The topic “Gyan vs Bhakti” is one of the most intensely debated topics in Indian philosophy, and followers of Advait vad, Dwait vad, Visisht Advait vad, Vishuddh Advait vad, Dwait Advait vad, Achintya Bhedabhed vad, all hold strong opinions on either sides of the topic. It is difficult to do justice to this topic in brief. Gyan and Bhakti are definitely inter-related. For example, if someone gives us a piece of jewellery, and we have no knowledge of its worth, we will have no love for it either. But if we come to know that the gold is 24 carats, and the diamond studded in it is worth a million dollars, we will immediately develop immense love for it. Similarly, as we get knowledge of the glory of God and our relationship with Him, our devotion towards Him will also increase. True knowledge definitely leads to Bhakti. And as we engage in Bhakti, God seated within the heart gives us deeper and newer realizations. Thus, Bhakti leads to Gyan. They are both intimately interrelated: Gyan increases Bhakti, and Bhakti increases Gyan. However, Gyan Yog is not the same as Gyan. It is a path of sadhana based on a particular philosophic viewpoint. It suggests that the soul is itself God, and by situating oneself in the knowledge of the atman (self), one will attain liberation. Consequently, the meditational styles of the Gyan Yogi and the Bhakti Yogi are quite different. The Bhakti Yogi meditates on the Supreme, all-powerful God, and relates to Him in a personal form as his Ishta Dev. However, the Gyan Yogi considers meditation on God as inferior, and aims to still the mind by meditation on the breath, a void, or the eyebrow center, etc. Such meditations aimed at stilling the mind are not only exceedingly difficult, they are also bereft of God’s Grace. The mind is a product of the material energy, and it cannot be conquered without Divine Grace, no matter for how many ages we may endeavor. Hence, Sage Patanjali, has mentioned thrice in his brief treatise:
ईश्वर प्रणिधानात् । (Yog Darshan)
“Success in meditation and conquest of the mind will come by surrendering to God.” Thus, Bhakti is essential in the path of Gyan Yog as well. There is yet another kind of Gyan, called Shabdik Gyan, which means dry intellectual knowledge, without concomitant practice. Such Gyan, which is without realization, leads to pride, and does more harm than good. Thus, it has been criticized by the scriptures. The Gyan of the Gyan Yogi is incomplete without the understanding that soul is only a tiny fragment of God, that it has an eternal relationship with God, and that it needs to surrender to God, to attain His grace. We must acquire the right knowledge of our eternal relationship with God, and then endeavor to put it in practice. That knowledge will then help us increase our devotion, and devotion will increase our knowledge, and knowledge will increase our devotion, and devotion will increase knowledge, and so on.
