Jnana yoga (Devanagari) or "path of knowledge"
is one of the types of yoga mentioned in Hindu philosophies. Jnana in
Sanskrit means "knowledge".
As used in the Bhagavad Gita, the non-dualist philosopher Adi Shankara
gave primary importance to jnana yoga as "knowledge of the absolute"
(Brahman), while the Vaishnava commentator Ramanuja regarded knowledge
only as a condition of devotion. In the Bhagavad Gita (13.3) Krishna
says that jnana consists of properly understanding kshetra (the
field of activity--that is, the body) and kshetra-jna (the knower
of the body--that is, the soul). Later in the Gita (13.35) Krishna
emphasizes that a transcendentalist must understand the difference between
these two.
Jnana yoga teaches that there are four means to salvation:
- Viveka - Discrimination: The ability to differentiate
between what is real/eternal (Brahman) and what is unreal/temporal
(everything else in the universe.)
- Vairagya - Dispassion: After practice one should be
able to "detach" her/himself from everything that is "temporary."
- Shad-sampat - The 6 Virtues: Tranquility (control
of the mind), Dama (control of the senses), Uparati
(renunciation of activities that are not duties), Titiksha
(endurance), Shraddha (faith), Samadhana (perfect concentration).
- Mumukshutva - Intense longing for liberation from temporal
limitations.
