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Copyright 2001 Realization.org.

Jnana Yoga

This is our reference page on the yoga of knowledge with an introductory article, links, and book recommendations.

JNANA MEANS WISDOM or knowledge in Sanskrit. Jnana Yoga is a technique for seeking liberation in which identification with the real Self (rather than with the body or ego) is developed by a steady effort to discern or discriminate between pure awareness and the objects of awareness.

Jnana Yoga is closely associated with Advaita Vedanta. Vedanta is one of the six darshans or philosophies of Hinduism, and Advaita Vedanta is the school of thought within Vedanta which believes that everything in the universe shares a single soul, including you, me, and God.

The techniques of Jnana Yoga include:

• Viveka. This means "discernment" or "discrimination" in English. This technique, associated especially with Shankara, involves a deliberate, continuous effort to understand that the real you -- the Self -- is something separate from the objects of which you are aware.
  
  
• Neti-neti. This phrase means "not this, not this" in Sanskrit. You apply this formula mentally to all objects of awareness to destroy the false sense that they are you. When all the objects are banished, the real you -- the Self -- is what's left over.
  
  
• Vicara. This word is usually translated as "self-inquiry," but it really means examination, reflection, or looking within. This technique, associated especially with Ramana Maharshi, involves a continuous, deliberate effort to become aware of the real you -- the Self. For more on this topic, go here.

Advaita Vedanta
Our main reference page on Advaita Vedanta contains additional information about Jnana Yoga including more links and book recommendations.

Self-Inquiry
Our main reference page on self-inquiry, the method of Jnana Yoga taught by Ramana Maharshi.

Ashtavakra Gita
A great classical Sanskrit poem that gives instructions for practicing Jnana Yoga.

Ramana Maharshi
Many people think Ramana Maharshi was the greatest teacher of Jnana Yoga in the twentieth century.

Forty Verses on Reality
By Ramana Maharshi
This is Ramana Maharshi's most comprehensive statement of his teachings.

Crest Jewel of Wisdom
also called Viveka-Chudamani
By Sankara
According to tradition, this book was written in the eighth or ninth century by the most famous philosopher of Advaita Vedanta. It contains the classic explanation of viveka, a primary component of Jnana Yoga.

Yoga
Our main reference page on yoga in general.

The Yoga of Discernment and Self-Transcendence
By Georg Feuerstein
Nice overview of Jnana Yoga on the website of the Yoga Research and Education Center (YREC).

Jnana Yoga
By Swami Krishnananda Saraswati
(This link is temporarily offline as of December 27, 2001.) Nice overview of Jnana Yoga on the website of Vivekayuktananda Ashram.

Jnana Yoga
By Swami Sivananda
Another nice overview of Jnana Yoga on the website of the Divine Life Society.

The Realisation of the Absolute
By Swami Krishnananda
An intellectually rigorous discussion of both Vedanta and Jnana Yoga, with emphasis on theory and philosophy.

Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination
By Swami Prabhavananda (trans.) and Christopher Isherwood (trans.)
· · · · · · · · · · · ·
Sankara is one of the two most famous philosophers and teachers of enlightenment in Indian history (the other is Buddha). According to tradition, in the eighth century he wrote the canonical books on Advaita Vedanta (nondualism) and established the ten monastic orders of Indian swamis which continue to this day -- and managed to do these things before dying at age 32. In this book, Sankara (or somebody else writing under his name) sets forth one of the basic methods of Jnana Yoga: viveka, which means discrimination or discernment in English.