3 paths to self-Realization: Action, Knowledge, Faith

As per many ancient scriptures and scientists of the self there are primarily 3 paths to self-realization. the path of Karma Yog (Action), Bhakti Yog (Faith, Devotion) and Sankhya Yog (Wisdom, Knowledge). I have always been thinking which path would best suit me and I have tried doing all at times. I was on a phone call with my dad yesterday and the discussion was regarding the same dilemma Ive shared above.

Bhakti Yog (Path of Faith):  can be practiced by anyone. You dont need to be a scientist or a philosopher, nor do you need to be a Yogi having full control on his mind and body. All that you need to do in Bhakti Yog is complete surrender to your God, Nature, or whoever you consider having absolute power. Bhakti Yog can easily be misunderstood to be “blind-faith” which in reality it is not; and here’s the real deal… even if it is blind it still bears fruits that are conducive to the individual’s progress on spiritual evolution. Its power of the devotee thats the driving force and not the power of the one he/she is devoted to.

Karma Yog (Path of Action): is the path where the individual is fully devoted to his/her action (duty). He may or may not believe in any higher self. He only believes in righteous action and does it without the desire for gaining anything in return. Usually, Karma Yogi’s are misunderstood to be people who are workaholics and with a passion to acquire power, fame, money, health etc. If you find someone who is dedicated to action but with the seed of desire to acquire one of those things then he/she is not a Karma Yogi. A true karma yogi will only do action without the desire for the fruit of action.

Sankhya Yog (Path of Knowledge) is the path of knowledge. The sankhya yogi is the true scientist who runs his experiments using his senses by using the knowledge from ancient scriptures. he understands the reality of the self with his intellect and reasoning. For someone to walk this path it requires a lot of perseverance, maturity and dedication. A sankhya yogi can easily be confused with scientists who run experiments using fancy scientific apparatus and instruments. A true sankhya yogi uses the best instrument in the world his/her own body, mind and intellect to practice his experiments and convert the knowledge he has acquired from his study of scriptures into experiential wisdom.

So, which is the best of all the 3 paths? Is it possible to walk more than one path? Do all of them lead us to the same goal? These are all good questions and may have various answers depending upon the individual’s place in the evolutionary path.

My observation has been that every path once walked upon will bring the goodness of other paths along the way. A karma yogi is doing nothing else but putting his devotion (bhakti) in his action. A sankhya yogi is doing nothing but putting his karma (action) into acquiring knowledge and using karma to transom that knowledge into wisdom. And they both karma yogi and sankhya yogi are devoted to their paths (Bhakti Yog).

In essence the three paths may seem to be different to start off with but they all merge into the path of devotion (bhakti) which ultimately leads to complete surrender to the higher self that brings wonderment and ultimate liberation.