Gita for Youth - Yoga of Spiritual Wisdom and Realization (Jnana Yoga) - Impact of Jnana

Spiritual Wisdom (Jnana) and its impact

The true knowledge of Brahman will help in dispelling any darkness which leads one into delusion. The knowledge of eternal Brahman enables one to see the entire world as Brahman and not through the veil of Maya or the great bewitching power of God.

Sri Krishna further assured Arjuna that even if Arjuna has committed gravest of sins, he can, through the raft of wisdom, cross over to the other side (virtue). This is because the fire of wisdom reduces the actions and their ill effects to ashes, just as the burning fire reduces the fuel to ashes. In time, the perfected Yogi finds that there is nothing more purifier than knowledge. True knowledge helps in unveiling the Self and thus catapults one to realize the supreme truth, also called the knowledge of Brahman.

One who is earnest seeker, full of Sraddha, one who is ever devoted and intent on realization, one who has mastery over the senses, can obtain the true knowledge, and by gaining the true knowledge can beget everlasting peace and joy. Such a person tears asunder the veil of Maya and thereby rises above sorrows and sufferings in the Sansara. The wisdom helps him in realizing that the life and universe is nothing but a dream and the source of real bliss is within one’s Self.

One who is ignorant (of such knowledge), one who is not earnest or has little faith and one who doubts the efficacy or the existence of true knowledge, all these have no means of salvation. Doubts and lack of faith leads one into blind alleys from which there is no return to the path of virtue and wisdom.

He who has renounced every action and its fruits, he who has been able to get rid of all doubts by means of the true knowledge, he who is immersed in Self, has no fear as actions cannot bind them.

“Therefore, Oh Arjuna, rise! Cut asunder this doubt, the evil bewitching deluding power, by the help of the sword of wisdom and discrimination and be firmly established in Yoga, the ancient means of gaining wisdom.”

Sri Krishna says that the only way true knowledge can be obtained is through removal of all doubts from our mind. This is possible with the help of sword of discrimination and knowledge. Having intense faith on one’s preceptor who is responsible for showing the way to the source of true knowledge, one needs to be earnest, devoted to the goal of realizing God and practice with sincerity to control the senses. Having gained mastery over the senses, one can perform actions without desire and through that purify the mind and intellect. Through this purification process the knowledge reveals itself, like the sun shining on a bright and clear pool of water free of all contamination. This is the Yoga of Spiritual Wisdom.