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’pūrvārtha-samprāptau  saṅgati-dhyāna-yuktiṣu.  When  one  is  put  into  an  awkward  position  because  of
        ignorance, the process by which one can be freed from this entanglement is called yoga. This is also called
        liberation.  Muktir  hitvānyathā-rūpaṁ  svarūpeṇa  vyavasthitiḥ.  Mukti  means  giving  up  one’s  position  in
        ignorance or illusion, by which one thinks in a way contrary to his constitutional position. Returning to one’s
        constitutional position is called mukti, and the process by which one does this is called yoga. Thus yoga is
        above karma, jñāna and sāṅkhya. Indeed, yoga is the ultimate goal of life. Kṛṣṇa therefore advised Arjuna to
        become a yogī (tasmād yogī bhavārjuna). Lord Kṛṣṇa further advised in Bhagavad-gītā that the first-class yogī
        is he who has come to the platform of devotional service.

                              yoginām api sarveṣāṁ / mad-gatenāntarātmanā
                              śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ / sa me yuktatamo mataḥ


        Of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is
        most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. (Bg. 6.47)

        Thus one who always thinks of Kṛṣṇa within the core of his heart is the best yogī. By practicing this best of all
        yoga systems, one is liberated from the material condition.  (SB 7.7.28 – purport)

        Whatever is experienced during the waking state is also experienced in the dreaming state. For many births
        and deaths, the mind and senses have been in contact with the sense objects. It is almost impossible for the
        mind to give up attachment to the objects of attraction. The mind is attracted to material objects and due to
        material desires the objects are embedded in the mind. The separation between the mind and the objects
        of the senses cannot be made simply by renunciation of the objects. It is only possible by total immersion in
        activities of mat-parah (under Krishna’s protection), which is explained in the following verse:

                              cetasā sarva-karmāṇi / mayi sannyasya mat-paraḥ
                              buddhi-yogam upāśritya / mac-cittaḥ satataṁ bhava



        In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully
        conscious of Me. (Bg 18.57)

        Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada emphasizes this point:

        When one acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he does not act as the master of the world. Just like a servant, one
        should act fully under the direction of the Supreme Lord. A servant has no individual independence. He acts
        only on the order of the master. A servant acting on behalf of the supreme master is unaffected by profit and
        loss. He simply discharges his duty faithfully in terms of the order of the Lord. Now, one may argue that Arjuna
        was acting under the personal direction of Kṛṣṇa but when Kṛṣṇa is not present how should one act? If one acts
        according to the direction of Kṛṣṇa in this book, as well as under the guidance of the representative of Kṛṣṇa,
        then the result will be the same. The Sanskrit word mat-paraḥ is very important in this verse. It indicates that
        one has no goal in life save and except acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness just to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. And while working in
        that way, one should think of Kṛṣṇa only: “I have been appointed to discharge this particular duty by Kṛṣṇa.”
        While  acting  in  such  a  way,  one  naturally  has  to  think  of  Kṛṣṇa.  This  is  perfect  Kṛṣṇa  consciousness.  One
        should, however, note that after doing something whimsically he should not offer the result to the Supreme
        Lord. That sort of duty is not in the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One should act according to the
        order of Kṛṣṇa. This is a very important point. That order of Kṛṣṇa comes through disciplic succession from the
        bona fide                                             77
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