What makes a person a follower of the jnana path?

Question

Jñāna (also spelled Gñāna; Devanagari ज्ञान) is the Sanskrit term for knowledge or philosophy. In Hinduism it means true knowledge, the knowledge that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality Brahman. In Buddhism, it refers to pure awareness that is free of conceptual encumbrances, and is contrasted with vijnana, which is a moment of 'divided knowing'.
Jnana yoga is one path (marga) towards moksha (liberation) of Yoga. There are other paths for different temperaments such as Bhakti and Karma Yoga. ~Wikipedia

Answer 1

Jnana yoga (knowledge)
Jnana (sometimes written gyana) is considered the most difficult path, because it requires a radical shift in perception. The goal is to seek the knowledge hidden in all of us through questioning, meditation, and contemplation. Before practicing jnana yoga, the student needs to have integrated the lessons of the other yogic paths — for without selflessness, love of God, and the strength of body and mind, the search for self-realization is nothing more than an exercise in philosophy. The jnana student uses the mind to explore his or her own nature and to find knowledge through God.

All of these paths (There are four paths of yoga:
-Raja — the path of physical and mental control
-Karma — the path of action
-Bhakti — the path of devotion
-Jnana — the path of knowledge or wisdom may not be for you.

You will have to choose which path or paths may help you develop or progress along your inner journey. Do you simply want to increase your flexibility? Do you want to become a more giving person? Do you seek union with the Divine? Do you search for knowledge and wisdom? You choose the road. It will make all the difference. -

Answer 2

My general impression is that it's a matter of someone already being very intellectually and philosophically inclined by nature.

But I've heard it said that Jnana Yoga, as the path to union with the Divine through figuring out the Universe via the intellect, is the hardest path.
.

Answer 3

You know, I did follow the jnana yoga path for many years first on my spiritual journey only I did not know that it was called "jnana" until I learnt Hinduism. I realize I was on that path first. I was so hungry for knowledge of God and the universe. I read and studied so many books on spirituality and religions. That brought me closer to God, to my True Self. How much I learnt really made all the difference in having inner peace.

After being on this jnana path for so many years, I couldn't go any farther. I knew there had to be more, but it was going way too slow for me. I had prayed for answers, for guidiance, to be taken even farther.

That is when Amma came into my life and guided me to the bhakti path. Ever since I've been on the bhakti path, I've been brought so much closer to God faster than I ever did in all of my years being on the jnana path. It is true that jnana is the hardest of all. It's not ideal by itself in this Kali Yuga age.

Great question Ambika!

Answer 4

These are difficult terms to agree on and certainly, when you start trying to corroborate their meaning across religions and philosophies, it gets even more convoluted. I can't speak to the Hindu implications, and I doubt I could do the Buddhist position much justice either, but that is what I aim to do. I know only a wee-bit of this at all and am quite slow and dull when it comes to consensus about these things, so in a sense, you are dealing with the least able student here! I would first say that in Indian philosophy there is the tradition of tenet systems and on these bases of understanding the debate is made. Within each debate, there necessarily has to be a set of terms based on definition and definienda and a mode of proof of an assertion or a valid line of reasoning to support a position. Just like in baseball, one doesn't step up to the plate with a golf club wearing football pads - one wouldn't enter a debate on the tenet systems asserting a belief without the philosophical basis having been established through the definitions. In other words, if you thought you saw a snake, I wouldn't say "don't worry, it's not an elephant!" It's not at all related and it doesn't release that fear that you saw a snake. This debate could not ever get off the ground without terminology. It may quickly go off course without terminology. Even here in the West, people are put off by the term debate because they don't generally want to use their minds in that way. They want to watch t.v.! So, I am not debating here, but rather, trying to assert that before I could assert anything about anything, I would have to get the terms down and the philosophical tenet system. For example, a great Indian philosopher named Arya Nagarjuna refuted many schools of thought of his day by saying that a thing is not produced from itself, other, both or without cause and he propounded the view that any existent schools adhering to any of the four views refuted by the above statement were absurd! Many yoga schools assert this production from self - as if a tree had hundreds of trees in it already. Many other schools thought a tree was produced by something else - like a creator. Many others thought there was this essence of a thing that kind of mixed with the essence of another thing to produce it and yet others, believed it was not caused, it just was, or is. So, in the context of these tenet systems, you have to get to the root of a philosophical basis to understand the leaves and branches. Many so-called philosophies don't even come close to a path to liberation as they are kind of wordly - like "Yoga as great fat-burning workout to give you ultimate beach body" - and may even increase your suffering! But your last statement is best. People have different temperaments {abilities and interests and inclinations} so they will necessarily desire different results from different practices. And further, to speak of pure awareness {in Buddhist philosophy} is to begin to explore the Mahayana interpretation of the four noble truths interwoven with conventional and ultimate truths based on the "Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) Sutras," and conventional and ultimate bodhicittas which would point someone to the Highest Yoga Tantra schools and that is way over my head and I can't help you there! But that is where you are heading, so it is not easily answered without a true Teacher, someone who has knowledge of the whole path, start to finish and knows where you are and how to help you get to the other side safely and without too much confusion. I sincerely hope all sentient beings find happiness and freedom from suffering!

Answer 5

The culmination of all kinds of yoga practices lies in bhakti yoga. All other yogas are but means to come to the point of bhakti in bhakti-yoga. Yoga actually means bhakti-yoga; all other yogas are progressions toward the destination of bhakti-yoga. From the beginning of karma-yoga to the end of bhakti-yoga is a long way to self-realization. Karma-yoga, without fruitive results, is the beginning of this path. When karma-yoga increases in knowledge and renunciation, the stage is called jnäna-yoga. When jnäna-yoga increases in meditation on the Supersoul by different physical processes, and the mind is on Him, it is called astanga-yoga. And when one surpasses the astanga-yoga and comes to the point of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna, it is called bhakti yoga, the culmination.
Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad gita chapter 6 text 46:
"A yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogi".
PURPORT
When we speak of yoga we refer to linking our consciousness with the Supreme Absolute Truth. Such a process is named differently by various practitioners in terms of the particular method adopted. When the linking process is predominantly in fruitive activities it is called karma-yoga, when it is predominantly empirical it is called jnäna-yoga, and when it is predominantly in a devotional relationship with the Supreme Lord it is called bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga, or Krishna consciousness, is the ultimate perfection of all yogas, as will be explained in the next verse. The Lord has confirmed herein the superiority of yoga, but He has not mentioned that it is better than bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga is full spiritual knowledge, and therefore nothing can excel it. Asceticism without self-knowledge is imperfect. Empiric knowledge without surrender to the Supreme Lord is also imperfect. And fruitive work without Krishna consciousness is a waste of time. Therefore, the most highly praised form of yoga performance mentioned here is bhakti-yoga, and this is still more clearly explained in the next verse.
text 47:
"And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me—he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion."

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

i dont know but you need to have a bullet proof throat to pronounce jnana or gnana or whatever...

Answer 8

Can't say as I know.
Best of luck on that one!

Answer 9

if they are drunk or high the devil finds them easy prey and gets people into all sorts of cults -demon worship etc

Good Answer ??