Jnana Yoga
Also known as: The path of knowledge
Sanskrit: ज्ञान योग, from jnana ('knowledge' or 'wisdom') and yoga ('union').
Jnana Yoga is the path of knowledge and discernment, one of the four classical yogic paths, using rigorous self-inquiry and philosophical study to distinguish the eternal Self (Atman) from the temporary, changing contents of body and mind. It is often considered the most intellectually demanding of the classical paths.
Jnana Yoga is closely associated with Advaita Vedanta and practices such as self-inquiry, using discrimination (viveka) between the real and the unreal, and study of core texts such as the Upanishads. Unlike devotional or service-based paths, it relies primarily on direct discernment rather than ritual, emotion, or action.
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Related Terms
Advaita Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta is a school of Indian philosophy, systematized by the 8th-century teacher Adi Shankara, holding that the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are one and the same. Apparent separateness is attributed to ignorance (avidya), and self-inquiry is the traditional means of dispelling it.
Self-Inquiry
Self-inquiry is a contemplative method, most closely associated with the sage Ramana Maharshi, of persistently asking 'Who am I?' to trace attention back to its source. The practice uses the question to dissolve identification with the thinking mind and reveal awareness itself.