This text was written for the Booklet of the Yoga Congress of the EUY in Zinal 2025

Abhyasa and Vairagya – The Secret of Meditation

By Swami Sarvapriyananda

Why is meditation so difficult? It’s a question that troubles all those who practice meditation in any form whatsoever. The mind resists meditative absorption because of these characteristics –

  • Chanchalam (restless) – mind is constantly moving, never settling
  • Pramathi (turbulent) – mind is destructive, creating problems in life
  • Balavat (strong) – mind is too powerful to restrain
  • Dridham (obstinate) – mind resists changes in its problematic patterns

The solution offered by Sri Krishna are the twin Yogic practices of Abhyasa and Vairagya.

 

 

  1. Abhyasa (Systematic Practice/Repetition)

This represents the active, disciplined effort required for mind control. The teacher emphasizes that nothing worthwhile in life comes naturally. Just as we must learn to walk, eat, and read through training, mental concentration, happiness, and spiritual realization all require systematic training.

Think of how an elephant is trained. The mind (like an elephant) cannot be reasoned with through intellectual arguments alone. Instead, it must be trained through consistent repetition until new patterns become established. This involves:

  •  Fixed time and place for practice
  •  Systematic repetition of spiritual exercises
  •  Patience with the gradual process of habit formation
  •  Understanding that the brain literally rewires itself through practice
  1. Vairagya (Dispassion)

The second essential element is developing dispassion toward everything that is not the Self. This doesn’t mean physical renunciation but rather shifting one’s central concern and goal away from worldly attachments. Like untying a boat before rowing, vairagya removes the anchors that keep us bound to the world despite our spiritual efforts.

Practical Implications

One sign of freedom from mental conditioning is the ability to accommodate others – when we’re not captured by our mind’s preferences and opinions, we can get along harmoniously with everyone. Most conflicts arise from being held hostage by our mental desires and biases.

The teaching emphasizes that while this represents a very high state of realization (jivanmukta), we can observe this principle even in ordinary life – more mature individuals tend to be more accommodating, showing that spiritual growth involves transcending the mind’s reactive patterns.

 

Key text – Bhagavad Gita 6.35

Sri Bhagavān uvāca

Aśamsayam mahābāho, manoh durnigraham calam, abhyāsena tu Kaunteya, vairāgyena ca grahyate

Translation: The Blessed Lord said: Undoubtedly, O mighty-armed one, the mind is restless and hard to control. Yet by practice and dispassion, O son of Kunti, it is controlled.