शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः।
नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम्।।6.11।।
तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः।
उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये।।6.12।।
Having firmly established in a clean place his seat, neither too high nor too low, composed of cloth, skin, and kusa-grass placed successively one below the other;
Sitting on that seat, he should concentrate his mind for the purification of the internal organ, making the mind one-pointed and keeping the actions of the mind and senses under control.
Osho’s Commentary
Krishna now gives some practical instructions. To the modern mind, these may seem strange. A clean spot, a seat of a certain height, made of grass, deerskin, and cloth. What has this to do with the soul? These are subtle sciences. The earth has its own gravitational pull, its own energies. An insulated seat—made of materials like kusha grass or wool which are non-conductors of electricity—helps the seeker to conserve his own inner energy. It prevents the energy from being dissipated into the earth. The place should be neither too high nor too low. In a deep valley, you will be affected by lower, denser vibrations. On a high mountaintop, if you are not ready, the purer vibrations can be too much for you. One must begin from where one is. And on this seat, one makes the mind one-pointed and practices yoga for self-purification. These outer arrangements are just skillful means to create the right atmosphere for the inner journey. They are not the goal, but they can be helpful supports on the way.