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Four Paths of Yoga in the Gita

The document summarizes the four paths to spirituality discussed in the Bhagavad Gita: Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana yoga, and Raja yoga. Karma yoga focuses on selfless action without attachment to rewards. Bhakti yoga emphasizes loving devotion and service. Jnana yoga is the path of wisdom and direct realization of Brahman through knowledge. Some scholars see Raja yoga as a fourth path involving meditation, while others view it as a combination of Karma and Bhakti yoga.

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317 views5 pages

Four Paths of Yoga in the Gita

The document summarizes the four paths to spirituality discussed in the Bhagavad Gita: Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana yoga, and Raja yoga. Karma yoga focuses on selfless action without attachment to rewards. Bhakti yoga emphasizes loving devotion and service. Jnana yoga is the path of wisdom and direct realization of Brahman through knowledge. Some scholars see Raja yoga as a fourth path involving meditation, while others view it as a combination of Karma and Bhakti yoga.

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rerere
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PART-III

UNIT-I
EMERGENCE OF
PSYCHOLOGY:
THE BHAGAVAD
GITA
YOGA
Four paths to spirituality –

Jnana, Bhakti, Karma, and Raja yogas


 action -(karma)

 knowledge -(jnana)

 devotion -(bhakti)

1. KARMA YOGA
2. BHAKTI YOGA
3. JANANA YOGA

 Chapters 1–6 = Karma yoga, the means to the final goal

 Chapters 7–12 = Bhakti yoga or devotion

 Chapters 13–18 = Jnana yoga or knowledge, the goal itself


1. Karma yoga:


The Gita teaches the path of Karma yoga in Chapter 3 and
others.

It upholds the necessity of action.

However, this action should "not simply follow spiritual
injunctions", without any attachment to personal rewards or
because of craving for fruits.

that the action should be undertaken after proper knowledge has
been applied to gain the full perspective of "what the action
should be"

The concept of such detached action is also called Nishkam
Karma, a term not used in the Gita but equivalent to other terms
such as karma-phala-tyaga.

This is where one determines what the right action ought to be
and then acts while being detached to personal outcomes, to
fruits, to success or failure.

A karma yogi finds such work inherently fulfilling and
satisfying.To a karma yogi, right work done well is a form of
prayer, and karma yoga is the path of selfless action.

According to Gandhi Ji, the object of the Gita is to show the way to attain
self-realization, and this "can be achieved by selfless action, by desireless
action; by renouncing fruits of action; by dedicating all activities to God,
i.e., by surrendering oneself to Him body and soul." Gandhi called the Gita
"The Gospel of Selfless Action".
2. Bhakti yoga:


Bhakti Yoga inculcates the attitude of loving devotion and
service as an instrument of the Supreme Spirit.

In the Bhagavad Gita, bhakti is characterized as the "loving
devotion, a longing, surrender, trust and adoration" of the
divine Krishna as the ishta-devata.

Bhakti’s effort is assisted with "right knowledge" and
dedication to one's dharma.

The Gita likely spawned a "powerful devotionalism"
movement, states Fowler, because the text and this path was
simpler, available to everyone.

3. Jnana Yoga:


Jnana yoga is the path of knowledge, wisdom, and direct
realization of the Brahman.


In the Bhagavad Gita, it is also referred to as buddhi yoga and
its goal is self-realization. The text states that this is the path
that intellectuals tend to prefer.The chapter 4 of the Bhagavad
Gita is dedicated to the general exposition of jnana yoga.

The Gita praises the path, calling the jnana yogin to be
exceedingly dear to Krishna, but adds that the path is steep and
difficult.[199]

Synthesis of yogas, Raja yoga



Some scholars treat the "yoga of meditation" to be a distinct
fourth path taught in the Gita, referring to it as Raja yoga.

Raja Yoga invests all its disciplines with a sense of
transcendences, dedication, with constant emphasis on
strengthening the inner sublime, and awareness through
meditation.

Others consider it as a progressive stage or a combination of
Karma yoga and Bhakti yoga.

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