JNANA YOGA
`Jnana` means knowledge, eternal knowledge. Attaining the state of Samadhi (Ultimate aim of Yoga) through that knowledge is known as Jnana yoga. The eternal knowledge is the knowledge of Jivatma(individual soul) and Paramatma(Supreme soul). By this Jnana yoga one can overcome from his sorrows.
There are three texts, known as Prasthana trayas, which explain the methodology to reach the eternal knowledge. They are, Upanisat, Brahma sutra and Bhagavad-Gita. Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad-Gita “The man who has controlled his organs, devoted and faithful, obtains the knowledge. Having obtained knowledge at once he acquires the supreme peace.
To acquire Jnana yoga one should know the anubandha chatushtayas. They are,
1. Adhikari - The person who is eligible to study. He should have studied Vedas and Vedangas; he should avoid Kamya
and NisiddhaKarmas and he should practice Nitya, Naimittika and Prayascitta Karmas.
2. Visaya - Study part, i.e. Veda and Vedangas.
3. Sambandha - The relation ship between the subject and person.
4. Prayojana - The benefits of the study.
According to Vedanta Sara, one should follow four principle Sadhanas for attaining eternal knowledge they are,
a) Viveka: The discrimination between the permanent and transient.
b) Vairagya: Doing any work with out expecting any result, free form attachment.
c) Sat sampat: The six accomplishments, which are
Sama - Withdrawing the sensory organs from their objects.
Dama - Controlling external organ connections with their objects.
Uparati - Controlling of mind from unwanted things, it is based on Sama and dama.
Titiksa - Tolerating the duality or dvandva.
Samadhana - Control, concentrating the mind in a single thing.
Shraddha - Faith in Vedanta and Guru Vakya.
d) Mumuksutva: Keen interest to acquire the liberation or moksa.
The eternal knowledge can be understood only by following three paths they are,
Sravana - Listening.
Manana - Thinking and understanding
Nidhidyasana - Deeper concentration on understood knowledge.
By following Jnana yoga we can move form unreal to the real.
