VI: 17

[Krishna Jaya]

Chapter 6, Verse 17

 

“With harmony in eating and drinking,

In sleeping and keeping awake,

There is wholeness

In everything they do.

This is the Yoga

That gives peace

From all suffering.”

 

Swami Shivananda:

 

If they eat too much, they will feel drowsy and sleep will overpower them.  If they eat too little, they will be weak and unable to sit for a long time in meditation.  They should eat neither more nor less than what is actually necessary for maintaining the body in a healthy and strong state. 

This is a moderate diet for a student of Yoga: half the stomach to be filled with food, a quarter with water, and the remaining fourth to be empty for the free movement of air.  Keep to the Golden Mean.  You will then make rapid progress in Yoga. 

 

The nervous system is extremely sensitive.  It responds to very slight changes and causes distractions in the mind.  It is therefore necessary that the student lead a regulated life and be moderate in food, sleep, and physical activity.  Then you will attain success in Yoga which kills all sorts of suffering and sorrow in life.

 

Sri Eknath Easwaran:

 

We can think of the Lord as a physical education teacher.  He looks us over carefully and selects those of us who are drooping with selfishness.  To these he gives sorrow, saying, “Let me give you some special exercises to help you grow tall and straight.”  When we have grown to our full height and push ourselves out of the way to become sensitive to the needs of others, the Lord will say, “You don’t require any more ordeals, any more sorrow.  You have gone beyond suffering by extinguishing your selfishness.  Now you are ready to help reduce the suffering and sorrow of those around you.” 

 

When we start to look carefully at our own suffering, we shall find that it often comes to teach us to stop repeating our mistakes.  When we have learned how to avoid the selfish mistakes in life, there is no reason why suffering should come our way at all.

 

A friend:

 

God is everywhere.  How can there be a place for sorrow and selfishness?  These are humanity’s illusions, caused by human beings themselves.  I don’t believe God hands us suffering.  We often find ourselves in difficult situations, and sometimes we make mistakes.  Those of us who realize our mistakes are doing something positive and are blessed.

 

[When we remember God in difficult situations, and in smooth situations as well, we triumph as human beings.  When we forget God, we become swallowed up in Maya (illusion of separateness), which brings suffering.  It is up to us to find God’s steady presence within ourselves (and outside, too!) and to hold on to that awareness with all we’ve got.]