Sri Ganesh Mandir - Serene Sunday Reflections
श्री गणेश मंदिर - शिक्षा वाणी :: 11th
August 2019
IMPORTANCE
OF GNANA/JNANA (Knowledge)
KEYWORDS :: Veda, Knowledge,
Jnana, Bliss, Gnana, Marga, Yogam, Logic, Devotion, Action
Last weeks we reflected on
the Prayers leading to Devotion, Bhakti Yogam. To attain the blessings of God,
Hindu philosophy prescribes three paths, Bhakti (devotion), Karma (action), and
Gnana / Jnana (wisdom). We shall discuss little on Importance of Jnana now.
When one speaks of
Hinduism, the first and foremost word that get associated is Veda, Veda itself
means knowledge (Jnana). All the associated scripters on Veda; Upa-veda,
Vedangas, Bhrahmana, Aranyaka, Upanishads, Dharsana, Smruti, Ithihasa,
Mahapurana, Upa-purana, Bhagavatham, Bhagavad Gita and millions of Commentories and
Interpretations on all of these etc. are aiming at make Jnaani (attain Jnana). Leading us through Jnana Yogam / Jnana Margam
(spiritual path that emphasizes Knowledge) for self-realization wherein the
search for the answer to the question who am I, what am I etc. The devotee here
learns from the Master / GURU through various scripters and practices (Sadhana)
through various steps to attain meditation (Samadhi). Reaching to Brahman
through attaining that knowledge to transform self from materialistic to
metaphysical spiritual world to get into sayoojya (bliss).
In earlier reflections we
learned in purusharthas and moksha (https://www.hssicolumbus.org/serene-sunday-reflections) that dharma is at most important. Realizing this dharma is
the path, one has to get to know, this knowing is what is prescribed through
the ithihasa purushas (members introduced in the texts Ramayana and
Mahabharata).
Bhagavad Gita from the
first chapter when Arjuna was in confused and vishadam (sad) mood, Sri Krishna
took him through Karma and Bhakti Yogam and finally through Jnana Yogam to the
18th Chapter to reach Moksha Sanyasa Yogam (the state of bliss).
Bhagavad Gita that is the
essence of Upanishads is that logically takes us to the devotional karma
applying the knowledge and not without understanding and knowing all that is
being done. Hindu scripture clearly says “युक्तियुक्तं वचो ग्राह्यं बालादपि शुकादपि ।
अयुक्तमपि न ग्राह्यं साक्षादपि बृहस्पतेः ॥” (yuktiyuktaṃ vaco grāhyaṃ bālādapi śukādapi,
ayuktamapi na grāhyaṃ sākṣādapi bṛhaspateḥ) (Anyone speaking with logic should be recognized, even from
a child or a parrot. Illogical should not be taken, even if it is coming
from Brhaspati - God’s Guru).
Thus the knowledge is that makes one able to
get to the discriminative, logical, analytical, creative, balanced thinking in
daily intellectual understanding of practical life. Jnanamarga is to travel
through correct and true path tested over time and space being in the real
world even the supreme being (God) has examples to show what is dharma (what to
follow) and what is adharma (not to be followed) adhering to dharma getting
separated from relationships. Thus one is able to get to God in devotion for a
larger cause with detached attachment and attached detachment and being in the
present.
We saw Gnana is the base
of Hindu philosophy. Now we shall see Karma path in Hinduism in the next week.
----- Next Week 18th August 2019 - Importance of Karma ------
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