Dnyanayoga : The Path of knowledge

In Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta, the Gyan can be described as the knowledge of Atma Gyan or Brahma Gyan. In the fourth chapter of Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta, it is explained about the Gyan Yoga. The meaning of yoga is to unite, which further explains about the Gyan yoga as to unite the human being with the Gyan or knowledge. Atma Gyan is the knowledge to know oneself and the inner being along with the universe. As you meditate yourself in silence and awake your 7 chakra of the body reciting in you, then you achieve atma gyan and the knowledge of the universe which is known as liberation.

Your brain comes out of all the doubts and questions of the world. As no doubt is left inside your brain, it does not require any answers after that. You start seeing this world as materialistic and no longer desire anything from this materialistic world. Everything in this world starts to feel like illusion or maya. Your mind enters into the realm of permanent joy which is unbreakable. You become free from attachments and is always calm and serene though engaged in ceaseless actions. You no longer get affected by the opposites like joy and grief, success and failure.

And at last, you complete the ultimate goal of this soul which is to get united with the god and get free from the rebirth cycle. This is the Gyan Yoga from the chapter four of Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta. According to the Bhagavad-Gita “Jnana” is Wisdom and Vision Divine. It is “Dynanam Vijnanasahitam'". When this Jnana matures into Ananya bhakti , that means when we perform all our works in harmony with the Viswarupa Paramatman, this Divine Wisdom in action indeed is “Dnyanayoga”. Let us be very clear in our mind that “Dnyanayoga” is not merely studying scriptures and delivering eloquent sermons/ lectures on it .

While you are trying to identify the differences between Gyana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, you must understand that all Yogas are in essence, one Yoga. Yoga means Yuj. Yuj means union, union of the SIP, the Supreme Immortal Power within us, the Atman, the spirit, the Soul with SIP, the Supreme Immortal Power that is everywhere. Therefore, to be in the state of union from Atman to Paramatma, from the SIP inside us to SIP that is universal, we can move from any state of Yoga to any state of Yoga. There are four known states of Yoga, Dhyana Yoga- meditation, Bhakti Yoga-devotion, Karma Yoga- action, Gyana Yoga- education. I was blessed to realize a fifth state of Yoga, Prema Yoga, the Yoga of Divine love. As long as we are in union, there is hardly any difference between these.

Gyan Yog is the path of God-realization based on the premise of Advait vad that the soul itself is God; when it dispels its covering of ignorance and gets seated in knowledge, it will get liberated from the illusion of Maya. Then it will realize itself to be one with the formless Brahman for eternity, devoid of any form, attribute, activity or qualities. The Gyan Yogi strives to attain knowledge of the self, and be practically situated on that platform. This requires analyzing that one is not the body, senses, mind, intellect and ego. One first theoretically understands this knowledge by hearing from the Guru and the scriptures. Then one repeatedly meditates on the knowledge and tries to realize it practically. In this manner, material desires related to the body slowly diminish. Finally, one gains practical insight into the nature of the self.

Chapter 12 of the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita stresses on the super-excellence of the path of loving devotion over all other types of spiritual practices. Nice explanation given by Swami Mukunadananda and about devotion to the personal form of God or the formless aspect of God. In this world ,both personal beings and impersonal forces exists,so both these aspects must be present in God.But Shri Krishna says -devotee to be the highest, who with steadfast faith and devotion engage in His Personal Form. Jay shri Krishna