View source for Jñāna

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{{short description|"Knowledge" in Indian philosophy and religion}}

In [[Indian philosophy]] and [[Indian religions|religions]], '''''{{IAST|jñāna}}''''' ({{lang-sa|ज्ञान|}}, {{IPA-sa|ˈdʑɲaːnɐ|}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/gyan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708015215/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/gyan |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |title=Gyan – definition of ''gyan'' in English |website=[[Oxford Dictionaries (website)|Oxford Dictionaries]] |access-date=2016-08-23}}</ref>{{efn|{{IAST|Jñāna}} is also often transliterated into English as ''jnana'', ''jnan'', ''gyana'', ''gyan'', or ''gyaan''.}} is "knowledge".

The idea of ''jñāna'' centers on a cognitive event which is recognized when experienced. It is knowledge inseparable from the total experience of reality, especially the total or divine reality ([[Brahman]]).<ref name="brittanica on gyana">{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/jnana |title=jnana (Indian religion) |publisher=Britannica Online Encyclopedia |access-date=2012-05-15 }}</ref> 

The root ज्ञा- ''[[:wikt:ज्ञान|jñā-]]'' is cognate to Slavic [[:wikt:znati|znati]], English ''[[:wikt:know|know]]'', as well as to the Greek [[:wikt:γιγνώσκω|γνώ-]] (as in γνῶσις ''[[gnosis]]'') and Lithuanian [[:wikt:žinoti|žinoti]]. Its antonym is अज्ञान ''ajñāna'' "ignorance".

== Etymology ==
''Jñāna'' sometimes transcribed as ''gyaan'', means "[[knowledge]]" in [[Sanskrit]]. The root jñā- is cognate to English ''know'', as well as to the Greek γνώ- (as in γνῶσις ''[[gnosis]]''). Its antonym is ''ajñāna'' "ignorance".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Apte |first=Vaman Shivram |title=The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary |publisher=Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |year=1965 |isbn=81-208-0567-4 |pages=457}}</ref>

==In Buddhism==
{{Buddhism}}
In [[Tibetan Buddhism]], ''jñāna'' (Tibetan: ''ye shes'') refers to pure awareness that is free of conceptual encumbrances, and is contrasted with ''[[vijnana|vijñana]]'', which is a moment of 'divided knowing'. Entrance to, and progression through the ten stages of ''jñana (''Bodhisattva bhumi''s)'', will lead one to complete [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|enlightenment]] and [[nirvana]].<ref>Gampopa's "Jewel Ornament of Liberation", especially the ten bhumis, where the absorption state or non-dual state, which characterizes all ten bhumis, in this well-respected traditional text, is equated to the state of ''jnana''</ref>

In [[Theravada]] Buddhism there are various [[Vipassanā-ñāṇa|''vipassana''-''ñanas'']] or "insight knowledges" on the path of insight into the true nature of reality.<ref name="ReferenceA">The Progress of Insight: (Visuddhiñana-katha), by The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, translated from the Pali with Notes by Nyanaponika Thera (1994; 33pp./99KB)</ref> As a person meditates these ''ñanas'' or "knowledges" will be experienced in order. The experience of each may be brief or may last for years and the subjective intensity of each is variable. Each ''ñana'' could also be considered a ''jhāna'' although many are not stable and the mind has no way to remain embedded in the experience. Experiencing all the ''ñanas'' will lead to the first of the [[Four stages of enlightenment]] then the cycle will start over at a subtler level.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
==In Hinduism==
{{Hindu philosophy}}
===Vedanta===
[[Mahāvākyas#Prajñānam Brahma|Prajñānam Brahma]] (प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म), one of the [[Mahāvākyas]], roughly means "Insight is Brahman" or "Brahman is Insight".{{sfn|Sahu|2004|p=41}}

===Yoga===
[[Jnana yoga|Jñāna yoga]] (ज्ञानयोग, lit. Yoga of Knowledge) is one of the three main paths (मार्ग, ''[[Sadhana|margas]]''), which are supposed to lead towards ''[[moksha]]'' (मोक्ष, liberation) from material miseries. The other two main paths are [[Karma yoga]] and [[Bhakti Yoga|Bhakti yoga]]. [[Rāja yoga]] (राजयोग, classical yoga) which includes several yogas, is also said to lead to ''moksha''. It is said that each path is meant for a different temperament of personality.

== In Jainism ==
{{Main|Jain epistemology}}
According to the Jain texts like [[Tattvārthsūtra]] and [[Sarvārthasiddhi]], knowledge is of five kinds:<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details|title=Reality_JMT|last=Jain|first=S.A.|year=1992|publisher=Jwalamalini Trustp=16}}</ref>
* Mati Jñāna (Sensory Knowledge)
* Śruta Jñāna (Scriptural Knowledge)
* Avadhi Jñāna (Clairvoyance)
* Manah prayāya Jñāna (Telepathy)
* [[Kevala Jnana]] (Omniscience)

== In Sikhism ==
''Gyan'' or ''Gian'' refers to spiritual knowledge. Learned people are often referred to as "Giani". It is mentioned throughout the [[Guru Granth Sahib]].

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Advaita Vedanta]]
* [[Mysticism]]
* [[Nondualism]]
* [[Vidya (philosophy)]]
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* Anna Dallapiccola, ''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}})
* {{Citation | last =Loy | first =David | year =1997 | title =Nonduality. A Study in Comparative Philosophy | publisher =Humanity Books}} 
* {{Citation | last =Sahu | first =Bhagirathi | year =2004 | title =The New Educational Philosophy | publisher =Sarup & Sons}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/jnana/index.html Jnana definition and other relevant text]
* [http://www.jiva.org/what-is-jnana/ What Is Jnana?] (Jiva Institute)

{{Philosophy topics}}
{{Buddhism topics}}

[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Knowledge]]
[[Category:Spiritual faculties]]
[[Category:Concepts in epistemology]]
[[Category:Vedanta]]
[[Category:Yoga concepts]]
[[Category:Buddhist philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]