Jñana Yoga is the path of study and understanding the true nature of the Ultimate and the Absolute. It is not mere intellectual knowledge, hearing and understanding the words. It is not just a study and understanding of the philosophy or receiving knowledge but a state of realization of identity of the individual soul with the Supreme Brahman. It is not a mere intellectual assent or study of some Scriptures and holy books but a state of realization of the Truth and true nature of the Divine Soul. It is called Para-Vidhya. Intellectual conviction alone will not lead to Brahma-Jnana, which is realization of the Absolute Truth. The scope of perception and analysis with reasoning to get greater understanding is very limited. Reason is only an analysis of stored up and classified perception and preserved memory. Reason can not go beyond the sense of perception. So, one has to go beyond reason. One has to obtain the true knowledge through spiritual insight or intuition and divine perception. Moksha is attained through Knowledge of Brahman. Release is achieved through realization of the identity of the individual soul with the Supreme Soul or Brahman. The cause for the bondage and suffering is Avidhya or ignorance.

Sri Swami Sivananda in his writings on Hinduism has explained Jñana Yoga very well in a nut shell. The Jiva, the individual soul covered by the Upaadhis, by the veil of ignorance or Avidhya. Avidhya acts as a veil and prevents the Jiva from knowing his real self and his divine nature. Avidhya foolishly imagines that he is separate from Brahman. The true knowledge of Jñana yoga, the knowledge of Brahman or Brahma-Jnana removes this veil and removes the upaadhis to obtain realization of the Truth. Religion now becomes realization not just study of text books, dogmas or theories. It is the removal of ignorance, Avidya, knowing ones real self, and knowing the Absolute. He plunges himself in the deep recesses of his heart through constant and intense meditation and gets the true knowledge as the greatest wealth in the world, giving him the greatest happiness. This makes the Jiva understand the true nature of the Ultimate truth, the Brahman, as the Self and as Existence-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute and rest in his own "Sat-Chit-Ananda-Svarupa".

The Jñana Yoga has four means: i. discrimination [Viveka]; ii. dispassion [Vairagya]; iii. the six fold virtues [Shat- Sampat] which are: tranquillity [Sama], restraint [Dama], satiety or renunciation [Uparati], endurance [Titiksha], faith [Sraddha] and concentration [Samadhana] and iv. strong yearning for liberation [Mukshutva]. The Student who wants to get Jnana-Yoga, then hears the scriptures by sitting at the feet of his Guru who is well established with the realization of Brahman. Then he practices reflection, dispels all doubts and practices deep meditation on Brahman. This leads on to a state of Jivan-Muktha or a liberated sage. There are seven stages of Jñana. They are aspiration for the Right [Subhechha]; philosophical inquiry [Vicharana]; subtlety of mind [Tanumanasi]; attainment of light [Sattvapatti]; inner detachment [Asamsakthi]; spiritual vision [Padarthabhavana] and supreme freedom [Turiya]. A Jñana Yogi goes to the farthest limits of Reason, eliminating all other objects until he reaches ultimately the real "I" which is the Eternal Subject. He must have intense and absolute self control and must have the power to concentrate exclusively on his path. When he throws away all that we are not, only the True Self will remain.

Jñana is taught very clearly by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. It is a commentary on the Vedic teachings that the soul is immortal and is in no way affected by the death of the body. Death is only a change of center for the soul. The greatest teacher of Vedantha Philosophy was Sri Aadhi Sankaracharya. By solid reasoning, he gave this discipline of Jñana from Vedic revelation. He unified all conflicting descriptions of Brahman and showed there is only One Infinite Reality. The one who has attained this knowledge is the Jivanmuktha. The Dvaitha theories state that the way to salvation is through the mercy of God. To become harmoniously balanced in all directions is ideal for religion. To love the One Universal Self as the Ultimate with devotion is the Path of Bhakthi Yoga. To serve this self without attachment is the path of Action, Karma Yoga. The path that gives one the power to think, concentrate and meditate on this Self to attain full realization is the path of Raja Yoga. To understand and to behold this Self as the Supreme Reality in all beings is the Path of Knowledge, Jñana Yoga.

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