The 4 yogas

Over time the Hindu tradition has adapted its methodology and style to suit it’s followers. Broadly speaking there are four paths that have emerged that reflect the ways different people approach their practice. While the four paths may seem separate, as you traverse them and transformation occurs, you realise that all four paths are the same path and all four yogas combine.

1. Jnana yoga - the path of knowledge or understanding. This stresses an understanding of reality and what we are (self-knowledge) as a way to approach the divine. People with an intellectual curiosity and who are less inclined towards faith belief traditionally are drawn to this path

2. Karma yoga - the path of action. This is geared for ‘doers’ and people of action and focuses on our attitude and approach to everyday tasks.

3. Bhakti yoga- the path of devotion in which love of God and self-surrender to a personified concept or image of God is used to take one beyond concepts and images to That which has no attributes.

4. Raja yoga - the path of meditation

No path can be undertaken effectively without bhakti or devotion. No-one can live without action (karma). Self-knowledge (jnana) is essential to realise God, for God and Self are one. And however self-knowledge is obtained - that is called meditation (raja yoga). So, start from any path you like for all roads lead to Him. Then you will see that you never left Him - He was there all along - You just didn’t let Him in.