Watch video at: https://www.radhakrishnaprem.com/p/how-the-gita-teaches-to-meditate

Swami Nikhilanand Ji tells us that meditation, according to the Bhagavad Gita, involves focusing the mind on God, particularly Shri Krishna, with emotional devotion.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Shri Krishna teaches that meditation is not just about focusing the mind but involves deep emotional attachment to Him. In Chapter 6, Krishna directly instructs Arjun, "mat-chittaha" (6.47), meaning that one should focus their mind on Him, and "mat-paraha" (6.47), which indicates that meditation should be done with love and devotion towards Him.

Shri Krishna did not say meditate by breathing and just concentrate on your breath coming in and out. That's a nice way to meditate. Very relaxing. But keep in mind, whatever your mind is dwelling upon, you get the qualities of that. So, Krishna is Divine bliss and perfect goodness. So, if you want to imbibe blissfulness, if you want to receive Krishna's grace, if you want to purify your mind, then you have to attach your mind to Him. One shouldn't think that, “Oh, meditation is meditation. It's all the same!”

Krishna states, "Upavishyasane yunjyad yoga matma vishuddhaye" (6.11), which means that the purpose of meditation is to purify the mind. He also explains that a true yogi is one who joins their mind with Him and in doing so, (their) mind gets purified because He is pure and we are attaching our mind to Him.

In the 12th chapter, when Arjun asks about meditating on Krishna’s formless aspect, Krishna responds, "It is very difficult to meditate on My formless aspect" (12.5), advising instead to meditate on His personal form. Krishna says that focusing on His personal form, with all its attributes like His eyes, face, and movements, is a more accessible and powerful way to connect with Him. This form-based meditation, called "Roopdhyan", was further elaborated by Jagatguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, who highlighted its importance in purifying the mind and strengthening the emotional connection with Krishna.

Memorable Quotes from the Discourse:

* "Meditating is a very effective way of doing that. Repeatedly thinking about something in a very deep way, in fact, is meditation."

* "We are dwelling upon it (worldly affairs are negative or spiritual affairs are positive) almost constantly. That is meditation."

* "When we meditate on a person or a thing emotionally like that, then it actually affects the quality of our mind."

* "In the Gita, what does Sri Krishna say we should focus our mind upon? He says, 'Mat-chittaha.' (Think of me)."

* "He (Shri Krishna) says, 'Attach your mind to Me, engross your heart in remembering Me.'"

* "In fact, a yogi is synonymous with a devotee. Yoga is synonymous with bhakti."

* "Mat-paraha is one little word. Mat again means ‘in me’. And ‘paraha’ is a little word … that means to love Him."

* "And by doing so, our mind gets purified because He is pure and we're attaching our mind to Him."

* "Yoga means to join our mind with Him."

* "Krishna didn't say, clear your mind and think of nothing. No, He said, 'I know your mind is going to think of something … So whatever you are thinking of, put me there."

* "Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj gave this meditation the name Roopdhyan - if you're thinking of Krishna in His personal form, it means you'll think of His actual form. What does He look like? How are His eyes, His hair, His face? What is He wearing? How does He move?"

Please watch the video or read the transcript to fully grasp the essence of the discourse.

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