The four paths of Yoga are:
Karma Yoga – the yoga of action, the path of selfless service
Bhakti Yoga – the yoga of devotion
Raja Yoga – the yoga of mind control, the scientific approach
Jnana Yoga – the yoga of knowledge, the philosophical approach

KARMA YOGA
This path involves the dedication of all work as an offering to God, with no thought of personal reward. A karma yogi attempts to see the Lord dwelling in all living beings. By renouncing the fruits of one’s action, the action becomes unselfish. By not thinking of our own personal needs and desires, and by trying to help everybody around us, including human beings, animals, the planet and the whole world, the heart is expanded, egoism destroyed, and One-ness realised.

Karma yoga can be practiced at all times, under all conditions, anywhere there is a desire to do selfless service (home, office, construction side, or ashram).

BHAKTI YOGA
Bhakti is the devotional approach of yoga, the approach of pure love. In this Kali Yoga, bhakti is seen as the surest, safest and easiest form of yoga to practice. The bhakta does not try to rid himself of emotions, but seeks to channel and harness the emotions by sublimating them into devotion. The aspirant treading the path of bhakti attempts to realise the Truth by devotion to and love of God in a personalized form. This is Ishwara, the Ishta-devata.

Prayer, chanting, japa (repeating a mantra or name of God), hearing or telling stories of God and saints, puja, ceremonies and rituals are the basic techniques of bhakti. A mystical relationship with God (who may be seen as a friend, a child, a mother or teacher) is sought and developed. Bhakti yoga rids the aspirant of emotions and egocentricity and developing humility, self-surrender and the feeling of being an instrument in the hands of God.

There are four times when people tend to turn to devotion.

1. Those in distress, when all else has failed, turn to God as their final refuge.
2. Curiosity is another impetus.
3. Those having the desire for gain, whether it is gaining love, knowledge or wealth. God is petitioned as a benevolent parent who will grant all favours if approached with love and devotion.
4. The highest bhakta is selfless, with the simple desire to love and serve God. Only with this attitude will the ego disappear.

The danger in bhakti is that the devotee may become fanatical. Although all religions teach that there is one God, each person may have that tendency to believe that only his/her personal relationship with God is the (only) correct one.

RAJA YOGA
This is the scientific, step-by-step approach to yoga. Systematically the mind is analysed. Techniques are applied to bring it under control and to achieve higher states of consciousness. In the two sub-paths of raja yoga, i.e. hatha yoga and kundalini yoga, the prana (life force) is mastered first, and the dormant kundalini energy is awakened. Then the mind comes under control automatically.

JNANA YOGA
This is the most direct of the four paths. It is the intellectual approach to spiritual evolution. Through right inquiry (vichara) and constant self-analysis (viveka – discrimination), the mind is used to examine its own nature. Jnana yoga is said to be the most difficult path, not because it is superior, but because one must be firmly grounded in the other disciplines before attempting it. A sharp, keen intellect, unclouded by emotions, is necessary.

Through the study of Vedanta philosophy, the jnani tries to learn to discriminate between what is finite, and therefore unreal, and the infinite. Dispassion (vairagya) is then developed. Vedanta maintains that liberation cannot be attained by ritual, action, duty or charity – only through personal intuitive experience.
Vedanta philosophy has a triple basis – in scripture, reason and experience. But it is not a matter of blind faith. While vedantins take the scriptures as their authority, they must analyse and understand all of the teachings using their own intellect. However, the intellect can explain and understand only the finite. After exhausting, through the process of discrimination and negation, all that is unreal, the intellect too must be discarded. Only the experience of the Real remains to be had. This is Self-realisation.

The jnani is always in danger of becoming proud of the intellectual powers which he has developed. In order to keep a balance and avoid the risk of becoming a dry intellectual, it is advisable to balance jnana with bhakti.

The above are the 4 paths of Yoga.

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