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Home , Absolute (philosophy), Advaita Vedanta, Brahman, Prasthanatrayi, Uparati, Yoga

The yoga of or wisdom.

Jñāna yoga is "knowledge of the " (). This is the most difficult path, requiring tremendous strength of and intellect. Taking the philosophy of the Jnana uses his to inquire into his own . Here aspirant seeks the ultimate using keen investigation and fearless inquiries and arrives at doubtless stage of realization. He questions until he sees.

Once you conquer the mind, the same pure mind becomes an instrument of realization. The Prakriti or Nature has 8 components: Ether, Air, Fire, Earth, Water (5 elements of Gross Body) and Mind, Intellect, Ego (3 elements of ). Mind feels, Intellect discriminates and Ego identifies.

Bhagavad Gītā says: ‘Verily, there is no purifier () in this equal to Divine Wisdom” and faithful (sharaddhavan) becomes knowledgeable. The Jnana Yogi aspirant tries to develop four spiritual capacities or abilities (sādhana catustaya):

1) ability to discriminate () between the spiritual and material, between and the unreal; between transitory and permanent 2) the renunciation (vairāgya) from worldly desires; 3) mind control(śamā), sense-control (dama), cessation of activity of mind (), perseverance (titiksā), mental resolve or intentness of mind (samādhāna), and (śraddhā; 4) a positive longing for wisdom and freedom (mumukshutva). Broadly, jñāna-yoga entails the study of Vedāntic texts, sustained reflection upon the philosophical principles of Advaita and ‘constant ’ ().

Three things are Durlabha (hard to get). 1. Manushayatva (life as human ), 2. Mumukshutava: burning desire to attain -realization and 3. Purush Samshraya. (Guidance and grace of realized ) Qualities of Guru: Selflessness, Realization, Devotion, Renunciation, non-discrimination The key source texts for all schools of Vedānta are the , the canonical texts consisting of the , the and the , of which they give a philosophical interpretation. There are mainly 3 interpretations. is the most unifying interpretation of the whole body of Upanishad.

"Advaita" literally means "not two", and is often called non-dualistic system of thought. The word Advaita essentially refers to the identity of the Self () and the whole (Brahman). The true Self, Atman, which is pure , and the highest , Brahman, which is also pure consciousness. Followers seek liberation by acquiring vidyā (knowledge).The greatest proponent of this philosophy was Shankracharaya in the 8th century.

Visishta Advaita philosophy was propounded by Ramanujacharya in the 12th Century. According to him, Brahman is the Absolute . The and the are only parts of this Absolute. God, Soul and Universe together form an inseparable unity which is one and has no second. and are only the body of God. Individual Souls retain their separate identities even after liberation. They live in Fellowship with God either serving Him or meditating on Him.

Dvaita (meaning dualism) Philosophy was propounded by Madhwacharya in the 13th century. Dvaita Philosophy proclaims that God and souls are different entities. Souls are eternal but are not created by God, as in other systems of Vedanta. The souls are dependent on and co-exist with Him eternally, supported by His will and entirely controlled by Him. and FREEDOM This Absolute has become the universe through the medium of , , and causation. This is the central idea of Advaita. Time, space, and causation are like the glass through which the Absolute is seen, and when It is seen on the lower side, It appears as the universe.

Mahāvākya Veda

Prajñānam brahma (Consciousness is Brahman) Rig Veda

Aham brahmāsmi (I am Brahman) Yajur Veda

Tattvamasi (That thou art) Sama Veda

Ayamātmā brahma (This Atman is Brahman) Atharva Veda . The aspirant begins the journey with duality and eventually can become one with God by wish. The import is in the beginning we need to purify the mind and remove ego, that is a work of Yoga and Yoga. The ideal of Yoga is to practice best of all at any given time. We see in the life of Vivekananda, where he practiced all the yoga at different so that devotees remain motivated in individual practice.

Lord ask his eternal devotee, , how he sees Rama. He replied beautifully.

देह-बु饍鵍य तु दसोऽिम िजव-बु饍鵍य 配वद륍शकः। आ配म-बु饍鵍य 配वमेवहम ् इ�त मे �नि�चत म�तः॥

DEHA BUDDHYA TU DASO HAM- BUDDHYA TVADAMSHAKAH: ATMA BUDDHYA TVAMEVAHAM ITE ME NISCITA MATIHI:

From point of of the body - You are Master and I am servant : From point of view of ego - You are whole and I am a part. From point of view of the self -there is no between you and me —This is my conviction. LET THE JOURNEY CONTINUE…

You have some KNOWLEDGE now, Practice with Firm Determination, and With the Grace of Guru And God You will have REALIZATION

Compiled and Presented by: MAYUR SHAH If you have any question please reach me at at: EMAIL: [email protected] www.truevedanta.org

May of Shri & Vivekananda be on you.