Jnana is a Sanskrit phrase that means data or knowledge, and bhumikas refers to levels or ranges. Jnana Bhumikas are the degrees of information or levels of knowledge that, when adopted by a jnana yogi or a jnani, can result in liberation (moksha).
There are seven Jnana Bhumikas, which define a path of self-inquiry, inside transformation, and the eventual attainment of superconsciousness.
Every stage deepens your understanding of your true self and divulges the final word actuality. These levels encourage you to stroll the religious path and realise your oneness with the universe.
As well as, the seven Bhumikas additionally act as a information for exploring your character, ideas, and emotional patterns, serving to you construct more healthy relationships with your self and people round you.
Historic significance of jnana bhumikas
The idea of Jnana Bhumikas is rooted in historic religious texts and holds deep historic significance. These seven levels are first talked about within the Varaha Upanishad and are additional elaborated within the Yoga Vasistha, a philosophical dialogue between Sage Vasistha and Lord Rama.
Seven levels jnana bhumikas
Within the Yoga Vasistha, the Jnana Bhumikas are introduced as important levels of inside improvement that assist dissolve confusion and transcend the ego. These levels information the seeker towards the everlasting bliss of their true nature by purifying the thoughts and eliminating false beliefs and psychological disturbances.
The first three levels, sometimes called the jagrat or waking levels, symbolize the preliminary awakening. In these levels, the seeker begins to recognise the constraints of worldly data and turns into conscious of the necessity to dispel ignorance and pursue greater knowledge.
The remaining 4 levels are related to jivanmukti, the state of being a liberated being whereas nonetheless alive. At this degree, the seeker attains inside illumination, full detachment from worldly attachments, and realises the supreme consciousness.
Every of the seven levels holds deep religious significance and performs an important position within the journey of self-realisation and liberation (moksha). They type a transparent and progressive path from mental inquiry to the direct expertise of the final word reality.
Stage 1: Subheccha (good need)
The primary stage is when folks start to ask themselves questions in regards to the that means of life. They start to search for solutions to their aimlessness and need to get out of an ignorant life by way of religious progress.
They’re inspired to learn scriptures, discuss to sensible folks or saints, and apply vairagya (detachment from worldly pleasures).
Studying scriptures helps us perceive the fundamentals of religious knowledge and open our hearts. That is nicely complemented by associating with individuals who can information one on the best path. It’s sensible to study from different folks’s experiences with a purpose to get in contact with your individual inside self.
Additionally, once you apply vairagya, you are likely to naturally suppress any attraction to sensual objects. Cultivating vairagya is crucial as a result of it ensures that you’re not pushed by private acquire and that your morals and ethics are given a robust basis.
At this stage, it’s essential to have a discernible intention and an unquenchable urge to enhance your religious apply.
As we advance to greater ranges of knowledge, this may support within the improvement of consciousness and a transparent, centered thoughts.
Stage: 2 Vicharana (self-inquiry)
If you learn the scriptures, there’s an urge for self-reflection. You’re routinely pushed to self-exploration as a result of you may have mirrored on the scriptures and the teachings you may have discovered from the saints.
At this stage, you query the character of true actuality and your beliefs and test them in opposition to the data you may have gained from numerous sources.
You are attempting to achieve readability in regards to the nature of your assumptions, whether or not they’re true or false.
By way of meditation and deep introspection, the sources of disturbances and distractions you had earlier than fade away. They won’t trigger a response from you since you now perceive the character of consciousness and the capabilities of the thoughts.
You additionally start to know what your tensions, worries, anger, traumas, and fears are based mostly on and take acceptable steps to eliminate them.
The seeker features a deeper understanding of the essence of life as he begins to shed the veil of ignorance and misconceptions that hinder his imaginative and prescient.
Merely put, if subheccha is the willpower to understand the true actuality, vicharana is the implementation of that willpower.
Stage: 3 Tanumanasi (delicate thoughts)
Within the third stage, your thoughts has turn out to be “skinny as a thread (tanu)”.” Your thoughts can now overcome all types of distractions and focus solely in your religious path. The seeker can dwell in contemplation for hours with out being disturbed by exterior distractions.
One can attain this stage solely after cultivating vairagya, pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), and inside silence by training meditation, pranayama, bhakti-yoga, tapas (abstinence), and different yogic practices.
These practices assist the thoughts to turn out to be disciplined, centered, and calm, and to develop the willpower to deal with the delicate parts of the thoughts by turning inward.
It’s also stated that an individual who dies at this stage will stay in heaven for a very long time and be reborn as a Jnani (sage).
Stage 4: Sattvapatti (attainment of sunshine)
Within the fourth stage, the seeker has attained religious gentle. They now perceive the distinction between the self and the ego and see every part as one. They’re indifferent from worldly affairs and might really feel the interconnectedness of all issues within the universe. There is no such thing as a struggling and one experiences deep religious peace and tranquility.
In consequence, the world seems like a dream.
Brahmavit (Brahman-knowing) is the title given to 1 who has efficiently reached this stage. Step one in discovering one’s true self is definitely to have this understanding of the final word reality.
Stage: 5 Asamsakti (inside detachment)
Asamsakti means desirelessness. The seeker is now not drawn to or connected to materials possessions or feelings. There are now not dualistic or multi-layered ideas. The seeker has a stronger understanding of the impermanence of every part, and the ego thoughts has been tamed.
This stage of the journey permits the seeker to rid himself of all materials wishes and deal with the seek for religious liberation.
The seeker is now generally known as Brahmavidvara (superior knower of Brahman) and performs his important duties with out exhibiting any indicators of attachment. Despite the fact that the Brahmavidvara is busy with social duties, he understands that the fabric world is an phantasm and might change.
Stage 6: Padartha bhavana (religious imaginative and prescient)
When the seeker reaches this stage, they’ve attained the data of the reality.
That is the stage the place psychological actions have come to a halt and the thoughts can now not distinguish between inside and outer sense experiences.
On this state, transcending all dualisms and bounds, the seeker is conscious that every part is interconnected and a part of the identical cosmic consciousness. The seeker is a Brahmavidvariyan, or one who’s greater than Brahmavidvara.
From the understanding of the final word reality comes an incredible sense of peace and contentment.
Stage 7: Turiya (supreme freedom)
The seeker has lastly reached the state of pure consciousness. He’s now utterly indifferent from all wishes and free from ideas. That is the stage of experiencing the state of superconsciousness.
On this ultimate stage, the seeker has realized the true self and attained moksha or liberation. The idea of “I” is now not separate from the universe, and the idea of duality has disappeared.
That is the very best state of consciousness that may be attained by way of deep introspection, self-inquiry, and contemplation.
The seeker’s quest for knowledge and enlightenment culminates within the realization of turiya.
The seeker has now turn out to be a Brahmavidvaristha or the perfect among the many knowers of Brahman
Advantages of progressing by way of the levels
You will need to perceive that the advantages of jnana bhumikas are usually not utterly tangible. As you undergo the levels, the adjustments are mirrored in your character and in your mind-set. As your understanding of the world adjustments, you notice that this actuality is barely an phantasm.
Your relationship with your self and others adjustments, which can or might not be perceived positively. What issues, nonetheless, is that you’re content material with this realization and got down to know your true self.
With that in thoughts, listed below are some advantages you would possibly discover when going by way of the 7 steps:
- Promotes self-knowledge and private progress by way of self-inquiry and introspection.
- Deepen your religious understanding by way of studying scriptures and buying data from saints.
- You’re free of egoic limitations and struggling as you acknowledge the delicate nuances of spirit.
- Builds wholesome connections and relationships with others by eliminating adverse feelings and thought patterns.
- Guides you thru inside transformation and better states of consciousness by eradicating the veil of phantasm and misunderstanding.
- Cultivates knowledge, readability, and inside peace when your thoughts remains to be and you’re employed with out expectations.
Conclusion
Going by way of every stage of Jnana Bhumika shouldn’t be one thing that may be accomplished in 7 days (someday per stage). Quite the opposite, it’s an arduous journey that requires a whole lot of perseverance, willpower, and dedication and might take years, a long time, or perhaps a lifetime.
Like an onion, you’ll slowly peel every layer of your true self to find a aspect that was hidden by the illusions of the fabric world. This can enable you stay a purposeful life and provide the peace and tranquility you may have at all times strived for.
Even when your aim is to not obtain religious enlightenment or liberation, the method will enable you develop an consciousness of the significance of knowledge and the way necessary it’s to domesticate it in your day by day life.
That is additionally why it is very important apply meditation, pranayamas, and yoga asanas often, as they assist put together the thoughts to stay calm and centered.
