Many Paths to Salvation

Since ages we have been wondering about the existence of a god or not, and if a god exists, how to reach him, and to know how the world is governed. Seers and saints have given deep thought to this. The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagwad Gita, Puranas and other works have highlighted a number of aspects related to existential questions. Broadly, most religions concur that there is a super power, and that super power is called by various names. God is believed to be omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. The ultimate goal of all would be to get freedom from the cycle of life and rebirth, but one kind of spiritual path may not be suitable for all. Hence, sages have devised four paths of Yoga. These are Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga. In Bhakti Yoga, the seeker tries to attain salvation through the heart, surrendering to the will of God. Karma Yoga focuses on good action, based on the law of cause and effect. Krishna says in the Gita that we should perform our karmas without longing for its fruits, results. Even in case of good karmas, we should give up sense of attachment, doership. Jnana Yoga is followed through the intellect. According to this path, everything in this world is an expression of Brahmn. It means, “I am Brahman, you are also Brahmn, everything is expression of the same reality and universal consciousness, Brahmn.” Raja Yoga practitioners try to reach the peak through the mind. Sage Patanjali has described the following steps to achieve this: yama, niyama, asanas, pranayama, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.

Source: Economic Times, 4/11/2019