Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

Bhagavan was replying to them with uninterrupted eloquence.

The words filled with nectar seemed to be coming out of him
like the rapid flow of the waters of the Ganges. A devotee was
translating them into English. I felt sorry for having come
late. I got into the hall hurriedly and sat down. The question
of ‘abhyasa’ (concentration of mind on one subject) and
‘vairagya’ (desirelessness) was being discussed at that time.

Bhagavan explained as under:
znE> znEéprmedœbuÏ(a x&itg&hItya,
AaTms k«Tva n ik

He should through gradual practice attain tranquillity; and
having established the mind in God through reason controlled
by steadfastness, he should not think of anything else.

Gita, VI: 25
ytae ytae inírit mníttSttae inyMyEtdaTmNyev vz< nyet!.

Restraining the restless and fidgety mind from all those
objects after which it runs, he should repeatedly
concentrate it on God.

Gita, VI: 26
In spite of all this teaching, Arjuna’s doubts were not
dispelled and so he questioned further:
c k«:[ àmaiw blvdœ †Fm!,
tSyah< in¢h< mNye vayaeirv suÊ:krm!.

For, Krishna, the mind is very unsteady, turbulent,
tenacious and powerful; therefore, I consider it as difficult
to control as the wind.

Gita, VI: 34
In reply to this:
AsA_yasen tu kaENtey vEraGye[ c g&ýte.

The mind is without doubt unsteady and difficult to curb,
Arjuna, but it can be controlled through practice of
meditation and dispassion, O son of Kunti.

Gita, VI: 35
So said Lord Krishna. Hence it is very necessary that a
sadhaka should have practice and desirelessness.

One of the questioners said, “In the second chapter of
the Gita it has been stated that practising dhyana (meditation)
along with the path of enquiry is the best but in the twelfth
chapter it has been stated that the path of devotion is the
best. How to reconcile these two?” Bhagavan said, “The
sadhaka was first asked to practise meditation in the path of
Jnana. He could not do so; next yoga, then karma and finally
bhakti. In that way one after another was taught so that a
person could follow a path that suits him best. After all, the
goal is one, whatever the path. Lord Krishna’s idea was that
each path would be easy according to each person’s spiritual
development.”