Explanation Of The Basic Concepts Of Jnana Yoga

Yoga, from the Sanskrit word for "yoke" or "connect," balances your entire being -- body, mind, spirit and heart -- and helps you to recognize the divine within you. In order to find this equilibrium, you can choose among four paths: bhakti, the yoga of devotion; jnana, the yoga of knowledge; karma, the yoga of action; and raja, the royal path, which includes the familiar practices of physical exercise, breathing technique and meditation. These paths often intertwine.

The Path of Knowledge

The Sanskrit word jnana means knowledge, insight or wisdom. According to Georg Feuerstein, author of "The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice," jnana links to the ancient Greek word "gnosis," which means "a special kind of knowledge or intuition." Both words share the Indo-European root "gno," which means "to know." Those who follow the path of jnana yoga are often naturally inclined toward studying, asking questions and contemplating, a direct correlation to the Greek aphorism "gnothi seauton," or "know thyself."

Advaita Vedanta

Jnana yoga relates to the spiritual path of Advaita Vedanta, or nondualism, described in the ancient texts, the "Upanishads." The idea is to separate the real from that which is an illusion, or "maya." According to the Sivananda school of yoga, the sage Adi Shankara summarized the Advaita Vedanta teachings as: "God only is real. The world is unreal. The individual is none other than God."

Truth

In his book, "The Yoga of Truth," Peter Marchand describes jnana yoga as looking into "the truth about who we are and what we are experiencing." This self-realization leads to enlightenment, often described as the goal of yoga. For a helpful practice, Marchand advises meditation, which, during an interview published in the August 2007 issue of "Integral Yoga Magazine," he calls "a highway to happiness." His book offers meditation practice as well as metaphysical questions to contemplate.

Enlightenment

The jnana practitioner, or "jnanin," draws upon willpower and inspired reason to reach enlightenment. According to Feuerstein, the jnana journey has been called "a straight but steep course" and comprises four principles: viveka, or discernment between what's permanent and what's not; viraga, or non-attachment to results; shat-sampatti, six virtues, including tranquility, sense restraint, abstention from irrelevant actions, endurance, concentration and faith; and mumukshutva, the desire for liberation.

Practice

The best way to practice jnana yoga is to read and contemplate ancient texts such as the "Upanishads" and the "Bhagavad Gita" and find a specialized teacher for proper guidance.