Jnana Yoga
I. Jnana Yoga - the Yoga of knowledge. This is for the people who are intellectual in nature. They find their peace through the study of scriptures
A. Purpose
1. Expanding through Intellect, wisdom
2. Jnāna-Yoga is a path oriented towards realizing the eternal in its transcendent aspect
B. Comes from
1. Books of Wisdom 'Vedas'
2. the principal texts are the Brahma-Sūtra and some of the Upanishads
C. Philosophy
1. Yoga of discriminative wisdom
2. Science of Spirituality - Vedanta
D. Method
1. Union through intellectual self-analysis
a) Questioning the Self with "Who am I" and analysis into what, how and why an event in consciousness is taking place
b) Questioning "What is Unreal"
c) Questioning"What is Real"
d) Philosophical searching and reasoning, using self study as route to wisdom
e) A Jnana Yogi ratiocinates, examines, reasons out, reflects, contemplates, discriminates, analyses and synthesizes to rediscover truths
The teacher, at best, provides some tips, some hints and indicates the track and states the ultimate truths. But the burden of examination is with the student. There is no shortcut for this.
2. Transcend human condition through first hand knowledge
a) Self enquiry by observing and experiencing
b) Analysing from where consciousness arises and why it does so.
E. About
1. provides a strong focus on the goal of Self-realization
2. Offers wisdom of a life of happiness with or without material affluence and comfort
3. Discerning real from unreal
F. how to live this understanding in my life/practice/teaching
1. would not choose this path to take me towards the goal
a) Challenges me, prefer more doing, action approach of Raja Yoga
See also: Find it difficult to be prepared to devote effort to understand properly
b) Find it difficult to grasp or comprehend this intellectual approach
c) As I understand can easily be drawn into a deluded mental condition.
d) Possible to be confused the elevated state of transcendence of body and mind.
e) would not choose this path to take me towards the goal
