Jnana Yoga
Divine Life Society Publication: by Swami Sivananda
Jnana is knowledge. To
know Brahman as one's own Self is Jnana. To say, "I am Brahman, the pure,
all-pervading Consciousness, the non-enjoyer, non-doer and silent
witness," is Jnana. To behold the one Self everywhere is Jnana.
Ajnana is ignorance. To
identify oneself with the illusory vehicles of body, mind, Prana and the senses
is Ajnana. To say, " I am the doer, the enjoyer, I am a Brahmin, a
Brahmachari, this is mine, he is my son," is Ajnana. Jnana alone can
destroy Ajnana, even as light alone can remove darkness.
Brahman, the Supreme Self, is
neither the doer of actions nor the enjoyer of the fruits of actions. The
creation, preservation and destruction of the world are not due to Him. They
are due to the action of Maya, the Lord's energy manifesting itself as
the world-process.
Just as space appears to be of
three kinds - absolute space, space limited by a jar, and space reflected in
the water of a jar, - so also there are three kinds of intelligence. They are
absolute intelligence, intelligence reflected in Maya, and intelligence
reflected in the Jiva (the individual soul). The notion of the doer is the
function of intelligence as reflected in the intellect. This, together with the
notion of Jiva, is superimposed by the ignorant on the pure and limitless
Brahman, the silent witness.
The illustration of space
absolute, space limited by a jar and space reflected in water of a jar, is
given to convey the idea that in reality Brahman alone is. Because of Maya,
however, It appears as three.
The notion that the reflection
of intelligence is real, is erroneous, and is due to ignorance. Brahman is
without limitation; limitation is a superimposition on Brahman.
The identity of the Supreme
Self and the Jiva or reflected self is established through the statement of the
Upanishad 'Tat Tvam Asi' - 'That Thou Art'. When the knowledge of the
identity of the two arises, then world problems and ignorance, with all their
offshoots, are destroyed and all doubts disappear.
Self-realization or direct
intuitive perception of the Supreme Self is necessary for attaining freedom and
perfection. This Jnana Yoga or the path of Wisdom is, however, not meant for
the masses whose hearts are not pure enough and whose intellects are not sharp
enough to understand and practice this razor-edge path. Hence, Karma Yoga and Upasana (Bhakti) are
to be practiced first, which will render the heart pure and make it fit for the
reception of Knowledge.
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