JNANA YOGA
Jnana Yoga, the path of philosophy, is systematic way of training the mind about the realities of life by contemplation. This will strip off the Avidya (ignorance) from our mind and the mind goes its natural state of rest. Bhagavad Gita says that Jnana consists of properly understanding Kshetra (the field of bodily activity) and Kshetrajna (the knower of the body that is the soul). Bhagavad Gita emphasizes that a person who went beyond the material world will understand the difference between these two.
The Jnana Yoga is divided into three stages. First, hearing the truth that Atma is the only reality and that everything is Maya. Second, reasoning upon this philosophy from all points of view. Third, giving up all further argumentation and realizing the truth.
This realization comes from certain basic concepts-
- The Brahman is real and everything else is unreal.
- Giving up all desire for enjoyment.
- Controlling the senses and the mind.
- Intense desire to be free
In Jnana Yoga, the first phase is Shravana (hearing). After the lecture hearing you must start cognizing about it, and then logically try to understand it, recapitulate that again and again, questioning it to the maximum possible extent, which is Manana. If necessary, discuss with the teacher and get logically convinced to start the experiment. Experiment is Niddhyasana.
