Jnana yoga Flashcards
What is Jnana yoga?
The path to moksha through knowledge, seclusion and the rejection of the senses.
What does Jnana yoga seek to minimize?
Activities and the necessities of life, it inserted puts an emphasis on becoming free from the sensual desires that mislead the soul.
What is Jnana yoga the anthesis of?
Karma, this is all about good actions and helping people in the world, whilst Jnana yoga is about negating this world.
How are sannyasins seen?
Gandhi and Nehru rejected this stage as selfish and not beneficial to India. Others admire the sacrifices made by living the sannyasin lifestyle and give aid to the ascetics.
Why is Jnana yoga so hard to follow?
You have to detach yourself from the world and material possessions, you need to have a guru and to study the shruti and smitri texts.
How does shankara view Jnana yoga?
Higher knowledge shows us that everything is the world is maya and that Brahman and the soul are identical. To gain said higher knowledge we must do yoga and mediate, we must withdraw from this world.
Explain some criticisms of Jnana yoga
The Bhagavad Gita rejected it “to engage in works is better then to renounce them.” Ramanuja rejected it and many pint out that withdrawing from the world does not help society to function.
How is Brahman seen in Jnana yoga?
He alone is real, this is reveled through study. The rest of the deities are seen as part of the illusion of maya.
What are the four pillars of knowledge?
- Viveka- discrimination between the real and unreal. 2. Vairagya- detachment from worldly possessions. 3. Shatsampat- six virtues which develop the ability to see beyond maya. 4. Mumukshutva- intense desire to achieve liberation.
How is moksha achieved in Jnana yoga?
Intellectual knowledge is converted into practical wisdom, using the mind to enquire into its own nature. The devotee is then able to experience god, thus reaching the supreme being and attaining moksha.
