Jnana Yoga

Jnana in Sanskrit means "knowledge", and is often interpreted to mean "knowledge of the true self". In the Vedanta school of the Hindu religion, to know Brahman as one's own Self is jnana. To say, "I am Brahman, the pure, all-pervading Consciousness, the non-enjoyer, non-doer and silent witness," is jnana. To behold the one Self everywhere is jnana.

Related Topics:
Sanskrit - Vedanta - Hindu - Brahman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jnana yoga is one of the four basic paths in yoga (jnana, bhakti, raja & karma.)

Related Topics:
Bhakti - Raja - Karma

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jnana yoga teaches that there are four means to salvation:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Viveka - Discrimination: The ability to differentiate between what is real/eternal (Brahman) and what is unreal/temporary (everything else in the universe.)
• Vairagya - Dispassion: After practice one should be able to "detach" her/himself from everything that is "temporary."
• Shad-sampat - The 6 Virtues: Tranquility (control of the mind), Dama (control of the senses), Uparati (renunciation of activities that are not duties), Titiksha (endurance), Shraddha (faith), Samadhana (perfect concentration).
• Mumukshutva - Intense longing for liberation from temporal limitations.

One of the fundamental pillars of Jnana yoga is Brahman (non-dualism) which is a fundamental belief in the unity of the universe. The "liberation" mentioned above might be described as "wanting to be one with the universe."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Significant contemporaries include Swami Vivekananda, Franklin Merrell-Wolff and John Lilly

Related Topics:
Swami Vivekananda - Franklin Merrell-Wolff - John Lilly

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
Jnana Yoga: See also ►