Gnana means knowledge, and knowledge is of three kinds
1. Paasa Gnana or Knowledge of the world, made of five elements or scientific knowledge.
2. Pasu Gnana or Knowledge of the soul or knowledge of philosophy.
3. Pathi Gnana or Knowledge of Godhead or knowledge of absolute consciousness.

Scientific knowledge of the world of five elements as well as of the human body can be learnt by using our five senses and the faculty of mind.

Knowledge of the soul cannot be attained by senses or mind. It can be attained only by the soul it is called self-realization. It can be done only by activating the sleeping soul. This can be done only by going beyond the mind by some kind of Yoga or Sath Vichara known as self-inquiry.

Knowledge of God cannot be attained by human effort. Atleast this is the point of you expressed by saivism, saiva siddhantha philosophy as well as suddha sanmaarga of Vallalar. But the Godless, athestic religions such as buddhism, Jainism etc., claim it can be known by human effort.......

continued in http://vallalars.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-is-brahma-gnana.html

R.Kuppusamy

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