The Journey Inward - 3 Gates, 1 Path
The Journey Inward
3 Gates, 1 Path
The Journey Inward
Every journey has a start, an end and the path.
The journey inward is no different—except here, the path is often mistaken for the goal.
The end destination in spirituality is the same for all those who take this journey.
The path too, though appearing different merge and become one on the journey.
Only the start, can be different.
Wisdom from Bhagavad Geetā
Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Geetā describes the 3 yoga - Jñāna, Karma & Bhakti.
Each yoga has been elaborately discussed along with the path and the end destination.
Yoga essentially is the union with Self, Universe, Divine (depending on which path you start with).
It is effectively the start, the path and the end of the journey.
Which simply means, the intent before starting the path, the path itself and the end result achieved are unified.
The Misunderstood Paths
When I started my inward journey, I started with Bhakti. Following the rituals, prayers, worship, etc. But I still felt the void. There was restlessness inside.
I turned to Jñāna to quench my intrigue, and found many answers to my questions. But somehow the knowledge started filling me with pride. I started looking at others with pity and doubt.
This made me more confused.
Bhakti is accessible, but did not give answers.
Jñāna gave answers, but did not make me humble.
I started writing down my experiences from my journey. Not to be shared, but to clarify my own doubts. Is Bhakti right or Jñāna illuminating?
I walked both paths hoping to find clarity. And that’s when I realised that both paths lead into each other. Only the start is different, but the paths eventually merge and lead to same Truth.
I thought that Karma is action. But Sri Krishna himself says in Bhagavad Geetā that the Prakriti (creation) is always changing and hence nothing or no one in this creation can ever be without action.
This made me wonder what is Karma exactly?
Deeper study of Bhagavad Geetā and listening to spiritual gurus helped me distinguish Kriyā from Karma and understand Karma Yoga better.
Today, I share these learnings, not as a Kriyā or Karma, but as my Karma Yoga.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti is the most commonly practiced and preached yoga in India.
Many find it accessible and convenient to follow, because of the cultural and traditional background.
But what appears as Bhakti is only the external rituals and religion. Not the essence of Bhakti.
Merely imitating won’t take us anywhere.
Bhakti in its true essence is much more deeper than just external acts.
Love is the foundation of Bhakti. In Bhakti, a devotee does everything to please the Divine, without asking anything in return.
The Navadhā Bhakti described in Sirmad Bhāgavat Mahāpurāṇ, starts with hearing the Divines names and glories and ends with complete surrender to the Divine, clearly depicting the process of love in 9 steps.
श्रवणं कीर्तनं विष्णोः स्मरणं पादसेवनम्
अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यं सख्यम आत्मनिवेदनम्
(SB 7.5.23)
These nine steps of Navadha Bhakti are:
- Shravaṇam – Hearing the names and glories of the Lord
- Kirtanam – Chanting His glories
- Smaraṇam – Remembering the Lord
- Pāda Sevanam – Serving the Lord’s feet
- Archanam – Worshiping the Lord
- Vandanam – Offering obeisance unto the Lord
- Dāsyam – Serving the Lord as His servant
- Sakhyam – Developing friendship with the Lord
- Ātma Nivedanam – Total surrender of oneself to the Lord
Rituals and religion are just a part of this nine step Bhakti and do not describe it completely.
I have shared my thoughts on total surrender in my blog on Ṣharaṇāgati.
You can read it here:
https://practicalgyaan09.blogspot.com/2025/06/sharanagati-surrender-to-divine.html
Jñāna Yoga
Jñāna is the direct path to Truth.
Truth is eternal and ever present. When we enquire with sincerity, we remove the layers of
ignorance, revealing the truth eventually.
Jñāna is usually preferred by the intellectually inclined. Those who have lot of questions, who are inquisitive.
Sāmkhya Yoga and Advaita Vedānta are the popular streams for those who follow Jñāna Yoga.
But knowledge has a tendency to inflate the ego, and that becomes a major obstacle in this yoga.
When knowledge is sought to challenge or to negate, it inflates ego.
Many seekers on this path struggle with ego and do not realise Truth, though in sight.
Knowledge sought with open mind brings humility
विद्यां ददाति विनयं,
विनयाद् याति पात्रताम्।
पात्रत्वात् धनमाप्नोति,
धनात् धर्मं ततः सुखम्॥
Vidyāṁ dadāti vinayaṁ,
vinayād yāti pātratām।
pātratvāt dhanam āpnoti,
dhanāt dharmaṁ tataḥ sukham॥
"Knowledge gives humility. Humility brings worthiness. Worthiness brings wealth. Wealth enables Dharma. And from Dharma comes happiness."
Karma Yoga
Karma is practically what we do every day - eating, sleeping, working, talking, etc.
Each of these activities we perform to satisfy our desires or wishes.
Action which is not laced with any intent or desire is called Kriyā.
Karma Yoga is selfless action. Which simply means, action performed with intent or desire to serve the creation - humans, other living beings, nature, etc.
Actions performed to fulfil our duty is also Karma Yoga. Duty as a parent, as a son/ daughter, as a sibling, as friend, as a responsible citizen.
Some of us are inclined towards serving society and others naturally. All the social workers helping poor, needy, working for improving nature’s balance, animal welfare, etc. are in a way doing Karma Yoga.
But Karma Yoga is not a standalone path.
Even in Bhakti & Jñāna, a seeker has to follow Karma Yoga in order to achieve the end objective.
Karma Yoga in Bhakti helps the devotee to reach the end goal of Ṣharaṇāgati.
In Jñāna, Karma Yoga helps the seeker keep his ego in check.
And hence in Bhagavad Geetā, Sri Krishna emphasised on Karma Yoga and guided Arjuna to fight for Dharma (duty) as his Karma Yoga.
योगस्थ: कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय |
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्यो: समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते || BG 2.48||
yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate
Be steadfast in the performance of your duty, O Arjun, abandoning attachment to success and failure. Such equanimity is called Yoga.
3 Gates but 1 Path
While Bhakti, Jñāna and Karma can be 3 different starting points in the journey inward, they eventually merge and become one path leading to the same ultimate Truth.
Bhakti starts with belief and ends in knowledge.
Jñāna starts with knowledge and ends in belief.
But both these paths involve Karma Yoga - the path of selfless action.
When belief matures into knowing, and knowledge humbles into surrender, and action becomes effortless service—what remains is Silence, Presence, Truth.
There is no Bhakta, Jñāni, or Karma Yogi left. Only the One that was walking all along.
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