The Four Yoga's Summarizations This is a short essay about the four yoga's in buddhism along with a choice, as requested by the instructor, as to which yoga best discribes mr beliefs.

The Four Yoga's Summarizations

        Jnana Yoga - The way to god through knowledge: to transcend the smallness of the finite self through the belief that the individual and god as an infinite self. This path to oneness is distinguishing between the surface self and the larger self that is out of site. This power is done in three stages, learning, thinking and knowledge.

        Bhakti Yoga - The way to god through love: to love god dearly with no ulterior motives. Not to identify with god but to adore god with every element of the individuals being. To give ones interest and affection to a personal god. Very similar to Christianity where one loves and believes faithfully.

        Karma Yoga -The way to god through work: A way for self-transcendence through working not for reward or recognition. Work is done without thought for ones self but unselfishly. Jnana or Bhakti is incorporated depending on if the path chosen is affective or reflective.

        Raja Yoga - The way to god through psychophysical exercises: achieved through psychological and physical experimentation. It is a highly focus of meditation to reach the beyond within. The theory to reach this point requires eight steps. Simply put they are, to overcome hunger, mental distractions, discomfort, drowsiness, to control ones breathing and then to turn ones attention inward. After these first five steps then one must relax or focus the mind until one reaches a deep meditation state and then final the step of oneness.

        Which Yoga: of the four summarize defined above and being put in the position that one has to be chosen, I believe that the yoga that comes closest to define myself is the Jnana Yoga. Although I don't follow or believe in any specific religion can relate to the idea that an individual and...