JNANA, BHAKTI AND KARMA

1 These Sanskrit words may roughly be translated into English as Knowledge, Love and Work ; and Yogas or spiritual disciplines connected with them, as the path of Knowledge, the path of Love and the path of Work, respectively. But these terms mean more than their English equivalents. Thus Knowledge is not a mere intellectual affair, but spiritual insight affecting the whole man; Love is not worldly love, but a kindred feeling in relation to God; and Work is not mere action, but spiritualised pursuit or duties and altruistic undertakings. To indicate this technical sense we have used capitals for them in this chapter and elsewhere, wherever they stand by themselves without qualifying words pointing to their special significance still more powerful, and may be likened to the sun. He is the sun of Divine knowledge whose light dispels the accumulated ignorance of ages.

[I. Path of Knowledge : What is Jnana Yoga ?— Method of Jnana Yoga—Difficulties of Jnana Yoga— II. Path of Love: Bhakti and the conditions of its growth—Bhakti and worldly love—Effects of Bhakti— Stages and aspects of Bhakti—Prema or Parabhakti (ecstatic Love)—Love of the Gopis—Viraha and Mahabhava—III. Bhakti and Jnana: Bhakti and Jnana the same in the end—How Bhakti leads to Jnana —Difference in the temperaments of the Jnani and the Bhakta—Vl. Path of Work: What is Karma Yoga ? —Bhakti as a safeguard in Karma Yoga—Work as service equal to worship—Work a means and not an end — Work and worklessness.]