A Series of Lessons in Gnani Yoga

A Series of Lessons in Gnani
Yoga

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Title: A Series of Lessons in Gnani Yoga
Author: Yogi Ramacharaka
Release Date: September 9, 2004 [EBook #13407]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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OF LESSONS IN GNANI YOGA ***

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A SERIES OF
Lessons in Gnani Yoga (The Yoga of Wisdom.)
BY YOGI RAMACHARAKA.
THIS BOOK GIVES THE HIGHEST YOGI TEACHINGS
REGARDING THE ABSOLUTE AND ITS MANIFESTATIONS.

INDEX.
LESSON PAGE
I. The One 1
II. Omnipresent Life 27
III. The Creative Will 51
IV. The Unity of Life 75
V. The One and the Many 101
VI. Within the Mind of the One 127
VII. Cosmic Evolution 153 VIII. The Ascent of Man 177
IX. Metempsychosis 203
X. Spiritual Evolution 229
XI. The Law of Karma 253
XII. Occult Miscellany 277

THE FIRST LESSON
THE ONE.
The Yogi Philosophy may be divided into several great branches, or
fields. What is known as "Hatha Yoga" deals with the physical body
and its control; its welfare; its health; its preservation; its laws, etc.
What is known as "Raja Yoga" deals with the Mind; its control; its
development; its unfoldment, etc. What is known as "Bhakti Yoga"
deals with the Love of the Absolute--God. What is known as "Gnani
Yoga" deals with the scientific and intellectual knowing of the great
questions regarding Life and what lies back of Life--the Riddle of the
Universe.
Each branch of Yoga is but a path leading toward the one
end--unfoldment, development, and growth. He who wishes first to
develop, control and strengthen his physical body so as to render it a fit
instrument of the Higher Self, follows the path of "Hatha Yoga." He
who would develop his will-power and mental faculties, unfolding the
inner senses, and latent powers, follows the path of "Raja Yoga." He
who wishes to develop by "knowing"--by studying the fundamental
principles, and the wonderful truths underlying Life, follows the path of
"Gnani Yoga." And he who wishes to grow into a union with the One
Life by the influence of Love, he follows the path of "Bhakti Yoga."
But it must not be supposed that the student must ally himself to only a
single one of these paths to power. In fact, very few do. The majority

prefer to gain a rounded knowledge, and acquaint themselves with the
principles of the several branches, learning something of each, giving
preference of course to those branches that appeal to them more
strongly, this attraction being the indication of _need_, or requirement,
and, therefore, being the hand pointing out the path.
It is well for every one to know something of "Hatha Yoga," in order
that the body may be purified, strengthened, and kept in health in order
to become a more fitting instrument of the Higher Self. It is well that
each one should know something of "Raja Yoga," that he may
understand the training and control of the mind, and the use of the Will.
It is well that every one should learn the wisdom of "Gnani Yoga," that
he may realize the wonderful truths underlying life--the science of
Being. And, most assuredly every one should know something of
Bhakti Yogi, that he may understand the great teachings regarding the
Love underlying all life.
We have written a work on "Hatha Yoga," and a course on "Raja Yoga"
which is now in book form. We have told you something regarding
"Gnani Yoga" in our Fourteen Lessons, and also in our Advanced
Course. We have written something regarding "Bhakti Yoga" in our
Advanced Course, and, we hope, have taught it also all through our
other lessons, for we fail to see how one can teach or study any of the
branches of Yoga without being filled with a sense of Love and Union
with the Source of all Life. To know the Giver of Life, is to love him,
and the more we know of him, the more love will we manifest.
In this course of lessons, of which this is the first, we shall take up the
subject of "Gnani Yoga"--the Yoga of Wisdom, and will endeavor to
make plain some of its most important and highest teachings. And, we
trust that in so doing, we shall be able to awaken in you a still higher
realization of your relationship with the