---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The yogi moving toward Divinity is deemed…"
description: "\"“The yogi moving toward Divinity is deemed more highly evolved than ascetics who practice severe penance, higher than the learned ones who know the scr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/the-bhagavad-gita-24928_yogi_the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deeme_3228842.jpg"
---

#  The yogi moving toward Divinity is deemed more highly…

![“The yogi moving toward Divinity is deemed more highly evolved than ascetics who practice severe penance, higher than the learned ones who know the scriptures, and above the ritualists who perform their rites seeking favors. All of these are to some extent still entangled in desire. So be a yogi…” quote by The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/the-bhagavad-gita-24928_yogi_the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deeme_3228842.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/the-bhagavad-gita-24928_yogi_the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deeme_3228842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/the-bhagavad-gita-24928_yogi_the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deeme_3228842.jpg)

> ““The yogi moving toward Divinity is deemed more highly evolved than ascetics who practice severe penance, higher than the learned ones who know the scriptures, and above the ritualists who perform their rites seeking favors. All of these are to some extent still entangled in desire. So be a yogi, Arjuna! “Know that the true yogi has chosen a great yet attainable ideal in life: to turn Godward, to constantly and consciously move toward Divinity — to not simply know about God, but to know God in the fullest sense, to literally become one with the Divine! “This is the profound plan and purpose of creation that is hidden from most people. Arjuna, be the one who gives Me his whole heart. That yogi will be My very own.””

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The true yogi seeks divine union, surpassing ritual, learning, and asceticism, which are still bound by desire.

**In simple terms:** A yogi aims to become one with God, not just know Him.

Key Takeaway

Pursue divine union over external practices.

Themes

spirituality self‑realization devotion

Mood

reverent inspirational

Type

philosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

- personal meditation
- spiritual practice
- overcoming ego
- seeking purpose

Key Concepts

non‑dualism inner transformation detachment

Questions to Reflect On

- What does divine union mean to you?
- How can you move beyond desire?

A Different Perspective

May be hard to abandon ingrained rituals and social expectations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“This chapter also explores the question, "Who is the true yogi?" This word yogi may bring to mind images of amazing people who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ved-vyasa/this-chapter-also-explores-the-question-who-is-the-true-yogi-this/)

[Ved Vyasa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ved-vyasa/)

> [“The aspirant would do well to avoid those ‘spiritual teachers’ who delight in pointing out the evils of the world. These are immature egos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prem-prakash/the-aspirant-would-do-well-to-avoid-those-spiritual-teachers-who/)

[Prem Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prem-prakash/)

> [Be thou a true yogi. A yogi who understands that everything he's looking for is really inside himself. Learn to live more in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goswami-kriyananda/be-thou-a-true-yogi-a-yogi-who-understands-that-everything-he-s/)

[Goswami Kriyananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goswami-kriyananda/)

> [A true yogi may remain dutifully in the world; there, he is like butter on water and not like the easily-diluted milk of unchurned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/a-true-yogi-may-remain-dutifully-in-the-world-there-he-is-like-butter/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [“The wise know that living by scriptural injunctions (good deeds, sacrifice, and so forth) will help you reach heaven. But the true yogi knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-wise-know-that-living-by-scriptural-injunctions-good-deeds/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“The yogi who looks with the same eye upon saints or sinners, relatives or strangers, friends or foes, well-wishers or even those wishing harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-yogi-who-looks-with-the-same-eye-upon-saints-or-sinners-relatives/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [No matter how good you are, you still need grace to get out of the material world. You can be a yogi or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/no-matter-how-good-you-are-you-still-need-grace-to-get-out-of-the/)

[George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/)

> [I am not a yogi yet, but I aspire to have more balance in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/i-am-not-a-yogi-yet-but-i-aspire-to-have-more-balance-in-my-life/)

[Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/)

> [“Attachment is the act of trying to control, manipulate, or sculpt the outside world in such a way that we lose sight of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/attachment-is-the-act-of-trying-to-control-manipulate-or-sculpt-the/)

[Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/)

> [Yogi Bear changed my life in ways that I can't explain because it's not a full feature on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-miller/yogi-bear-changed-my-life-in-ways-that-i-can-t-explain-because-it-s/)

[T. J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-miller/)

> [Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/before-you-realize-this-truth-say-the-yogis-you-will-always-be-in/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“He who does so, says the Gita, cannot be a Yogi: He who fasts, he who keeps awake, he who sleeps much, he who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/he-who-does-so-says-the-gita-cannot-be-a-yogi-he-who-fasts-he-who/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [ They say he's \[Yogi Berra\] funny. Well, he has a lovely wife and family, a beautiful home, money in the bank, and he plays… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/they-say-he-s-yogi-berra-funny-well-he-has-a-lovely-wife-and-family-a/)

[Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/)

> [Is it necessary to practice all these asanas, further and further? Is it necessary to develop scientific researches further and further? To a yogi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/is-it-necessary-to-practice-all-these-asanas-further-and-further-is/)

[B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/)

> [A yogi's brain extends from the bottom of the foot to the top of his head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/a-yogi-s-brain-extends-from-the-bottom-of-the-foot-to-the-top-of-his/)

[B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/)

## More by The Bhagavad Gita

> [“The yogi who looks with the same eye upon saints or sinners, relatives or strangers, friends or foes, well-wishers or even those wishing harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-yogi-who-looks-with-the-same-eye-upon-saints-or-sinners-relatives/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“The wise know that living by scriptural injunctions (good deeds, sacrifice, and so forth) will help you reach heaven. But the true yogi knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-wise-know-that-living-by-scriptural-injunctions-good-deeds/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“I am the goal at the end of all paths. I am the landlord of all creation. I am the inner witness in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/i-am-the-goal-at-the-end-of-all-paths-i-am-the-landlord-of-all/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“It is I who instills the seed of all births into the vast womb of nature ( prakriti). Nature in turn gives birth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/it-is-i-who-instills-the-seed-of-all-births-into-the-vast-womb-of/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“According to the law of karma, souls reincarnate in environments befitting their spiritual attainments. Good people (even those who have veered from the spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/according-to-the-law-of-karma-souls-reincarnate-in-environments/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“Indeed, true seers, perceiving Divinity in everyone, do no harm to anyone. The ones who don’t perceive this unity separate themselves from others, seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/indeed-true-seers-perceiving-divinity-in-everyone-do-no-harm-to/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“Four types of people seek a connection with Me: One, the world-weary — people who worship God for the alleviation of physical or mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/four-types-of-people-seek-a-connection-with-me-one-the-world-weary/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“It may seem impossible to you, but a mere human can indeed come to know God — not merely about God, but to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/it-may-seem-impossible-to-you-but-a-mere-human-can-indeed-come-to/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“Contemplate the cosmic standard of time and creation. When Brahma the creator wakes up at the dawn of each cosmic day, this entire universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/contemplate-the-cosmic-standard-of-time-and-creation-when-brahma-the/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“The ignorant (uninformed about Atma and without faith) waste their lives. Through their disbelief they alienate themselves from the Self and thus from true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-ignorant-uninformed-about-atma-and-without-faith-waste-their/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“The individual soul (jivatma), because it has drawn the senses around itself, experiences the pleasures, desires, and pains of the world. “People who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-individual-soul-jivatma-because-it-has-drawn-the-senses-around/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“Now listen carefully, Arjuna, this is the king of secrets, the crown jewel, the law of life at the spiritual level. If you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/now-listen-carefully-arjuna-this-is-the-king-of-secrets-the-crown/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“Truth and right can never be obtained by the weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/truth-and-right-can-never-be-obtained-by-the-weak/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“Arjuna, I will now enumerate the marks of the devotee I most dearly love. I love the one who harbors no ill will toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/arjuna-i-will-now-enumerate-the-marks-of-the-devotee-i-most-dearly/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [“No matter how strongly you ascribe to the universal delusion that you can avoid pain and only have pleasure in this life (which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/no-matter-how-strongly-you-ascribe-to-the-universal-delusion-that-you/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

[Explore all 23 The Bhagavad Gita quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

## More Yogi quotes

> [A yogi's brain extends from the bottom of the foot to the top of his head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/a-yogi-s-brain-extends-from-the-bottom-of-the-foot-to-the-top-of-his/)

[B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/)

> [Is it necessary to practice all these asanas, further and further? Is it necessary to develop scientific researches further and further? To a yogi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/is-it-necessary-to-practice-all-these-asanas-further-and-further-is/)

[B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/)

> [ They say he's \[Yogi Berra\] funny. Well, he has a lovely wife and family, a beautiful home, money in the bank, and he plays… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/they-say-he-s-yogi-berra-funny-well-he-has-a-lovely-wife-and-family-a/)

[Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/)

> [“He who does so, says the Gita, cannot be a Yogi: He who fasts, he who keeps awake, he who sleeps much, he who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/he-who-does-so-says-the-gita-cannot-be-a-yogi-he-who-fasts-he-who/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/before-you-realize-this-truth-say-the-yogis-you-will-always-be-in/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Yogi Bear changed my life in ways that I can't explain because it's not a full feature on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-miller/yogi-bear-changed-my-life-in-ways-that-i-can-t-explain-because-it-s/)

[T. J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-miller/)

> [“Attachment is the act of trying to control, manipulate, or sculpt the outside world in such a way that we lose sight of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/attachment-is-the-act-of-trying-to-control-manipulate-or-sculpt-the/)

[Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/)

> [I am not a yogi yet, but I aspire to have more balance in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/i-am-not-a-yogi-yet-but-i-aspire-to-have-more-balance-in-my-life/)

[Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/)

> [No matter how good you are, you still need grace to get out of the material world. You can be a yogi or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/no-matter-how-good-you-are-you-still-need-grace-to-get-out-of-the/)

[George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/)

> [A true yogi may remain dutifully in the world; there, he is like butter on water and not like the easily-diluted milk of unchurned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/a-true-yogi-may-remain-dutifully-in-the-world-there-he-is-like-butter/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [A pure woman is better than a hundred yogis. Women are more open to love God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neem-karoli-baba/a-pure-woman-is-better-than-a-hundred-yogis-women-are-more-open-to/)

[Neem Karoli Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neem-karoli-baba/)

> [The Yogi must always practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-yogi-must-always-practice/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [“The yogi who looks with the same eye upon saints or sinners, relatives or strangers, friends or foes, well-wishers or even those wishing harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-yogi-who-looks-with-the-same-eye-upon-saints-or-sinners-relatives/)

[The Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/)

> [..."And for God's sake, never get into the petty habit of measuring your self-worth against other people's net-worth. As Yogi Ramen preached: 'Every second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/and-for-god-s-sake-never-get-into-the-petty-habit-of-measuring-your/)

[Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/)

> [When there is no mind, you are in yoga; when there is mind you are not in yoga. So you may do all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/when-there-is-no-mind-you-are-in-yoga-when-there-is-mind-you-are-not/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

Browse all 169 Yogi quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The yogi moving toward Divinity is deemed more highly evolved than ascetics who practice severe penance, higher than the learned ones who know the scriptures, and above the ritualists who perform their rites seeking favors. All of these are to some extent still entangled in desire. So be a yogi, Arjuna! “Know that the true yogi has chosen a great yet attainable ideal in life: to turn Godward, to constantly and consciously move toward Divinity — to not simply know about God, but to know God in the fullest sense, to literally become one with the Divine! “This is the profound plan and purpose of creation that is hidden from most people. Arjuna, be the one who gives Me his whole heart. That yogi will be My very own.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "The Bhagavad Gita"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deemed-more-highly-evolved-than/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Yogi"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deemed-more-highly-evolved-than/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/the-bhagavad-gita-24928_yogi_the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deeme_3228842.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/the-bhagavad-gita-24928_yogi_the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deeme_3228842.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/the-bhagavad-gita-24928_yogi_the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deeme_3228842.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The yogi moving toward Divinity is deemed more highly evolved than ascetics who practice severe penance…” — The Bhagavad Gita",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "The Bhagavad Gita",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bhagavad-gita/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The yogi moving toward Divinity is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deemed-more-highly-evolved-than/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bhagavad-gita/the-yogi-moving-toward-divinity-is-deemed-more-highly-evolved-than/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
