There are many instances of great yogīs in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, just like Durvāsā Muni. He wanted to show his power to Ambarīṣa Mahārāja. That's a very nice story. I shall narrate next meeting. The yogīs, everyone, yogīs . . . yoga practice is, therefore, it is more or less material achievement. Because when they are powerful to show some miracles and people become captivated, "Oh, he is performing such miracle thing."
In Benares, in India, there was a yogī, his business was anyone who will go there, he immediately produced two or four rasagullās and offer him. And many hundreds and thousands of educated men became his disciple simply for the matter rasagullā, which is only four annas–worth.
So people want to see this jugglery. And those who want following some or some material achievement, they want to show . . . actually, it is a fact. Suppose if I could manufacture rasagullā by some mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, oh, thousands of people will come immediately. You see? People want to see, and those persons who want to have a cheap following, they want to show such jugglery. But a devotee is not of that mentality. They will simply . . . humble servant. They are satisfied by serving the Lord. That is devotee's position.
So your statement that, "Why one should bother with these things?" that's a very nice proposal. Why? There is no necessity. Suppose if I can manufacture some rasagullā, what is the worth of this rasagullā? Oh, we can, if we spend ten cents, we can make it. So why shall I waste my energy for manufacturing rasagullā in the yoga system? Actually, therefore, Kṛṣṇa says that the perfection of, real perfection of yoga, the first-class yogī is he who is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa. That is first class. He is recommended.
- yoginām api sarveṣāṁ
- mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā
- śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ
- sa me yuktatamo mataḥ
- (BG 6.47)
"The first-class yogī is he who is always . . ." He never says that first-class yogī is he who can show this jugglery. No. That is not recommended.
Actually . . . and the yoga practice begins, samādhi. Real yoga practice, after controlling the senses, the next stage is samādhi, concentrate the mind, focus the mind on Viṣṇu always. Always thinking of Viṣṇu, always seeing Viṣṇu within himself. That is yoga practice. But by such practice, automatically one gains such powerful things, and when one gains such powerful power, they want to exhibit to get following for material achievements. But that is not the purpose of yoga. Yoga means to realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead and ultimately reach in His kingdom. That is the real purpose of yoga.