Jnana Yoga Or the Yoga Of Knowledge

Title: Jnana Yoga Or the Yoga Of Knowledge Category: Jnana Yoga Clicks: 1 Listing added: Sep 6, 2009 PageRank: Not available Listing Rank:

Jnana yoga or the yoga of knowledge according to the Bhagavadgita as the means to achieve liberation.
Generally speaking, the word "jnana" means knowledge. In Hinduism the word has many connotations. Knowledge is viewed by the Hindu scriptures as both liberating and binding. Knowledge is viewed as the means to achieve certain ends. It can used to fulfill our desires or liberate ourselves. The knowledge that helps us realize our selfish desires and perpetuate our limited identities is considered lower knowledge. It is also termed as avidya or ignorance. The knowledge that helps us overcome our egoistic attitude and desires and realize who we are is considered as higher knowledge or the real knowledge. Real knowledge liberates us from the three impurities of human existences, namely egoism, desire ridden actions and the illusion that we are different from the rest of the world and that the objective reality which we experience through our senses is real and permanent.
Jnana yoga is therefore the pursuit of true knowledge learning how to control our minds and senses and center ourselves in our spiritual selves so that we can become free from our bondage to the cycle of the births and achieve liberation. The Bhagavadgita identifies jnana yoga as one of the three paths to liberation, the path of knowledge, the path of action and the path of devotion. While the path of devotion is described as superior to the other two, jnana yoga is suitable for people who are deeply intellectual.
The second chapter of the Bhagavadgita is known as Jnana Yoga or Samkhya yoga. According to some scholars it is a summary of the Bhagavadgita itself since it contains all the important concepts and ideas of the scripture. It reminds us that we should not identify ourselves with our minds and bodies as we are immortal, spiritual beings and that to transcend our limited nature we have have to gain control over our sense organs and our desires through detachment and equanimity and work for our salvation by performing actions for the sake of God.