116. Spirituality Simplified

The common belief we all have about the spiritual path is that it is difficult to follow. Krishna earlier assured us that small efforts bring big gains in karma yoga (2.40). He further makes it simple when he says, “He who appropriately (yukta) eats, relaxes, works, sleeps, and remains awake will find yoga as the destroyer of suffering” (6.17). The yoga or spiritual path is as simple as eating when hungry; working when it is time to work; sleeping when it is time to sleep and relaxing when tired. Anything more than this is a story that we tell ourselves and others.

A baby requires more sleep than an old person. Our requirements regarding food may vary depending on the physical activity of the day indicating that ‘appropriately’ means being aware in the present moment. The same was earlier referred to as the bounden duties (6.1) and also as obligatory actions (3.8).

On the contrary, our minds extrapolate from simple facts and add our imagination to knit complex stories around these facts. These stories that we tell ourselves make someone a hero or villain and make a situation pleasant or miserable. These stories dictate our words and behaviour. That’s why Krishna insists on subjugating the mind that tells these stories by shedding attachment (ni-spruha) to all pleasures which is nothing but unity with God (6.18). 

Krishna further says that like a lamp in a windless place doesn’t flicker, the subdued mind of a yogi practicing union with self doesn’t waver (6.19). Krishna earlier gave the example of rivers and the ocean (2.70) where rivers lose their existence once they enter the ocean and the ocean remains calm even after receiving many rivers. Similarly, desires lose their existence when they enter the mind of a yogi which remains stable like the ocean.