Yoga – India’s Soft Power

June 21, 2015, was a momentous day for the glorification of ancient Indian (or Bharatiya) culture when the UN officially declared it as a day to celebrate yoga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is indeed seen as an architect of this endeavour and deserves all accolades. When he visited the USA, the then President Barack Obama was surprised to see his agility at his age.

Many astute observers of history see the entire discipline of yoga as India’s “soft power.” What exactly is soft power? The major characteristics of soft power are culture, values, policy. Culture should be pleasing to others. Values should be authentic and have consistent practices. And finally, policies should be seen as inclusive and legitimate. Fortunately, India’s rich past is an awesome emporium of attractive culture, spiritual values and benevolent social policies.

If culture, values and policies are the main pillars of soft power, how can India set a proper example before the rest of the world, without falling prey to the commonly accepted pitfalls of power, namely hegemony, arrogance, and jingoism? By strictly following the tenets of culture, values and policy as mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita, thus avoiding all pitfalls.

In the Second Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Sri Krishna defines yoga as performing one’s duty with an equipoised mind. In this state one abandons all attachment to success or failure. And such equanimity is perfect yoga.

Krishna tells Arjuna that he should act in yoga. And what is that yoga? Yoga means to concentrate the mind upon the Supreme by controlling the ever-disturbing senses. And who is the Supreme? The Supreme is the Lord. And because He Himself is telling Arjuna to fight, Arjuna has nothing to do with the results of the fight. Gain or victory are Krishna’s concern; Arjuna is simply advised to act according to the diktat of Krishna. The adherence to Krishna’s diktat is real yoga.

Later in the Fourth Chapter Sri Krishna explains the background behind the real import of Yoga. He says, “I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikshvaku. This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is, appears to be lost. That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend and can therefore understand the transcendental mystery of this science.”

Only a devotee can understand Krishna. Others cannot, because one’s relationship with Krishna is rahasya, confidential, and mysterious. Maya has covered the living entity’s real identity and consciousness. Krishna has no inclination to remove the covering for anyone other than His devotee.

What is commonly perceived as yoga is mainly a set of bodily postures and breathing exercises. Real yoga practice is to control the senses and, after such control is established, to concentrate the mind on the Narayana, the four-armed form of the Lord.

In the Bhagavad-gita it is recommended that one meditate upon the form of the Lord. To practice concentration of the mind, one has to sit with the head and the back in a straight line, and one must practice in a secluded place, sanctified by a sacred atmosphere. The practitioner should observe the rules and regulations of brahmacarya — a strict life of self-restraint and celibacy. One cannot practice yoga in a congested city, living a life of extravagance, including unrestricted sex indulgence and adultery of the tongue. Yoga practice necessitates controlling the senses, and the beginning of sense control is to control the tongue. One who can control the tongue can also have control over the other senses. One cannot allow the tongue to take all kinds of forbidden food and drink and at the same time advance in the practice of yoga.

It is a very regrettable fact that many unauthorized so-called yogis come to the Western countries and exploit people’s inclination towards yoga practice. Such unauthorized yogis even say publicly that one can indulge in the habit of drinking and at the same time practice meditation.

Five thousand years ago, Lord Krishna recommended yoga practice to Arjuna, but Arjuna frankly expressed his inability to follow the stringent rules and regulations of the yoga system. One should be very practical in every field of activities and should not waste his valuable time in practicing useless gymnastic feats in the name of yoga.

Sri Krishna’s last instruction in the Bhagavad-gita is that Arjuna should surrender unto him for perpetual bliss and an eternal life full of knowledge. This is the last instruction of Bhagavad-gita, the most authorized and widely read book on all varieties of yoga. Thus, the last word of the Bhagavad-gita is the last word in the perfection of yoga.

—Syamananda Dasa