Invitation to World Religions

112  CHAPTER 4  Hinduism

Arjuna, I soon arise to rescue them from the ocean of death and rebirth. Focus your mind on me, let your understanding enter me; then you will dwell in me without doubt. 7

Like karma marga and jnana marga, bhakti marga functions to eradicate egotism, ignorance, and attachment to the objects of desire. By devoting one’s time and energy to a deity rather than to one’s individualistic yearnings and concerns, ulti- mately the true nature of reality can be realized, the effects of karma neutralized, and liberation from samsara achieved. Jnana Marga  Generally agreed to be the steepest ascent to liberation, jnana (“knowledge”) marga requires disciplined study of sacred texts and intensive contemplation, typically through the practice of meditation. In the words of the Bhagavad Gita (4.38–39),

No purifier equals knowledge, and in time the man of perfect discipline discovers this in his own spirit. Faithful, intent, his senses subdued, he gains knowledge; gaining knowledge, he soon finds perfect peace. 8

The knowledge gained through jnana marga is wisdom or insight of a special kind. To attain this wisdom is to become aware of the true nature of atman. For monistic Hindus, this is to become aware that the atman is none other than Brahman, the ultimate, unitary reality. We now turn our attention to the two most prominent forms of jnana marga and of Hinduism’s six philosophical schools: Vedanta and Yoga. The Yoga school, which teaches specific physical and mental exercises designed to promote jnana, is so distinctive and historically significant that some Hindus classify it as a fourth marga. With its meditative practices often performed in the lotus position, Yoga is commonly envisioned by non-Hindus when pondering the spiritual life of India. The Vedanta school has been even more influential in the history of Hindu thought. Vedanta: The Predominant School of Hindu Philosophy The philosophical system that emerged out of the Upanishads is called Vedanta , which in Sanskrit means “the end of the Vedas”—“end” not only as conclusion but also as culmination. The Vedanta school asserts that the Upanishads reveal the PROPERTY OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS