39. Yoga—Uniting the Body and Mind

This is the state of yoga that Kṛṣṇa talks about—yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate (6.3), the state of true renunciation where there is no suppression. Instead, there is transformation into completion. The path is no longer towards self or sensory satisfaction. In fact, there is no 'towards' or 'goal.' The goal is the path itself. When we lead our life with no expectations, the mind cannot speculate or control us.

Kṛṣṇa says next, 'A person who initially wants to start practicing a yoga system laid down by the sages, should carry out all activities in line with that system. Activities for all other reasons will then cease.'

Discovering your root pattern and completing it is the first step towards yoga. Aṣtāṅga Yoga by Patañjali is a parallel system, not a sequential system. When each of its parts is acted upon with awareness, every single thing that we do will be in completion with Nature. We will automatically surrender to Nature and attain the true yogic state of samādhi.

Learning yoga means bringing integrity to your body. 'Yoga' in Saṃskṛit means 'uniting' or to become one with. When we reach the state of yoga, we are in a meditative state of bliss.