Gyana or Jyana means "wisdom/knowledge" . Gyana Yoga is the path where reality is discovered through insight, practice and knowledge.
Gnana Yoga is the intellectual path of scriptures and self-study, considered to be one of the most direct and yet challenging means of spiritual development.
Gnana yoga involves the progressive study of the scriptures, it is not solely theoretical, encompassing the practical, experiential knowledge which stems from meditation training.
Gyan or the spiritual knowledge is not the the same thing as philosophical musings or scientific statements. Whereas the knowledge of any other discipline relates only to the subject matter of that particular branch of knowledge, the truth of spirit relates to whole of the existence. It is not the knowledge which is pursued for the sake of power and pelf ; but it is the wisdom the aim of which is to realise the ultimate truth.
Wisdom is not something which is to be acquired. It is inherent in the self. But it remains covered by avidya, the ignorance. The aim of gyan yoga is to pierce the veil of this ignorance. It is not soul but the mind which has to overcome the ignorance and let the wisdom of the soul be revealed. Once the ignorance is overcome, wisdom of the soul shines like a self-luminous source of light. When one experiences such wisdom, he is united with the Supreme.
While experiencing the mortal world, the immortal soul is deluded by the three modes of material nature. He is attracted by objects of the physical world and gets entangled in them. As a result, he forgets his essential nature. He forgets that he is an eternal fragment of the Supreme.
Yogapedia explains Jnana Yoga
Jnana yoga is essentially a deep inquiry to the nature of the Self. The intention when practicing Jnana yoga is to use the mind to understand and uncover the truth behind the mind. Simply accepting dogmatic teaching is not enough according to Jnana yoga, and as such, practitioners must seek an experiential knowledge of the Divine, universal consciousness or absolute Truth. In this sense, Jnana yoga moves beyond intellect and requires the mind to be both rational and open.
In addition to its roots in the Bhagavad Gita, Jnana yoga is highlighted by the non-dualistic tradition of Advaita Vedanta philosophy. According to this school of thought, the knowledge acquired through meditation brings an understanding of one's self (atman) as identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman). Experiencing this is believed to dissolve the illusion of a separate sense of Self, ultimately leading to liberation from suffering. there are four Major pillars and three core practices of Gyana Yoga as follow:
Four pillars of Gyana Yoga:
After successfully practicing these four pillars, a practitioner is considered ready to begin the three core practices of Jnana Yoga those are as follow:
To conclude, when one obtains equanimous wisdom, he is liberated from the bondage of works. He gains complete self-awareness. As a result, insight of the soul is born and the apparent ego merges with the divine consciousness. The soul is united again with the Supersoul. One then experiences the presence of the indwelling God. One becomes the master of his life.