What does Bhagavad Gita say about Forced Meditation

Forced Meditation - What is Forced Meditation?

Forced Meditation is a technique in meditation whereby a person forcefully restrains himself or herself while acquiring a posture and meditates. Ancient scriptures describe rishis and saints doing meditation while standing on one leg or on the head. This is forced meditation. Most people forcefully sit down and concentrate on their breath which too is a type of foced meditation. Forced meditation is also called Hatha Yoga. 

Lord Shiva is seen meditation while assuming a sitting posture. Likewise followers of Shiv Ji like Gorakh Nath and other Nath rishis also do foced meditation. Similarly scores of other saints have done forced meditation. They were oblivious to the wisdom given in Bhagavad Gita. Therefore they could not achieve anything, as arbitrary practices in worship do not bring any benefit.  This is evident in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 23 and 24.

What does Bhagavad Gita say about Forced Meditation?

In 17th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna questions the God of Bhagavad Gita about the nature of people who do forced meditation. The God giving the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita categorically describes the nature of such devotees in Verse 5 and 6 of Chapter 17. Please see the Verses below.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 5

Ashaastrvihitam’, ghoram’, tapyante, ye, tapH, janaaH,
DambhaahankaarsanyuktaH, kaamraagbalaanvitaH ||5||

Translation: (Ye) who (janaaH) men (ashaastrvihitam’) not enjoined by the scriptures, only arbitrary (ghoram’) severe (tapH) austerity (tapyante) practice and (dambhaahankaarsanyuktaH) filled with hypocrisy and arrogance and (kaamraagbalaanvitaH) are also filled with attachment to desire and pride of the power of bhakti. (5)

Translation: Those men who only practice arbitrary severe austerity which is not enjoined by the scriptures and are equipped with hypocrisy and arrogance and with attachment to desire and pride of the power of bhakti.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 6

KarshyantH, shareerasthm’, bhootgraamm’, achetasH, mam’,
Ch, ev, antHshareerasthm’, taan’, viddhi, aasurnishchyaan’ ||6||

Translation: (Shareerasthm’) dwelling in the body (bhootgraamm’) chiefs of the living beings – Brahma, Vishnu, Shiv and Ganesh and Prakriti and (mam’) me (ch) and (antHshareerasthm’) the Supreme God dwelling with the living being in the heart lotus of the body (karshyantH) who torture (taan’) them (achetasH) ignorants (aasurnishchayaan’) of demoniac nature (ev) only (viddhi) know. (6)

Translation: The ignorants, who torture the chiefs of the living beings – Brahma, Vishnu , Shiv, Ganesh, Prakriti and me dwelling in the body and the Supreme God dwelling with the living being in the heart lotus of the body, know them to be of demoniac nature only.

What is Verdict of Bhagavad Gita on Forced Meditation or Hatha Yoga

Bhagavad Gita clearly says that those who do forced meditation are of demoniac nature and torment the deities and the Supreme God dwelling in the human body. Forced meditation has been shunned in Bhagavad Gita. It is an arbitrary practice and is therefore futile.