Jnana in Sanskrit means "knowledge",
and is often interpreted to mean "knowledge of the true self".
In the Vedanta school of the Hindu religion, to know Brahman as
one's own Self is jnana. To say, based on experience "I am
Brahman, the pure, all-pervading Consciousness, the non-enjoyer,
non-doer and silent witness," is jnana. To behold the one
Self everywhere is jnana.
One of the philosophical fundamental pillars of Jnana yoga is
nondualism which is a fundamental belief in the unity of the universe,
especially of the individual soul atman with brahman or transcendent,
all pervasive ultimate reality. This is expressed in Hindu philosophical
school of Advaita Vedanta. The desire for liberation mentioned
above might be described as "wanting to be one with the universe."
|