Srila Gurudeva: When Arjuna gave up his bow and arrow on the battlefield of Kuruksetra and was denying to fight, Krsna began to speak to him. He began to tell him what yoga really is. Only the exercises of the body is not yoga. Krsna is explaining that there are two different things: One is the soul and the other is the Supersoul, God. If the soul and God, the Supersoul, if they are connected, this is yoga. We are all souls and there is also the controlling power of the whole world and He who has created the whole universe. That Supersoul is so powerful. He is so merciful and He controls the whole universe. He is controlling the sea, the sun and moon, and everything in the sky. Only He is the controlling power of this universe. He is so merciful. If we are connected with Him, then this is called yoga and by this yoga we will be happy forever.
tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te
-Srimad Bhagavad-Gita 10.10
[Upon those who perform bhajana to Me with love, yearning for My eternal association, I bestow the transcendental knowledge by which they can come to Me.]
The Supersoul, God Himself is saying, “Those who are always praying to Me and serving Me with honor and with love and affection, although they cannot see Me, but yet they praying, I give them the intelligence by which they can come to Me.” This is very sweet. If anyone is praying to Him, uttering His names with love and affection, then God becomes very happy and He mercifully gives some intelligence to that person to help them come to Him. Then by coming to Him, that person will be very happy. They will be delivered from the chain of birth and death, suffering and sorrows.
jatasya hi dhruvo mrtyur dhruvam janma mrtasya ca
tasmad apariharye ‘rthe na tvam socitum arhasi
-Srimad Bhagavad-Gita 2.27
[For one who is born death is certain and for one who has died, birth is certain. Therefore you should not grieve for that what is unavoidable.]
If anyone is taking birth, surely he will die. Those who have taken birth in this world, again they must come and they will take birth again. Those who are dying, they will again be born and those who are born, again they will die. This is the endless chain of birth and death. But Krsna says, “If anyone is chanting My name and remembering Me, they will easily cross this endless ocean of birth and death.” Otherwise you will have to be in this chain of birth and death, sorrow and suffering. Anyone else cannot give you any help and you will have to be unhappy forever.
[Spoken by Srila Gurudeva on December 19th, 1998, Bali, published as part of the Bhakta Bandhav Anthology, Volume 24]