Jñāna Yoga Is "Knowledge of the Absolute" (Brahman). This Is the Most Difficult Path, Requiring Tremendous Strength of Will and Intellect
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JNANA YOGA The yoga of knowledge or wisdom. Jñāna yoga is "knowledge of the absolute" (Brahman). This is the most difficult path, requiring tremendous strength of will and intellect. Taking the philosophy of Vedanta the Jnana Yogi uses his mind to inquire into his own nature. Here aspirant seeks the ultimate truth 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 subtle body). Mind feels, Intellect discriminates and Ego identifies. Bhagavad Gītā says: ‘Verily, there is no purifier (pavitra) in this world 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 (viveka) between the spiritual and material, between the real 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 (uparati), perseverance (titiksā), mental resolve or intentness of mind (samādhāna), and faith (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 meditation’ (nididhyāsana). Three things are Durlabha (hard to get). 1. Manushayatva (life as human being), 2. Mumukshutava: burning desire to attain self-realization and 3. Sadhu Purush Samshraya. (Guidance and grace of realized Guru) Qualities of Guru: Selflessness, Realization, Devotion, Renunciation, non-discrimination The key source texts for all schools of Vedānta are the Prasthanatrayi, the canonical texts consisting of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras, of which they give a philosophical interpretation. There are mainly 3 interpretations. Advaita Vedanta 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 (Atman) and the whole (Brahman). The true Self, Atman, which is pure consciousness, and the highest Reality, Brahman, which is also pure consciousness. Followers seek liberation by acquiring vidyā (knowledge).The greatest proponent of this philosophy was Adi Shankracharaya in the 8th century. Visishta Advaita philosophy was propounded by Ramanujacharya in the 12th Century. According to him, Brahman is the Absolute God. The Soul and the Universe are only parts of this Absolute. God, Soul and Universe together form an inseparable unity which is one and has no second. Souls and Matter 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 Vishnu and co-exist with Him eternally, supported by His will and entirely controlled by Him. MAYA and FREEDOM This Absolute has become the universe through the medium of time, space, 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 Bhakti Yoga and karma 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 times so that devotees remain motivated in individual practice. Lord Rama ask his eternal devotee, Hanuman, how he sees Rama. He replied beautifully. देह-बु饍鵍य तु दसोऽिम ि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- JIVA BUDDHYA TVADAMSHAKAH: ATMA BUDDHYA TVAMEVAHAM ITE ME NISCITA MATIHI: From point of view 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 difference 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 blessings of Shri Ramakrishna & Swami Vivekananda be on you..