6.2 Explain, by using astanga yoga terms, how the devotee is the perfect yogi.

A devotee is the perfect yogi as his practice includes the essence of astanga yoga and beyond. Astanga
yoga includes two stages, the first stage is yogarurukshu where in one performs naishkarmya and
practices astanga yoga and the second stage is yogarudha where one gives up work and exclusively
engages in meditation.
Astanga yoga practice has yama - do’s, niyama - don’ts, asana – perfect posture, pranayama – restricted
breathing, pratyahara – senses pulled in, dharana – focus on one point, dhyana & Samadhi. The perfection
of astanga yoga is to see the Lord as Paramatma within his heart but there is no activity for the Lord nor
the aspect of pleasing the Lord.
Whereas a devotee in bhakti yoga too practices do & don’ts – rules (chanting, hearing etc..,) &
regulations (4 regulative principles), perfectly situated in devotional service to the Lord, controls his
senses by engaging them for the pleasure of the Lord (astanga yogi should be free from sex life to practice
it whereas, a bhakti yogi may involve in sex (in marriage) but it’s just for begetting KC children) and
always meditates on the Lord to serve Him better.
A perfected astanga yogi when realizes that Krishna and Paramatma are one, he progresses towards
personal relationship with the Lord but a devotee is in personal relationship from beginning, for him the
means and the end, are the same, devotional service to the Lord. For example a devotee when present in
this material world does nava vidha bhakti (like hearing, chanting etc…) and when he goes back home
back to Godhead he continues there the same process. Thus he is a perfect yogi whose body, mind &
words are just for the pleasure of the Lord.