The Four Paths of Yoga (2024)

FAQs

The Four Paths of Yoga? ›

Yoga manifests itself as four major paths, namely Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Rāja Yoga and Jñāna Yoga. These four paths are like the branches of a tree or tributaries of a river. They all have the same source and resting place. In essence, they are all the same.

Yoga manifests itself as four major paths, namely Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Rāja Yoga and Jñāna Yoga. These four paths are like the branches of a tree or tributaries of a river. They all have the same source and resting place. In essence, they are all the same.

Gyana (Jnana) Yoga

It is said to be the most difficult path because it uses the mind and intellect to go beyond themselves to finally realize you are One with the Divine.

Swami Vivekananda spelt out the four pathways of attaining moksha from the worldly pleasure and attachment in his books — Raja-yoga, Karma-yoga, Jnana-yoga and Bhakti-yoga. Karma-yoga, or the yoga of selfless action tells that through the correct actions, the 'troublemaker' ego can turn into the 'troubleshooter' ego.

Every individual has unique thoughts, feelings, and goals for their practice. Yoga in its true form has the goal of seeking true and lasting bliss—ananda. There are four paths of yoga that are meant to work toward this unifying goal: jnana, karma, bhakti, and raja yoga.

Essentially, however, current practice involves four primary types of yoga: karma, bhakti, jnana, and raja. Karma [KAR-muh] yoga isthe path of service through selfless action for the good of others - for example, Mother Teresa's works to serve poor people as a way to connect the compassion of God with humanity.

There are three states of Mind according to Yogic texts, namely Jagrata (Waking), Swapna (Dreaming), Sushupti (Deep Sleep) and Turiya (the fourth state beyond the three).

Maharishi Patanjali, rightly called "The Father of Yoga" compiled and refined various aspects of Yoga systematically in his "Yoga Sutras" (aphorisms).

What are the 4 ways to moksha? ›

In Hinduism, there are four main paths by which a follower can reach moksha, or liberation. These paths are bhakti, the path of devotion; gnana, the path of knowledge; karma, the path of selfless service; and raja, the royal path of meditation.

Pranayama is the fourth “limb” of the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga set out in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The definitions and interpretations of the term are numerous and even, at times, conflicting.