Let's Get Rid Of The Little i

Just as Hath yog strengthens the inner and outer body, Bhakti yog purifies the heart, and Karm yog renders nobility to human actions, Jnan yog opens jnan-chakshu, 'eye of knowledge ' through self-inquiry, study of scriptures and meditation.


The Bhagwad Gita , 4:38, says: Na hi jnanena sadrisham pavitramiha vidyate/tatsvyam yogasamsiddhah kalenatmani vindati - verily, there is no purifier in this world like knowledge. In due course of time, the devotee who is successful in yog will spontaneously realise this within his self.


Jnan yog does not negate a life of action or devotion, but advocates for steadfastness in gaining knowledge by analysing true nature of the Self. Bhadragiriyar, 14th century Tamil poet-mystic, says: "It is knowledge which knows knowledge through knowing knowledge." Knowledge is para, infinite or apara, finite. The former relates to the higher dimension of being, the latter to the spatio-temporal world.


The basic principles of Jnan yog are following: the Self alone is real; the world is only an appearance; to cognise appearance as reality is erroneous; to identify oneself with the mind, body and senses, is avidya, plain ignorance, and by knowing the Self, one becomes the Self.


The light of true knowledge is imparted by a competent guru who is found by god's grace. To the question, ko jagriti? - 'Who is vigilant?' Adi Shankaracharya replied, viveki - one who has the power of discrimination. By cultivating vivek, one can distinguish between the real and unreal, Self and non-self, permanent and transient. Vivek leads to vairagya, dispassion, and vairagya to the supreme realisation that 'there is but one Self in the universe, of which all lower selves are but manifestations.' Swami Vivekananda advised: "Let us get rid of the little 'i' and let only the great 'I' live in us."


Vivek guides one to perceive the cosmic Self in the individual self, the cosmic mind in individual mind, and cosmic consciousness in individual consciousness. As a result, the ego is obliterated, and one feels oneness with existence.


Jnan yog adds to self-understanding by enlightening one about the pancha koshas or five layers of the soul, and about ashta chakras , eight whirling energy-centres of the subtle body that distribute life-current to the physical body.


After one is established in Brahmn bhav, divine feeling, by right knowledge, one can go beyond the ordinary states of consciousness. Yet, Jnan yog is not merely an intellectual pursuit, since its goal is to transcend the mind.


Jnana yog postulates three ways to grow spiritually: shravan, listening about the ultimate truth from the one who knows it; manan, reflecting on the truth; nididhyasan, meditation on the truth. By dwelling on one's inherent nature, one can realise the identity of atman, individual soul, and Brahmn, the Supreme reality, and experience bliss.


The Jnan yogi undergoes four stages: seeking, knowing, becoming, and being. He uses his mind to inquire into his own nature and offers his senses and life-energy as oblations in the fire of self-control, kindled by knowledge. The Gita says, "He is a jivanamukta, liberated while living, and comes to realise that he is a divine being, 'the child of immortality'."


Authored by: Satish K Kapoor