Chapter 6 Study Guide: Dhyana Yoga

The Gita's definitive teaching on meditation. Master authentic dhyana techniques, learn to control the restless mind, and understand the path to spiritual absorption as Krishna taught Arjuna.

47 Verses | The Meditation Chapter
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About Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga

Chapter 6 is the Bhagavad Gita's primary teaching on meditation (dhyana). While other chapters touch on meditation, Chapter 6 provides comprehensive instruction: the proper setting, posture, technique, obstacles, and ultimately the goal of yogic absorption. For anyone serious about establishing meditation practice, this chapter is essential study.

The chapter begins by connecting karma yoga (selfless action) with dhyana yoga (meditation)—showing that the true yogi is not one who abandons action but one who acts without attachment. It then provides detailed meditation instructions, addresses Arjuna's concern about the restless mind, and concludes with a surprising revelation about the highest yogi.

This study guide divides Chapter 6 into four sections, providing verse-by-verse analysis, practical meditation exercises, and contemplation questions to deepen understanding.

47

Total Verses

4

Major Sections

8+

Key Verses

#1

Meditation Source

Section 1: The True Yogi

Verses 1-9

Chapter 6 opens by defining who a true yogi is—and it's not who you might expect. Krishna clarifies that renunciation doesn't mean abandoning action, and yoga doesn't require giving up fire or rituals. The true renunciate performs duty without attachment.

"One who performs prescribed duty without desiring the fruits of actions is the real sannyasi and yogi, not one who has merely renounced the fire or ceased all activity."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.1

The Mind as Friend or Enemy

Krishna introduces a crucial teaching: the mind is either our greatest ally or our worst enemy. The difference lies in whether we've brought it under control.

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥
uddhared ātmanātmānaṃ nātmānam avasādayet
ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ
"One must elevate oneself by one's own mind, not degrade oneself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and also its enemy."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.5
"For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, the mind remains the greatest enemy."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.6
Key Concept: Self-Elevation

Verse 6.5 says "elevate yourself by yourself"—we cannot outsource this work. While teachers guide, ultimately each person must do the inner work of mind-training. The mind that drags us down can, through practice, become the force that lifts us up.

The Stable Yogi

Krishna describes the yogi who has achieved mental stability—one who remains the same in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor. Such a person is called "yukta" (united, integrated).

"A person is said to be established in self-realization and is called a yogi when they are fully satisfied by knowledge and realization. Such a person is situated in transcendence, self-controlled, seeing everything—dirt, stone, or gold—as the same."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.8
Reflection Exercise
  • When is your mind your friend? When is it your enemy?
  • What practices help you "elevate yourself by yourself"?
  • How do you respond differently to "gold" and "dirt" in your life?

Section 2: The Practice of Meditation

Verses 10-19

This section provides the most detailed meditation instructions in the Gita. Krishna describes the setting, the seat, the posture, the focus of attention, and the qualities the practitioner should cultivate. These instructions remain practical for meditators today.

The Meditation Setting

"A yogi should constantly engage the mind in meditation, remaining in solitude, alone, with mind and body controlled, free from desires and sense of possessiveness."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.10
"To practice yoga, one should go to a secluded place and should lay kusha grass on the ground, then cover it with a deerskin and a soft cloth. The seat should be neither too high nor too low, and should be situated in a clean spot."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.11
Modern Application

While kusha grass and deerskin are traditional, the principles apply today: find a clean, quiet space; sit on a stable, comfortable cushion or mat; ensure the seat supports proper posture. The key is creating consistent conditions that support stillness.

The Meditation Posture and Technique

समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः।
सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्॥
samaṃ kāya-śiro-grīvaṃ dhārayann acalaṃ sthiraḥ
samprekṣya nāsikāgraṃ svaṃ diśaś cānavalokayan
"One should hold one's body, neck and head erect in a straight line and stare steadily at the tip of the nose. Thus, with an unagitated, subdued mind, devoid of fear, completely free from attachment, the yogi should meditate on Me."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.13-14
Krishna's Meditation Instructions
  1. Posture: Body, neck, and head aligned, erect and unmoving
  2. Gaze: Directed at nose tip (or between eyebrows)
  3. Mind: Calm, subdued, fearless
  4. Attitude: Free from attachment and desires
  5. Focus: On the Divine (Krishna)
  6. Discipline: Brahmacharya (continence), moderation

The Balanced Life

Krishna emphasizes that yoga success requires balanced living—not extremes of eating, sleeping, working, or recreation.

"There is no possibility of becoming a yogi if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough. One who is regulated in eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all sorrows by practicing yoga."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.16-17

The Still Mind

"As a lamp in a windless place does not waver, so the transcendentalist, whose mind is controlled, remains steady in meditation on the Self."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.19
The Lamp Analogy

The steady flame in a windless place perfectly illustrates the controlled mind in meditation. External disturbances (senses) can't affect it; it burns steadily, illuminating what it's focused on. This is the goal: unwavering awareness.

Practice: Following Krishna's Instructions
  1. Find a clean, quiet space
  2. Sit on a stable cushion, neither too high nor too low
  3. Align spine, neck, and head in a straight line
  4. Let gaze rest at nose tip (or close eyes for beginners)
  5. Release fears and desires; cultivate calm
  6. Focus on the Divine or on breath as His gift
  7. Sit for 15-20 minutes, building duration over time

Section 3: The Restless Mind and Its Control

Verses 20-36

This section describes the fruits of successful meditation and addresses the central challenge: the restless mind. Arjuna voices what every meditator feels, and Krishna provides the solution.

The Fruits of Meditation

"In the stage of perfection called trance, or samadhi, one's mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by seeing the Self by the pure mind and relishing and rejoicing in the Self."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.20
"Wherever the mind wanders, restless and diffuse in its search for satisfaction without, lead it within; train it to rest in the Self."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.26

Arjuna's Doubt: The Restless Mind

Arjuna voices the universal meditation struggle. His words resonate with every practitioner who has tried to still the mind.

चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम्।
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम्॥
cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavad dṛḍham
tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye vāyor iva suduṣkaram
"O Krishna, the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate, and very strong. Subduing it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.34

Krishna's Solution: Practice and Detachment

Krishna doesn't dismiss Arjuna's concern—he agrees the mind is difficult to control. But he provides the solution: abhyasa (persistent practice) and vairagya (detachment).

असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्।
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते॥
asaṃśayaṃ mahā-bāho mano durnigrahaṃ calam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate
"O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.35
The Two Keys: Abhyasa and Vairagya
  • Abhyasa (Practice): Consistent, persistent effort over time. The mind learns through repetition. Each time you bring attention back, you strengthen the "returning" muscle.
  • Vairagya (Detachment): Non-attachment to mental content. Thoughts arise, but you don't grasp or follow them. Let them pass like clouds.
Working with the Restless Mind
  • Don't fight: Fighting thoughts creates more turbulence. Simply notice and return.
  • Count returns: Each time you bring the mind back is a success, not a failure.
  • Be patient: Krishna says "by practice"—this takes time.
  • Release engagement: The key is not stopping thoughts but not engaging with them.
  • Practice daily: Consistency matters more than duration.

Section 4: The Destiny of the Yogi

Verses 37-47

Arjuna asks what happens to one who begins yoga but doesn't complete it. Does such a person fail at both material and spiritual life? Krishna's answer is profoundly encouraging, and the chapter concludes with a surprising statement about the highest yogi.

No Spiritual Effort is Lost

"O son of Pritha, neither in this life nor in the next will a doer of good ever come to grief, for one who does good never treads the path of woe."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.40
"The unsuccessful yogi, after many years of enjoyment on higher planets, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.41
"Or, if the unsuccessful yogi is born into a family of transcendentalists who are great in wisdom, such a birth is very rare in this world."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.42
The Assurance of Progress

This teaching removes fear of failure from spiritual practice. Even if you don't achieve samadhi in this life, every effort carries forward. You'll be born in circumstances that support continued practice, and you'll resume from where you left off. No meditation is wasted.

The Highest Yogi

The chapter's conclusion surprises: after detailed meditation instruction, Krishna declares the highest yogi is not the greatest ascetic or meditator, but the devotee who thinks of Him with love and faith.

योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना।
श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः॥
yoginām api sarveṣāṃ mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā
śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṃ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ
"And of all yogis, one who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in loving service, is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.47
Dhyana Leads to Bhakti

The chapter on meditation concludes by pointing to devotion. This reveals the Gita's ultimate teaching: all paths lead to bhakti. The highest yogi is not one with the most perfect technique but one whose heart is fixed on the Divine with love. Meditation is a means; loving devotion is the end.

Chapter 6 Integration Questions
  • What prevents you from regular meditation practice?
  • How does knowing no effort is lost change your approach to practice?
  • What does it mean that the highest yogi is the devotee?
  • How can you integrate both dhyana and bhakti in your practice?

Frequently Asked Questions

What meditation technique does Krishna teach in Chapter 6?
Krishna prescribes a comprehensive technique including: finding a clean, secluded spot; sitting on a firm seat; holding body, neck, and head erect; gazing at the nose tip; maintaining a calm, fearless mind; and focusing consciousness on the Self or the Divine. This integrates physical posture, sense control, and mental focus into a complete practice.
How does Krishna address the problem of the restless mind?
When Arjuna says the mind is more difficult to control than the wind (6.34), Krishna agrees it's challenging but prescribes two remedies: abhyasa (persistent practice) and vairagya (detachment) (6.35). Consistent practice over time, combined with releasing attachment to mental content, gradually brings the mind under control.
Who does Krishna consider the highest yogi?
In verse 6.47, Krishna declares the highest yogi is not the greatest ascetic but one who thinks of Him with great faith, worshiping with loving devotion. This unexpected conclusion shows that bhakti (devotion) is the pinnacle of all yogic paths—meditation leads to and is perfected by love.
What happens to the yogi who fails to complete the path?
Krishna assures that no spiritual effort is ever lost (6.40). The unsuccessful yogi takes birth in favorable circumstances—either in a righteous family or among spiritually advanced souls (6.41-42)—and continues from where they left off. This teaching removes fear of failure from spiritual practice.
Why is Chapter 6 important for modern meditators?
Chapter 6 provides the most complete meditation instruction in the Gita—practical enough to follow today. It addresses common obstacles (restless mind, doubt, failure), provides specific technique, offers encouragement for imperfect practitioners, and ultimately connects meditation to devotion, showing the goal beyond technique.

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Related Resources

Read Chapter 6 Complete Chapter 2 Study Guide Chapter 12 Study Guide Chapter 18 Study Guide 21-Day Meditation Program Meditation Practices Dhyana Yoga Guide Verse 6.5 Verse 6.35 Verse 6.47 Verses on Meditation Verses on Mind Control

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