Jnana Yoga
What is Jnana Yoga?
The word ‘jnana’ (pronounced ‘gyan’) means knowledge. This is of two kinds:
1. Shabdatmak jnana — theoretical knowledge
2. Anubhavatmak jnana — practical knowledge
In Hinduism the word jnana has many connotations. Knowledge is viewed by the Hindu scriptures as both liberating and binding. Knowledge is viewed as the means to achieve certain ends. It can used to fulfill our desires or liberate ourselves.
The knowledge that helps us realize our selfish desires and perpetuate our limited identities is considered lower knowledge. It is also termed as avidya or ignorance. The knowledge that helps us overcome our egoistic attitude and desires and realize who we are is considered as higher knowledge or the real knowledge.
Real knowledge liberates us from the three impurities of human existences, namely egoism, desire ridden actions and the illusion that we are different from the rest of the world and that the objective reality which we experience through our senses is real and permanent.
Jnana yoga is therefore the pursuit of true knowledge learning how to control our minds and senses and center ourselves in our spiritual selves so that we can become free from our bondage to the cycle of the births and achieve liberation. The Bhagavad Gita identifies jnana yoga as one of the three paths to liberation, the path of knowledge, the path of action and the path of devotion. While the path of devotion is described as superior to the other two, jnana yoga is suitable for people who are deeply intellectual. On the path of liberation it is important to possess the right knowledge, which comes through the study of the scripture, which helps us understand the significance of other Hindu school of yogas such as karma yoga, sanyasa yoga, buddhi yoga, atma samyama yoga, and bhakti yoga.
Spiritual insight And Intellectual Knowledge
The Jnana-yogi realizes that Brahman is the life of his life, the soul of his soul. He feels and knows that God is his own Self. He realizes that he is one with the Eternal through spiritual insight or intuition, Aparoksha Anubhuti or divine perception, but not through mere study of books, dogmas or theories. Religion is now a realization for him. It’s not just talk. He dives into the deep recesses of his heart through constant and intense meditation – nididhyasana – and obtains the beautiful pearl of Atman, a wonderful treasure far more valuable than all the wealth of the world.
Jnana is not just intellectual knowledge. It is not a hearing or an acknowledgment. This is not just intellectual assent. It is the direct realization of oneness or oneness with the Supreme Being. It is Para Vidya. Intellectual conviction alone will not lead you to Brahma-jnana (knowledge of the Absolute).
A student of jnana yoga first equips himself with four means, viz., discrimination (Viveka), non-attachment (Vairagya), six virtues (Shat-Sampat) – i.e., equanimity (Sama), restraint (Dama), satiety or renunciation. (Uparati), endurance (Titiksha), faith (Sraddha) and concentration (Samadhana) – and strong desire for liberation (Mumukshutva). He then listens to the scriptures by sitting at the lotus feet of a guru who is not only learned in the sacred scriptures (Srotriya) but is also one who is himself well established in Brahman (Brahma-Nishtha). Afterwards, the student practices reflection, which completely dispels all doubts. He then practices deep meditation on Brahman and attains Brahma-Sakshatkara. Then, he becomes a Jivanmukta or liberated sage. He is released even though he is in this body.
There are seven degrees of Jnana or Knowledge: viz.; Desire for Right (Subhechha), Philosophical Inquiry (Vicharana), Subtlety of Mind (Tanumanasi), Attainment of Light (Sattvapatti), Inner Detachment (Asamsakti), Spiritual Vision (Padarthabhavana) and Supreme Freedom (Turiya).
Jnana Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita
Information and teachings related to jnana yoga or the path of knowledge can be found in the following chapters of the Bhagavad Gita. They emphasize the importance of cultivating knowledge that lead to discovering wisdom, devotion and detachment that is required to practice karma yoga.
- The Yoga of Self-discipline (Chapter VI)
- The Yoga of Physics and Meta Physics. Chapter VII)
- The Yoga of Imperishable Brahman. Chapter VIII)
- The Yoga of Royal Knowledge. Chapter IX)
- The Yoga of Divine Manifestation. Chapter X )
- The Yoga of the Vision of Cosmic Form (Chapter XI)
- The Yoga of Kshetra and Kshetragna .(Chapter XIII)
- The Yoga of the Division of the Gunas (Chapter XIV)
- The Yoga of Divine and Undivine Qualities (Chapter XVI)
- Renunciation of Action with Knowledge. Chapter IV)
Jnana Yoga is a process of learning to discriminate between what is real and what is not, what is eternal and what is not. Through a steady advancement in realization of the distinction between Real and the Unreal, the Eternal and the Temporal, one develops into a Jnani. This is essentially a path of knowledge and discrimination in regards to the difference between the immortal soul (atman) and the body.
It is the process of converting intellectual knowledge into practical wisdom. Jnana literally means ‘knowledge’, but in the context of yoga it means the process of meditative awareness which leads to illuminative wisdom. It is not a method by which we try to find rational answers to eternal questions, rather it is a part of meditation leading to self-enquiry and self-realisation. Before practicing Jnana Yoga, the aspirant needs to have integrated the lessons of the other yogic paths – for without selflessness and love of God, strength of body and mind, the search for self-realization can become mere idle speculation.
Taking the philosophy of Vedanta the Jnana Yogi uses his mind to inquire into its own nature. We perceive the space inside and outside a glass as different, just as we see ourselves as separate from God. Jnana Yoga leads the devotee to experience his unity with God directly by breaking the glass, dissolving the veils of ignorance (maya).
“Brahma Satyam. Jagat Mithya. Jivo Brahmaiva Na Parah” – Sri Shankaracharya
Meaning: God only is real. The world is unreal. The individual is none other than God.
The Analogy Of The Two Birds
There are two birds on the same tree. One is perched at the top and the other at the bottom. The bird that sits on top is perfectly calm, silent and majestic at all times. It is always blissful. The second bird, which sits on the lower branches, alternately eats sweet and bitter fruits. Sometimes they dance with joy. Other times it’s misery. Now she rejoices and after some time she cries. Sometimes he tastes extremely bitter fruit and becomes disgusted. He looks up to see another beautiful bird with golden feathers, always blissful. Also he wishes to be like a bird with golden feathers, but soon forgets everything.
He starts eating sweet and bitter fruits again. She eats another fruit which is extremely bitter and makes her feel very miserable. Trying to be like the top bird again. He gradually stops eating fruit and becomes calm and blissful like the upper bird. The upper bird is God or Brahman. The lower bird is the Jiva or individual soul which reaps the fruits of its karma, namely pleasure and pain. In the fight for his life, he receives blows and blows. He rises and falls again as his senses pull him down. He gradually develops Vairágya (dispassion) and discrimination, turns his mind to God, practices meditation, attains self-realization and enjoys the eternal bliss of Brahman.
Introduction to Yoga Darshana | Bhakti Yoga | Raja Yoga | Jnana Yoga | Karma Yoga | Patanjali Yoga Sutras chapter 1 | chapter 2 | chapter 3 | chapter 4
