Gita 5.28
Karma Sanyasa Yoga
स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश्चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भ्रुवोः । प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ ॥२८॥ यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिर्मुनिर्मोक्षपरायणः । विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो यः सदा मुक्त एव सः ॥
sparśān kṛtvā bahir bāhyāṁś cakṣuś caivāntare bhruvoḥ | prāṇāpānau samau kṛtvā nāsābhyantara-cāriṇau ||28|| yatendriya-mano-buddhir munir mokṣa-parāyaṇaḥ | vigatecchā-bhaya-krodho yaḥ sadā mukta eva saḥ ||
In essence: The sage who masters breath, sense, and mind while releasing desire, fear, and anger does not merely seek liberation—such a one IS already forever free.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Krishna, this seems like advanced yoga technique. I can barely sit still for ten minutes. Are you saying I need to master pranayama before I can be free?"
Guru: "Notice what Krishna actually says: the sage who practices these things IS forever liberated. He doesn't say these practices CAUSE liberation. The techniques support the revelation, but freedom is your nature—not an achievement earned through yogic prowess."
Sadhak: "But why mention all these technical details—eyebrow center, breath equalization—if they're not essential?"
Guru: "Because most seekers need a method. The mind that believes it is bound needs something to do. These practices work with the body-mind apparatus to create conditions where recognition becomes easier. They're like cleaning a window so light can shine through—the light was always there."
Sadhak: "I've tried focusing between the eyebrows. It just gives me a headache and makes me more tense, not less."
Guru: "Exactly! When done with effort and strain, these techniques reinforce the ego rather than dissolving it. The 'gaze' Krishna describes is not a forced concentration but a natural settling of attention when external fascinations lose their pull. It's more like where your eyes rest when you're completely content—not gripping anything."
Sadhak: "What about balancing the breath? That seems more accessible, but I don't understand how it leads to freedom."
Guru: "Watch your breath right now. When you're anxious, it's shallow and rapid. When you're angry, it's harsh. When you're peaceful, it's slow and even. The breath-mind connection works both ways. Deliberately slowing and balancing breath sends a signal of safety to your entire nervous system. In that calm, you can see clearly what was always true."
Sadhak: "But then he mentions being free from desire, fear, and anger. That seems impossible. I have desires constantly!"
Guru: "The word is 'vigata'—gone beyond. Not suppressed, not conquered, but seen through. You still experience preferences, but you're not enslaved by them. Fear arises, but it doesn't define you. Anger may appear, but it passes through without leaving a residue of resentment. The difference is identification."
Sadhak: "So the meditation practices prepare the ground, and the freedom from desire-fear-anger is the actual liberation?"
Guru: "Yes. And notice—Krishna says such a one is 'sada mukta,' ALWAYS liberated. Not sometimes, not during meditation only, but forever. Because they've recognized what they always were. The practices revealed it; they didn't create it."
Sadhak: "Can someone be liberated without ever doing these specific practices?"
Guru: "Absolutely. Liberation is recognition, not technique. Some recognize instantly through grace, through inquiry, through devotion. Others benefit from these yogic methods. The destination is the same; the routes vary. What matters is: are you still caught in the grip of desire, fear, and anger? If not, you're free—however you got there."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Begin with 'The Three-Part Liberation Practice.' Sit comfortably and close your eyes. First, spend 2-3 minutes simply allowing sense contacts to be 'outside'—hear sounds without needing to identify or react to them, feel sensations without labeling them pleasant or unpleasant. You're not blocking anything; you're simply not engaging. Second, practice balanced breathing: inhale for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 4, allowing the breath to move evenly through both nostrils. Do this for 3-5 minutes. Third, with eyes still closed, let your inner gaze settle naturally—not forcing it anywhere, but noticing where attention rests when you're not directing it. Often it settles in the forehead region. Rest there for 2-3 minutes. Throughout, notice any arising of desire ('I want this to feel different'), fear ('Am I doing this right?'), or frustration (a form of anger). Simply notice these without engaging. End by recognizing: the awareness that witnessed all of this was never disturbed by any of it.
Practice 'The Liberation Triad Check-In.' Three times during the day, pause and ask: 'Right now, am I caught in desire, fear, or anger?' Don't judge whatever you find—just notice. If desire is present, recognize it: 'This is desire appearing in awareness.' If fear: 'This is fear appearing in awareness.' If anger or irritation: 'This is anger appearing in awareness.' The simple act of witnessing rather than being swept up in these states IS the freedom Krishna describes. You don't need to eliminate them; you just need to not be them. Also practice 'micro-pranayama': whenever you notice stress or reactivity, take three breaths where inhale equals exhale. This simple act of breath-balancing sends a signal of safety to your nervous system, creating space for recognition. Notice that the awareness witnessing stress is itself never stressed.
Before sleep, do 'The Muni's Review.' Sit quietly and ask: 'Today, in what moments did desire grip me? When did fear contract me? When did anger inflame me?' Don't judge—just see. Then ask: 'In all those moments, what was aware of desire, fear, anger?' Rest in recognition that you—awareness itself—were never actually caught, even when the mind-body seemed to be. Then practice the breath equalization for a few minutes, letting the day's accumulated tensions release. As you lie down to sleep, rest in the recognition: 'I am that awareness which is always already free. Desire, fear, and anger appear and disappear within me, but I remain untouched—sada mukta, forever liberated.' Let this be your last thought before sleep, planting the seed of recognition that will grow even in dreams.