Hare Krsna,
The essence of the verses of BG Chapter 12 and Lord Kapila’s verses is that one should fix one’s mind on the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This fixing of one’s mind should be one-pointed focus without distraction to anything else (such as desire for heavenly happiness, the five kinds of liberation, achieving Brahman liberation or seeking residence in higher planetary systems).
The Blessed Lord said: He whose mind is fixed on My personal form, always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith, is considered by Me to be most perfect. (BG 12.2)
Therefore, persons whose minds are fixed on the Lord engage in the intensive practice of devotional service. That is the only means for attainment of the final perfection of life. (SB 3.25.44)
Therefore it is said, Mano mayy arpitaṁ sthiram which mean “the mind being fixed on Me.” By fixing the mind on the lotus feet of the Lord, one should perform ‘intense’ bhakti yoga. Tivrena bhakti-yoga. Even in the first verse of Lord Kapiladeva instructions (SB 3.25.32), He says that the mind is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and its natural duty is to serve. In BG 3.42, Lord Krsna says that the working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the intelligence. The senses have the natural propensity of enjoy and the mind has the natural propensity to serve. Unfortunately, due to the influence of the three modes of material nature (especially modes of passion and ignorance), the mind becomes subservient to the senses and lets the senses engage in sense gratification. If, therefore, the mind is directly engaged in the service of the Lord constantly, then there is no chance that the senses will become engaged in other ways. The body may be silent and at rest, but the mind is always active. The mind has therefore to be engaged in something higher and better. The highest perfection is fixing the mind on the lotus feet of the Lord. If the mind is engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord, there is no chance of its being engaged in the lower propensities.
“Because the mind is the master of the senses, when the mind is engaged, all the senses become engaged. That is bhakti-yoga. Yoga means controlling the senses. The senses cannot be controlled in the proper sense of the term; they are always agitated. This is true also with a child — how long can he be forced to sit down silently? It is not possible. Even Arjuna said, cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa: “The mind is always agitated.” The best course is to fix the mind on the lotus feet of the Lord. Mano mayy arpitaṁ sthiram. If one seriously engages in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that is the highest perfectional stage. All Kṛṣṇa conscious activities are on the highest perfectional level of human life.” (SB 3.25.44)
The fixing of the mind on the Lord must also be accompanied by complete surrender unto the Lord. “If by intelligence one engages one’s mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, by complete surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then, automatically, the mind becomes stronger, and even though the senses are very strong, like serpents, they will be no more effective than serpents with broken fangs.” (BG 3.42 Purport)
Key takeaways:
- Detach mind from matter.
- Attach mind to the Lord without any material motives.
- Surrender to the Lord completely.
What is the result of doing above?
- The subtle body is dissolved without separate endeavor (Verse 33)
- Such a devotee, who is unflinchingly engaged, always glorifies My pastimes and activities. (Verse 34)
- They rejoice in seeing the smiling face of the Lord (Verse 35)
- The senses are freed from all other engagements, and he becomes absorbed in devotional service. Thus in spite of his unwillingness, he attains liberation without separate endeavor. (Verse 36)
- The devotee enjoys, even in this life, all the offered benedictions. (Verse 37)
- The Lord takes him to the other side of birth and death. (Verse 39-40)
- Thus they become eligible to enter into the kingdom of Godhead without fear. (Verse 43)
In conclusion, devotees whose minds are fixed on the Lord and engage in the intensive practice of devotional service attain the final perfection of life.
As Krsna repeated twice in BG (9.34 and 18.65),
“Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.”
Concentration of the mind on the form of Kṛṣṇa constitutes the most confidential part of knowledge.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 