Gita 13.24

Sadhak: "I've tried meditation but my mind won't settle. Does this mean I'm not suited for the path?"

Guru: "It means the meditative path may require more preparation, or it may mean a different path suits you better now. Can you sit with the restlessness, just watching it? That's still meditation. Can you engage in selfless action, losing the 'I' in service? That's Karma Yoga. Can you discriminate in each moment—'This thought is not me; this feeling is not me'? That's Sankhya. The paths interpenetrate. Most seekers use a combination. Don't conclude from initial struggle that you're unsuited; often initial struggle is precisely the purification needed."

Sadhak: "Which path is fastest?"

Guru: "The path you can actually walk. A fast path you can't sustain is slower than a slow path you stay on. If you're naturally contemplative, dhyana will feel like home. If you're intellectual, Sankhya will ignite you. If you're active, Karma Yoga will engage your energy. Speed is less important than fit. Krishna has already said in Chapter 3 that for most people, action is unavoidable—so for most, Karma Yoga is the practical beginning, with dhyana and Sankhya developing as the mind purifies."

Sadhak: "Can I combine paths? Meditate in the morning, discriminate during the day, serve in the evening?"

Guru: "Not only can you—you almost inevitably will. The paths are not exclusive; they emphasize different aspects of the same transformation. Meditation develops stillness and depth. Discrimination develops clarity and detachment. Action develops surrender and non-doership. Together, they cover the full spectrum of human experience. Follow your nature's lead, but don't artificially limit yourself to one approach."