JnanaVijnana Yoga - Part 1

Chapter 7 Part 1

Jnanavijnana Yoga

Jnana (knowledge) is knowledge of theories.

Vijnana means knowledge through experience.

Who can experience Brahma

One should have the wish to attain Brahma. Mind should be always with Brahma. The ultimate goal of life should be realization of Brahma. Such a sadhaka should practice  yoga of dhyana-samadhi-Brahma darsana. Then, Brahma can be experienced totally and without doubt. If Brahma is known then there will not be anything to be known in this world. At first, knowledge about Brahma is to be earned. Then this knowledge is to be experienced through spiritual practice.

Universe is originated

The nature (prakriti or maya) of Brahma which appeared as universe, separates itself in eight manners as avyaktha, mahanathma, aham, shabda, sparsa, roopa, rasa, gandha.From aham or individual "I" the mind is formed. Then pancha bhootha are formed. Here universe is experienced by union of pancha bhootha. So universe is formed from Brahma. Brahma is the point of formation and deformation of whole universe. The whole universe appears and disappears on Brahma only. Before the appearance of universe there was brahma only. After the disappearance of universe also there will be brahma. So the universe, that exists between the appearance and disappearance of universe, is definitely the Brahma. There is nothing here other than Brahma. Everything in this universe are connected as in a thread on Brahma.

All matters that are seen in universe are formed by mixing pancha bhoothas in different proportions. Space, air, fire, water and earth are the pancha bhoothas (five basic components). Subtle forms of these bhoothas are shabda, sparsha, roopa, rasa and gandha (sound, touch, form, taste and smell) consecutively. These subtle components are formed from Brahma. The ultimate cause of universe is Brahma. The life force (prana) of all living beings is formed from Brahma. All striving force of living is from Brahma. The force that provokes all dharma(good karma) in humans is Brahma.

All the three parakriti gunas, satwa rajas thamo, are formed from Brahma. Brahma is not present totally in them, but they are totally present on Brahma. Living beings which are formed with the combination of prakriti gunas in different proportions, cannot see Brahma that is beyond all gunas. This happens because, living beings begins to follow various aspects of prakriti gunas. This is caused by maaya. Maaya makes them to believe only in what they see, hear, smell, touch or taste. Means, they become salves to five senses. Maaya is having characteristics of three gunas. Maaya is the sakthi formed from Brahma. It cannot be conquered easily. The only way to overcome maaya is surrendering to Brahma.

Worldly life and spiritual life

Those who become slave to various experiences of senses, forget Brahma. They cannot experience the truth.   They see and believe various things on the singular Brahma. There are no various things, there is only one thing in this universe and that is Brahma. Whatever seen as various things are just an illusion and it is produced by five senses and mind. They believe there are various things and they becomes attached to them. In them develops raaga and dwesha. They become ready to do any mischievous acts to earn worldly pleasures. Those who becomes addicted to such evil karma cannot realize Brahma.

A Jnani is who understands and experiences athma thathwa. He considers everything as brahma. He always remains with Brahma and he sees Brahma everywhere. Not only that, such a jnani is nothing but Brahma itself. Jnani experiences innate soul as brahma. Thus he considers realization of Brahma as his goal of life. This state can be attained, in a pure mind by practicing yoga marga, through many births. Based on the presence of karma vasana it may take more than one birth to finish spiritual practice and to get realization.

Those who cannot see brahma in everything, try to find happiness and peace in worldly pleasures. For that they worship deities of their choice. The influence of satwa-rajas-thamo guna can be seen on their desires and karmas and even on their way of accepting deities. Different peoples worship different deities or gods. Brahma fixes each one's devotion on their own imagination of deities. Then devotee continue in their devotion. In this way Brahma accepts their prayers and gives result through their accepted deities. This means, whatever ways you choose to worship god, no matter, the results are given by ParaBrahma. But these results that are received through deity-worship are temporary and lost soon.

Universe and various things on it, forms, exists and ends. This is the nature of universe. There should be an ever existing ultimate cause or substratum for universe to appear and disappear repeatedly. Brahma or pure consciousness is the ultimate cause of existence. The true nature of Brahma is consciousness. Those who cannot realize and experience the real nature of Brahma say that universe is formed from a vacume state.

Maaya or illusion

Maaya or illusion obstructs true state of undivided and all pervading Brahma before creation of universe. And those who are flooded with this maaya, cannot see the real nature of Brahma. The universe is formed or created on maaya. Humans are infatuated on this maaya and they are not capable of knowing Brahma directly. But Brahma, the pure consciousness, is always conscious about everything in universe. Brahma knows about every components of universe that appeared and disappeared, that exists at present and that is to be appeared. After the creation, each humans thinks that he is independent and separate. Every humans are the same Brahma. Separate and individual forms are seen as an illusion. There are no different and various things, here is only one thing and that is Brahma. The feeling of difference is because of raaga-dwesha. Due to this humans forget the fact that here is only one true object, Brahma.

Do karma in the way of purifying mind (karma yoga). Thus karma vasanas are destroyed. They become free from the feeling of difference and raaga dwesha. They learn to see Brahma everywhere.

The nature of worldly existence is formation, existence and ruin. See the life of a human. He takes birth, live for a certain period and dies. Birth, death and rebirth - this way life is repeated. This is called samsara. Those who try to escape from this cycle of samsara by depending Brahma only, happen to know Brahma in total. They come to understand truth about formation of jiva and karma.