“Among all yogis, only the one who stays with Me always with strong faith and worships Me with loving service is most closely connected with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.”

Context of the Verse:

            Basically, this verse is the same as the ending of Chapter 6, which talks about Dhyana Yoga or meditation practice.

• Krishna was teaching Arjuna about different yoga paths – Karma-Yoga, Gyana-Yoga, and Dhyana-Yoga – and explaining how they are the same in reaching spiritual goals.
• We are seeing that Arjuna, being a warrior only, needs simple guidance on which path is best and most fitting for him.
• Krishna actually explains that among all types of yogis who do austerity, study, meditation, and renunciation, the Bhakti-Yogi is definitely the best. The devotee who meditates on Krishna with love and faith is actually supreme above all others.

Key Teachings in This Verse:

• All Yogis are great, but the Yogi who worships God (Krishna) with strong faith is further superior to others. This devotion itself makes him the highest among all Yogis.
• When you actually practice devotion with meditation and surrender, you definitely reach the highest union with God.
• As per Bhakti-Yoga practice, the devotee naturally includes Karma (selfless service), Gyana (knowledge), and Dhyana (meditation) in his devotion. Regarding the Bhakti path, all these elements work together in the yogi’s spiritual practice.
• Basically, just studying books or following strict rules is not enough – you need Sraddha, which is the same as having real faith in your heart.
• True Yoga is self-mastery itself and further represents union with the Supreme Being through love and devotion.

Relevance to Arjuna:

• Arjuna surely faces a deep conflict between his warrior duties and his love for family members and teachers. Moreover, this crisis makes him unable to fight in the battle.
• Basically, Krishna tells him that among all spiritual paths, devotion to Him with love is the same as the highest path.
• This actually gives Arjuna confidence: he must fight, but if he does his duty with devotion to Krishna, he is definitely practicing the highest Yoga.

Explanation:

            As per Krishna’s declaration, he first instructed Arjun to become a Yogi. Regarding this guidance, Krishna clearly told Arjun to follow the path of yoga. Working for results brings enjoyment in the activity itself, and this further creates satisfaction in the process. Basically, this is foolishness and the same abominable work that Krishna declared in previous chapters. We are seeing that Gyani is only a new type of fight for spiritual perfection, and Tapaswi becomes Yogi in the same way. Actually, there are definitely different types of Yogis among practitioners. These various kinds of Yogis follow different paths in their spiritual practice. Basically, the yogi who always keeps me in his heart through meditation, he serves me with the same deep faith and love. He thinks of me in his heart and further engages himself in my service. He is the best Yogi, but Arjuna said this practice itself is impractical for him. Further, Arjuna expressed his difficulty in following this path. I am a worldly ruler who must govern my kingdom and handle political matters, and further manage my palace with my queens and children. The responsibility of ruling itself requires me to be a strong leader in all these areas. We are seeing that going to jungle and doing all these activities is only possible when we have proper planning and basic equipment with us.

            Krishna actually told Arjuna not to worry because he was already at the highest level of Yoga. Among all Yogis, the person who always thinks about Krishna in his heart and serves him is definitely the best. As per the teachings, this process is called Bhakti Yoga regarding the sublime spiritual path.

            Krishna explained Karma Yoga in the first six chapters, and now he will explain the same important knowledge of Bhakti Yoga directly in the next six chapters. Basically, not everyone can understand Bhakti Yoga the same way since it requires different levels of spiritual awareness. We are seeing that Krishna has slowly built up the philosophy and explained this Yoga ladder only step by step. As per gradual progression, Bhakti Yoga is most simple yet remains the highest and most sublime path. Regarding its nature, this practice starts with basic devotion but leads to the topmost spiritual achievement. This process is very rare because people cannot practice it without the mercy of a pure devotee of Krishna who is expert in Bhakti Yoga. The practice itself requires further guidance from such an advanced devotee. Basically, finding someone who is the same pure devotee of Krishna is very, very rare.

            If someone is surely fortunate enough to meet a Pure Devotee, they can immediately progress in this perfect Yoga system. Moreover, this contact provides the fastest advancement in spiritual practice. Krishna actually explains that a true Yogi is definitely a sanyasi because he completely gives up all desires, even the wish for moksha or merging with Krishna. Further, his only desire is actually to serve Krishna with love, even through many births. He definitely wants nothing else but to engage in Krishna’s loving service. A Yogi is actually someone who renounces worldly things. They definitely give up material pleasures to focus on spiritual practice. As per Gyani and Krishna’s explanation, this most difficult process is not practical regarding this present age.

            As per our current lifestyle, we cannot practice Brahmacharya properly. Regarding this spiritual discipline, it has become very difficult to follow in today’s time. We are seeing that brahmacharya means stopping all sexual thoughts in the mind, not talking about sex, and avoiding physical sexual activities only. Basically, sexual thoughts should not enter the mind at all – the same principle applies to mental purity. As per today’s civilization, is it possible regarding the situation where all sexual content and downloadable material is available on phones? Also, we are seeing that Brahmacharya is only very hard for common people, but it is still important. In other yoga processes, one must surely first become a brahmachari. Moreover, this preliminary step is essential before advancing to higher practices. First, one must surely go to the jungle and leave family behind to practice Yoga. Moreover, this separation from worldly attachments is essential for proper yogic discipline. In Bhakti Yoga and Karma Yoga, the process itself is the same thing. Further, both paths lead to the same result. Further, as per Krishna’s teachings, Karma Yoga becomes perfect and turns into Bhakti Yoga when a person does all activities regarding what Krishna has told.

            As per the analysis, this approach is feasible regarding implementation. We are seeing that we can offer our activity results to Krishna only, and when advanced, we do activities as Krishna directs us. Basically, Karma Yoga or Bhakti Yoga is the same recommended process that works best here. This is what Krishna further recommends to Arjuna. The recommendation itself guides Arjuna’s path. Therefore, keep Me always in your heart and further engage in battle itself. This method surely represents the most effective approach for practicing Yoga. Moreover, it provides the optimal technique for achieving desired results.

            As per observations, people sometimes face confusion regarding this matter. We are seeing that Krishna is only rejecting the other processes here. He basically explained the same Yoga process. As per the study of Vedas, you are told to do your duty very well. Regarding your work, you must perform it nicely. Basically, we should do our business work properly and the same way it happens automatically. This is actually the way we definitely move forward in our spiritual journey.

            Basically, just doing duties is not Yoga – the same duties become Yoga when we remember Krishna in our heart, follow His directions, and offer the results to Him. Also, that is actually perfect and definitely practical for everyone.