Jnana vs. Bhakti in a nutshell

[Guest guest]

Here is how I would sum up my understanding of the difference

between Jnana and Bhakti:

 

Based on all of my study to date of Indian spirituality, it

seems to me that the essence of it is that 'realization' or

'enlightenment' is what naturally happens in Awareness when the

thought-waves of the mind subside. These thought-waves are stirred

up by the ego and its discriminations and graspings and

identifications. This seems to be the basic wisdom of Shankara,

Buddha, Patanjali, and just about everyone. (Well, almost!)

 

Seen in this light, jnana and bhakti are just different

means to this same goal. Jnana uses discrimination to directly see

the error of the small self. Bhakti dissolves the small self through

love of the divine in some form or another.

 

Do we need to get much more complicated that this?

 

Om!

Benjamin