The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran

╭ chapter six
appropriate place to meditate. A suitable spot for his practice
will be clean and comfortable. In a nod to tradition, one verse
recommends the meditation seat be covered with kusha grass
and a deerskin – the traditional seat of the yogi. The important
thing, however, is not how the meditation seat is made,
but what is going on in the mind. Meditation is an internal
discipline to make the mind one-pointed, absolutely concentrated.
Second, Krishna instructs Arjuna to hold the body, head,
and neck in a straight line. This may seem esoteric – a reference
to the contortion-school of yoga – but it has a practical
purpose. Sitting absolutely straight, with the spinal column
erect, prevents drowsiness. Also, in advanced stages of meditation,
it allows for the free flow of vital energy or kundalini
(see glossary).
Then practical advice is given: moderation is the path.
Neither extreme asceticism nor indulgence will aid meditation.
An initial acquaintance with Hindu culture may give the
impression that it fosters either the sensuality of the Kama
Sutra or the asceticism of the hermit. It is true that in Indian
civilization we can easily see the development of the sensual
and artistic in many manifestations – in painting, sculpture,
music, and dance. And Indian cuisine is famous for its variety
of flavors and spices. India also presents us with the austere
simplicity of the wandering holy man or sadhu . The Gita,
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