Whether the sadhaka wants to follow the path of jnana (knowledge), or the path of karma (action), the sadhaka must pass through the stage of action. Karma yoga is the base of all yogas. It is the first step and yoga of knowledge is the second step.
Human efforts are of four types since there are four ends or objectives of life: Artha (wealth), kama (desire), dharma (religion), and moksha (liberation). The first two drag one towards worldly things while the last two lead one towards God. The first two result in one’s downfall and ignorance whereas the last two culminate in one’s upliftment and knowledge.
The knowledge that is acquired by the yogi comes from beyond the senses. Knowledge that is acquired through the five senses is very ordinary knowledge, but the knowledge acquired beyond the senses is also beyond the ordinary type of knowledge. It is a higher knowledge – the real knowledge. In order to understand it, a sadhaka must stop externalizing his energy and focus within. This inner focus can be called meditation.
Of the three paths – Jnana (knowledge), karma (action), or bhakti (devotion), a sadhaka should choose one which suits one’s nature. Not one of these paths is superior or inferior to the others. It is sheer ignorance to consider one’s own path to be superior and those of others to be inferior.
Yoga is known as Brahmavidya (knowledge of the supreme spirit). This great knowledge is ancient and extremely difficult to attain. For its accomplishment, many lifetimes are required. If it were evaluated objectively, it would be defined as the supreme religion, the global religion, the universal religion, the human religion or the eternal religion.
On the yogic path, various experiences occur which help increase the sadhaka’s faith, courage, knowledge, enthusiasm, devotion to his Guru, devotion to yoga, and finally his or her devotion to God. Initially, the sadhaka gains an understanding of the lower chakras; later the understanding of the middle; and finally understanding of the higher chakras unfolds. Besides this, the understanding or various asanas (postures), mudras (gestures), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal from sense objects) and jyoti darshana (vision of divine light) is accessible through experience. Thus the practice of yoga itself unfolds the knowledge of more advanced states of yoga.