Religious Scholar

The sixth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita deals with balance. Dr. Vijayendra Pratap, founder of the Yoga Research Society based in Philadelphia, Pa., tells us that the Sanskrit word, "yukta," used in this chapter means "proper." In all things, we need to ask ourselves, what is proper in this context, in my life? As verse 16 states, Yoga is not for one who eats too much or too little--nor...for one who sleeps too much or too little (Swami Swarupananda, ed.). As Dr. Pratap states, what is a proper diet for an ant is not proper for an elephant. Some people need eight or nine hours of sleep to be healthy and productive, others may need four or five. Clearly, one size does not fit all.

"To (the person) who is temperate in eating...recreation...work effort...sleep and wakefulness, Yoga becomes the destroyer of misery," the Gita observes in 6:17.  We should be sensitive, observant, and still our busy minds so we can truly understand our own needs and the needs of others. In this context of silent alertness, we come to know what is proper.