywhere?
- Speak your fears in spiritual language so they can be answered in spiritual language.
- Don't keep fears underground; they grow there.
- Voice them and let Kṛṣṇa's reply quiet them.
BG 6.39
This is my doubt, O Kṛṣṇa, and I ask You to dispel it completely. But for You, no one is to be found who can destroy this doubt.
Essence. Only You, O Kṛṣṇa, can dispel my doubt completely — there is no one else.
- Trust that some doubts can only be dispelled by Kṛṣṇa Himself.
- Bring such doubts directly into prayer and reading the Gītā.
- Don't outsource the deepest doubts.
BG 6.40
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Son of Pṛthā, a transcendentalist engaged in auspicious activities does not meet with destruction either in this world or in the spiritual world; one who does good, My friend, is never overcome by evil.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa replies: there is no destruction for the well-doer, here or hereafter; one who works for spiritual elevation never meets evil.
- Trust this guarantee — sincere effort is never wasted.
- Read this verse during dark moments of self-doubt.
- Encourage others who fear half-finishing.
BG 6.41
The unsuccessful yogī, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy.
Essence. The unsuccessful yogi, after enjoying many years on the planets of the pious, takes birth in a household of righteous, prosperous people.
- Trust that even partial progress carries forward across lives.
- Don't measure success by this life alone.
- Plant seeds knowing the harvest may come in another season.
BG 6.42
Or [if unsuccessful after long practice of yoga] he takes his birth in a family of transcendentalists who are surely great in wisdom. Certainly, such a birth is rare in this world.
Essence. Or one is born in a family of transcendentalists with great wisdom — such birth is even more difficult to obtain.
- If born into devotional family, recognize the rare grace.
- Don't take such birth for granted.
- Use it accordingly — with seriousness.
BG 6.43
On taking such a birth, he revives the divine consciousness of his previous life, and he again tries to make further progress in order to achieve complete success, O son of Kuru.
Essence. Endowed with consciousness from his previous body, he reactivates his prior spiritual progress and strives further.
- Trust that no spiritual effort is lost; it returns.
- Recognize spiritual instincts as remembrance, not invention.
- Strive 'further' rather than 'from scratch.'
BG 6.44
By virtue of the divine consciousness of his previous life, he automatically becomes attracted to the yogic principles – even without seeking them. Such an inquisitive transcendentalist stands always above the ritualistic principles of the scriptures.
Essence. Such an aspirant is automatically attracted to spiritual principles, even without searching — by previous practice he is carried.
- Honor automatic spiritual attractions as carry-forward.
- Don't dismiss your interests as 'just preferences' — they may be momentum.
- Follow the carry-forward.
BG 6.45
And when the yogī engages himself with sincere endeavor in making further progress, being washed of all contaminations, then ultimately, achieving perfection after many, many births of practice, he attains the supreme goal.
Essence. Striving with sincere endeavor through many births, the yogi at last attains the supreme goal.
- Trust the time-horizon: many births if needed.
- Be patient with progress.
- Each life of sincere effort moves the trajectory.
BG 6.46
A yogī is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogī.
Essence. A yogi is greater than the ascetic, the empiricist, the fruitive worker — therefore, become a yogi.
- Aim for yoga (devotional connection) rather than mere asceticism, scholarship, or activity.
- Honor each path while pursuing the highest.
- Treat 'become a yogi' as Kṛṣṇa's direct instruction.
BG 6.47
And of all yogīs, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself and renders transcendental loving service to Me – he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.
Essence. Of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, worships Me with transcendental loving service — he is most intimately united with Me.
- Treat bhakti-yoga as the supreme yoga, per Kṛṣṇa Himself.
- Cultivate continuous abidance with great faith.
- Make loving service, not technique, the center of practice.