Yoga101: What is Jnana Yoga and Why It Is The Most Difficult?

Jnana means ‘knowledge’ and is commonly known as the most difficult path to achieve self-realization. Jnana Yoga is one of the 4 main yoga paths, the other three are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga. It is a yoga of wisdom and needs you to get rid of the world of Moh-Maya to self-realization. it is one of the most difficult one too and usually requires a lot of will and determination.

This yoga style focuses on finding the truth and practical, experiential knowledge. Jnana Yoga is also sometimes known as the Yoga of Mind or Yoga of Intellect.

The main goal of practicing this yoga style is to uncover the reality behind your mind, which is why practitioners with an open and rational mind are likely to succeed in their practice.

It is practiced to free oneself from the illusions of this world and for the union with the inner self and the divine. So, one needs to constantly question and reflect on their thoughts in order to seek knowledge and truth.

Short History

Jnana Yoga goes back to the Vedic ages and was one of the first systematized yoga concepts. It can be found being discussed both in the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. In the Upanishads, the texts speak about realizing that our self is in union with the God. And, the Bhagavad Gita mentions Jnana as a path to self-realization.

It also mentions that this is a difficult path as one needs to look beyond the formless reality which can only be practiced by intellectually oriented beings.

It was also preached by the Advaita philosopher, Adi Shankara who emphasized its importance repeatedly. Since the early ages, Jnana Yoga has transformed a little but the idea still remains the same.

Practice

In order to practice Jnana Yoga, you need to first understand the four important methods which will take you towards your goal. Make sure that you practice these methods in a sequential order to progress through this Yoga form:

In this process, you need to constantly and deliberately differentiate between the self and which is not.

Next, you will need to detach yourself from worldly possessions or things which are temporary. You will only find true knowledge once you are free of the ego and the attachments.

This method consists of 6 steps which will help in stabilizing your emotions and will allow you to see past the illusions of this world.

First, practice Shama which means being calm and not reacting to any external action.

Second, practice Dama which is to make your mind strong and not fall a victim to your senses.

Third, practice Uparati where you only perform your duties and nothing extra.

Next is to practice Titiksha and endure all the suffering and pain in silence.

Fifth is to have shraddha in your teachers, scriptures, and the yogic path.

Finally, practice samadhana which is to concentrate only on one thing.

Finally, you practice mumukshutva to liberate yourself and only follow the path to self-realization.

In a Jnana Yoga class, you are first asked to sit in a comfortable position so that you can listen to the teachings of the Yoga teacher. Then, you have to do a few breathing exercises and empty your minds of any thoughts before you can begin the Jnana yoga practice. Once you are ready, you follow the 4 steps mentioned above and repeat them as long as you feel comfortable.

After you are done, meditate for a while and don’t open your eyes immediately. Perform palming and once your palms are warm, place them on your eyes and slowly open it. You can now release yourself from the pose and reflect on what you have learned.

Course & Difficulty Level

This is not a physically challenging Yoga style, though it is not easy to practice and is known to be one of the most difficult yoga paths. This is because it requires self-realization with an open mind which is not easy to achieve. It is more suitable for an intellectually open yoga practitioner which can take some time for the beginner students to attain.

Jnana Yoga should be only attempted by students who are open and rational and have a will to free themselves from the worldly illusions.

Aasanas (Poses)

Jnana Yoga has nothing to do with the asanas but in order to practice the methods of this yoga form. You need to mold your body to endure pain and suffering. So, here are a few asanas which can help you to prepare your body to practice it:

• Sukhasana
• Ardha Padmasana
• Padmasana
• Vajrasana

The Difference to Other Yoga Styles

In comparison to other traditional yoga styles, Jnana yoga is slightly difficult and requires the utmost determination to achieve the goal. It is one of the four main paths to self-realization which is why it focuses more on your mind that your body.

In this yoga style, you would need to look deep into your mind and question all the thoughts and notions and reflect upon them. You will need to repeat this until you realize the truth and are free of the illusion and liberated with the knowledge.

Other traditional yoga forms don’t focus on getting rid of the illusion and focus on asanas to help you achieve union with the divine. This is easier to do than the self-reflection part and could be performed by any yoga practitioner. It is suited for the intellectual beings while anyone can practice the traditional yoga forms to find liberation.

Impact on Health

Also known as the Yoga of Mind. As a result, it can help you control your emotions and thoughts. Which can be helpful in curing your health and keeping you protected from future illnesses.

1. One of the most important health benefits of Jnana Yoga is that it can eliminate stress, depression, etc. This will, in turn, affect your health and make sure that you feel strong and energized.
2. With the help of Jnana yoga, you can also increase your memory and brain power which will be useful both in your personal and professional life.
3. It is also a great way to improve your concentration and focus and will be helpful in keeping your mind calm and relaxed.
4. With some practice, you will sleep well and can easily cure your insomnia too.
5. It helps in rejuvenating your mind, body, and soul.

Originally published at www.yogi360.com on October 4, 2018.