Jnana Yoga — The Path of Knowledge
Jnana Yoga (the yoga of knowledge/wisdom) is the direct Advaita path of recognizing Brahman through discriminative inquiry — considered the highest path because it directly addresses the root cause of bondage (Avidya).
Jnana Yoga (the yoga of knowledge/wisdom) is the primary path in Advaita Vedanta — the systematic intellectual and contemplative inquiry into the nature of the Self and reality. Unlike Bhakti Yoga (devotion) which approaches liberation through love, or Karma Yoga (action) which approaches through selfless service, Jnana Yoga directly addresses the root cause of bondage: Avidya (ignorance of Brahman). The tools are: Mahavakya contemplation (meditating on 'I am Brahman' etc.), Kosha Viveka (discriminating the Self from the sheaths), Who am I? inquiry, and Neti Neti (not this, not this). The Jnana Yogi studies Vedantic texts, reflects deeply on the teaching, and meditates continuously on Brahman until the ignorance that generates the sense of separation is dissolved. Shankara's position: Jnana Yoga is the direct path; Bhakti and Karma Yoga purify the mind and cultivate the prerequisites but cannot themselves produce liberation. The Gita's synthesis (Jnana, Bhakti, Karma all leading to the same goal) reflects a more inclusive position.
Of all paths, Jnana Yoga is the most direct — for it attacks the root of bondage (Avidya) rather than its branches.
Philosopher Socrates' 'know thyself' (gnothi seauton) and his method of elenctic questioning — continuously testing beliefs for consistency and self-knowledge — is the Western philosophical parallel to Jnana Yoga's method of self-inquiry: both treat ignorance of the self as the root of all suffering and knowledge of the self as liberation.
Vivekachudamani