~ by Pilar Salazar
Bhakti & Jnana Yoga
Bhakti & Jnana YogaWe continue our journey through the philosophy of yoga. Last time, we discussed Karma Yoga, and now we move on to two other branches of classic Yoga: Bhakti and Jnana.
Bhakti Yoga is the spiritual practice of “love” and “devotion”; it literally means “In Union with the Divine”. In simple terms, the Bhakta (the person who practices Bhakti Yoga) seeks to get closer to the Divine by means of love and devotion. If we wanted to apply this concept in our lives, an easy way would be by cultivating love in our lives and letting it flow in everything we do, think, and say.
Bhakti & Jnana Yoga
Let it be reflected on our actions, words, and judgements, and also on the way we interact with everyone else, whether they are our relatives, friends, and most of all, those with whom we do not get along. Let it be reflected on the way we treat our Mother Nature and all the creatures with which we share this paradise.
On the other hand, Jnana Yoga is “Wisdom Yoga” to find the meanings through the acquisition of knowledge, introspection, and contemplation.
A simple way to apply it in our lives is by nourishing the habit of reading, which, with the arrival of internet, social media, and other technological distractions, has been dramatically reduced. But also, let us be very selective with what we read, because just as we search for our physical health by eating healthily, there is nothing better for our mental health than a constructive reading.
