Page 76 - Mystic Pathways through the Bible

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70 Mystic pathways through the bible
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
The Yogic system of mysticism presents four paths leading to the realization of the Self: Jnana Yoga—the Yoga of Wisdom, Bhakti Yoga—the Yoga of Devotion, Dhyana Yoga—the Yoga of Meditation, and Karma Yoga—the Yoga of Action. These four paths correspond to the four aspects of the human personality: Reason, emotion, will and action. In the ideal system of spiritual movement, these four are properly blended and integrated.
An aspirant practices Karma Yoga for the puri cation of the mind (freeing the mind of hatred, greed, pride and other gross impurities). One practices Bhakti Yoga to perfect one’s practice of Karma Yoga on the one hand, and to advance in one’s inward devotional movement on the other. Increasing devotion to God provides insight into meditation and samadhi (superconsciousness) and, thus, one becomes a practitioner of Raja Yoga. Finally, one’s mystical movement attains its ful llment in ascending the rungs of wisdom or Jnana Yoga and realizing one’s unity with the Divine Self.
Bhakti Yoga (the Yoga of Devotion) gives insight into the art of loving God “with all thy heart.” Jnana Yoga (the Yoga of Wisdom) teaches the technique