Which Path to follow for SELF –REALISATION ?

When Lord Krishna SAYS THAT YOU CAN REACH ME THROUGH karma yoga,bhakti yoga,and gnana yoga,you have probably many questions as to which path to follow.should I follow the path of karma yoga, or should I follow the path of bhakti yoga,or should I follow the path of gnana yoga. Which path is the best?is there one path superior to the otherpath?these are daunting questions which all of us have to answer to our selves. In otherwords, we need to do some introspection , through shravanam, mananam, and nidhi dhyasana.that means , we need to do self enquiry within our selves. We need to reflect and contemplate on these three paths.. supposing we want to go to the capital of the united states ,Washington d. c. ,which is the nerve center of the entire country, is there only one path to reach the place? There are many paths to reach Washington d. c.we can reach from north, south, east,or west. Similarly, to reach the goal of eternal self,we have many paths. Next question is, is there one path superior to the otherpath? We want to follow the best path? In our discriminating power, we always want to follow the best path.. that is our nature. But lord Krishna says in bhagvag gita, that no path is superior , or inferior to the other path.all paths are equal in reaching the supreme self. Then we may say that we want to follow all the paths. That is not a bad idea. But the problem is that we all have different vasanas. We need to exhaust these vasanas.very few of us are satwic, .some of us are rajasic,and some of us are tamasic, and most of us are a combination of all the three. If I am a sudra not because of my birth,but because of my gunas, karma yoga is the best for me. If I am a Brahmana ,not because of my birth,but because of my gunas., then gnana yoga is best for me. Bhakti yoga is some thing we all have to follow. Remember always, all the paths are equal. None is superior, none is inferior. An ideal spiritual seeker follows all three in different gradations. For example,a person wakes up in the morning, takes a shower and practices bhakti yoga for half an hour. Then he goes to work wherein he practices karma yoga. When he comes home, after dinner, he reads a scripture like bhagvad gita and that is practise of gnana yoga . . if one practices these paths either single ore a combinationof all the three in different gradations, even in small measure , one can make significant progress on the road to liberation. To be spiritual, you do not have to go to Himalayan caves, or jungles,or to dip in cold waters of ganges.these paths can be followed right here. .you reflect a little, contemplate a little and meditate a little , do some devotional practices and surrender your self to god with stead fast mind and single pointed devotion. . Daily sustained effort on the spiritual path is far more important than performing great rituals,or austerities.you will encounter problems , face them courageously, without taking backward step. Take an example of a tree .the moment it sends its roots ,in to the earth, and draws its richness from it, it begins to flourish. Similarly , the moment you seek your roots in god , through any path, your personality flourishes. And you bring the best you have to all your relationships with others. And ultimately, you become aware of your true nature as that immutable ,omniscient, all-pervading pure consciousness. .

K. Eswara Dutt.