In this verse, we talk about how a mind that is free from the lower qualities becomes calm and focused towards achieving its goal.

प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् ।
उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् ॥६- २७॥

prashaantamanasaM hyenaM yoginaM sukhamuttamam.h .
upaiti shaantarajasaM brahmabhuutamakalmashham.h .. 6.27..

Supreme bliss truly comes to that yogi whose mind is calm, whose passions are subdued, who has become one with Brahman and who is without sins.

hi - truly : prashaantamanasaM - to him whose mind is calm : akalmashhaM – who is free from sins : shaantarajasaM - whose passions are subdued : brahmabhuutaM – to one who is identified with Brahman :enaM yoginaM - to this yogi : uttamaM sukhaM – supreme happiness : upaiti – comes (naturally)

The yogi is described to be free from sins. The sins or impurities referred to here are those that are due to the tamasic nature. It includes all inefficiencies born out of laziness and carelessness. The yogi is also described as shaantarajasaM which means that all the rajasic qualities are also subdued in him. This means that he is free from greed, wants, desires etc. The mind gets distracted and remains restless only because of these qualities.

When we constantly think about all the worldly objects our mind becomes troubled. A troubled mind causes sorrow. The desires within us keep coming to the mind like the waves in an ocean. When we gain control over the mind and do not have any desire for anything other than realizing God, then, automatically, the mind becomes calm. This is the state of the yogi who is described as prashaantamanasaM.

Many times, when we go on our vacation, we plan to go to Tirupati. We either arrange for a car/bus and some people even walk up to Tirupati. They walk for hours together and then go up the hills, have a bath in the cold water, stand for hours in the queue and then finally reach the altar. The moment they see the Lord, they feel a great amount of joy that all the efforts don’t seem to be much. That joy is so supreme that they cannot express it in words, they feel that for that one moment of joy, anything can be done again. They come and say, “Today, I felt God.” The whole year they spend in these memories and then the next year they set out on the same trip. They do everything in the same manner, walk up, have a bath, stand in the queue and stand in front of the altar all the time waiting for that same joy to sweep them and then nothing happens. Then they say, “this time it was not like the last time”. This is because the first time, the happiness came naturally, unexpectedly, but the second time, they are not really experiencing the event, but all the time they are comparing the event with their memories. On account of this, the mind is in great agitation and when there is agitation there is no room for happiness. As long as there are no agitation and the mind quietens, happiness, naturally enters the mind and rests there. The mind will quieten when qualities such as greed, lust and desires and all the sins are removed from it and when the mind is in such a calm state then the yogi feels a ray of God, just like a fleeting glimpse at the altar of the temple and this gives him great happiness.

This yogi who has controlled all his desires and whose mind is calm, is able to understand that he is one with God, because he realizes that all the worldly objects are impermanent. He realizes that he is none other than God or Brahman. When he gets this knowledge then he gets happiness which comes naturally.

When a person is swimming for the first time, he has to struggle in the water. He will be trying to gasp for breath and will be struggling with his hands and legs. But once he learns to swim, there is no effort. It is a natural process. Even though all the movements are the same they are smooth, automatic and natural.

In management terms, the first stage can be called a stage of “unconscious incompetence”. At this time, the person who is learning to do some activity doesn’t even understand the mistakes he is doing and he is really bad at it. This stage is the bottom rung of the learning ladder. As he learns, he slowly becomes aware of the issues and reaches a stage of “conscious incompetence”. In this stage, he still has not mastered the act, but atleast knows what the problems are. From here, with practice he reaches the stage of “conscious competence”. At this time, he still needs to keep track that he doesn’t slip up. Ultimately, he reaches “unconscious competence” which is the ultimate stage when the activity becomes so much part of him that he can perform without thinking!

This transition from unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence, leads us to realize supreme bliss and maximum potential in any activity where we can achieve it!