Jnana Yoga

The Yoga of Contemplation

Abhyasa Ashram and Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati

Over 5,000 students are enrolled in this course

Over 5,000 students are enrolled in this course

Pondering, reflecting, contemplating on the nature of our personality, soul, and spirit is one of the most important aspects of traditional Yoga. Please don't overlook this essential part of your Yoga practices. This course will lead you through the levels of contemplation, from the basics to the most advanced contemplations as practiced by the ancient sages.

Yoga is a whole life process. The Contemplation of Jnana Yoga is one of the most advanced practices of Yoga. The reflective process of contemplation utilizes the word-forming habit of the mind in a directed way, so as to transcend not only body and breath, but most importantly, to go beyond the mind to the realization in direct experience the True Self, the Atman, or Center of Consciousness.

A Suggestion: Our descriptions of traditional Yoga tend to be thorough, broad, and deep. This can lead you to think this is complicated, and that it's going to take a great deal of study like in a college class. But the suggestion is to take it easy; watch the presentations leisurely, like you might watch a movie while sitting on a comfortable chair or couch. Just absorb it, take it in. Don't worry about memorizing. It will gently sink in, and you can practice the principles in daily life. Go back later and look again at the presentations, whether all of them or a few. Terminology, principles, and practices will gently become familiar.

This course first outlines the preparatory practices, leading one to start the process of contemplation. The course then guides you in the preliminary practices of contemplation through the processes of positive inquiry of Internal Dialogue. Finally, you will be taught the traditional contemplations, the "great" contemplations known as Mahavakyas, which have traditionally be practiced primarily by those monks living lives of renunciation in remote places like the cave monasteries of the high Himalayas.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Practice the profound depths of jnana yoga, the yoga of contemplation
Jnana means "knowing" at the deepest level, not just intellectual thinking.
Practice jnana or knowing all day long, 24/7, for the greatest insights of inner joy.

The pinnacle of knowing is experience in the ever-present center of consciousness.
Jnana yoga is a systematic journey inward, like climbing a ladder to the top of an infinite tree.

Practice the profound depths of jnana yoga, the yoga of contemplation
Jnana means "knowing" at the deepest level, not just intellectual thinking.
Practice jnana or knowing all day long, 24/7, for the greatest insights of inner joy.
The pinnacle of knowing is experience in the ever-present center of consciousness.
Jnana yoga is a systematic journey inward, like climbing a ladder to the top of an infinite tree.

Syllabus

Introduction to Jnana Yoga

Welcome to the Jnana Yoga course

Jnana Yoga: An aspect of the One Yoga

Stages to the Goal of Contemplation

Antahkarana and the Mobile Phone

Dhyana (meditation) and Vichara (contemplation) are different, but complementary practices. With dhyana one suspends the inner use of language, the formation of words. With contemplation one utilizes language to ponder or reflect on principles. Gradually, however, meditation and contemplation work together and merge into one unified awareness of consciousness itself, standing alone. This was introduced here as being the drashtuh, the seer, and finally this realization leads to kaivalya, or absolute liberation, as previously discussed.

Four Stages of Advanced Contemplation

Sravana

Manana

Niddhidhyasana

Sakshatkara

Internal Dialogue as a Personality

Apps talking to Apps

Mind, please be my friend

Who am I?

What do I want?

What should I do about this Problem?

Is my first thought good or bad?

Should I do it or Not?

Is this Useful or Not Useful?

Whisper inner secrets to me

Contemplation in Life

Antahkarana and the Four Functions of Mind

Four Levels of Consciousness

Internal Dialogue and Kleshas

Blending Contemplation with Yoga and Tantra

Constant Awareness

Neti Neti

Dialogue and Prayer

Dialogue with God as a Being

Dialogue with God through Self

Prayer as Prescription

Contemplation on Meditation and Japa Mantras

Om

Om Namah Shivaya

Om Tat Sat

Sohum

Gayatri

Mahamrityunjaya

Mahavakyas: Seven Great Contemplations

Mahavakyas

1) Brahma satyam jagan mithya: Brahman is real; the world is unreal

2) Ekam evadvityam Brahma: Brahman is one without a second

3) Prajnanam Brahman: Brahman is the supreme knowledge

4) Tat tvam asi: That is what you are

5) Ayam atma brahma: Atman and brahman are the same

6) Aham Brahmasmi: I am that Universal Absolute Reality

7) Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma: All of this is Brahman

BONUS

BONUS: Resources

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Jnana Yoga: The Yoga of Contemplation with these activities:

Introspection and Reflection

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Contemplation is one of the most important aspects of Yoga, so before the course begins, it is important to refresh your skills and understanding of introspection and reflection. This will help ensure a stronger foundation as you begin this course.

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Set aside 10 minutes each day for silent reflection.
Focus on your breath and observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Write down your observations in a journal.

Guided Meditation Practice

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Deepen your understanding and practice of meditation through the use of guided meditations. This will help you develop a stronger foundation in meditation, which is essential for contemplation and the practices outlined in this course.

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