The Connection
Although we tend to look at the surface of cultural expression in the world and see distinct traditions, we are talking about human concepts from a shared experience. We should therefore not be surprised that humanity shares basic concepts despite superficially being very diverse.
Four concepts—the way of knowledge, the way of action, the way of devotion, and the way of meditation—are often considered key spiritual paths in most philosophical and religious traditions. Looking at the oldest traditions, first Hinduism, they each represent different approaches to spiritual growth and the pursuit of ultimate truth or enlightenment. Many will seem very familiar.
- The Way of Knowledge (Jnana Yoga, Sophia in Greek, Sapientia in Latin)
This path emphasizes the pursuit of wisdom and self-realization through intellectual understanding and inner reflection. It involves studying sacred texts, engaging in philosophical inquiry, and gaining insight into the true nature of reality (often seen as realizing the unity between the self and the divine or ultimate truth).
This is often considered the most challenging of the paths because it requires a deep, often abstract, understanding of metaphysical truths. Practitioners question the nature of the self, the universe, and existence, seeking to transcend illusion (maya) and realize ultimate knowledge (Brahman or universal consciousness in Hindu philosophy).
Its key traits are discrimination, reasoning, and self-inquiry (often referred to as “Who am I?” questioning).
- The Way of Action (Karma Yoga, arete [Gr.] and virtus [Latin])
This path emphasizes selfless action and duty without attachment to the outcomes. It involves living in the world and doing one’s duties with integrity, but without being bound by the fruits of those actions.
It is rooted in the idea that through dedicated, ethical work and service to others, one can purify the mind and align oneself with a higher purpose. This path allows individuals to live fully in the world yet remain detached from selfish desires or the ego’s impulses.
Its key traits are selfless service, detachment from results, and duty.
- The Way of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga)
This path is centred on love and devotion to a personal god or the divine. It involves surrendering oneself entirely to a higher power, often through prayer, ritual, and emotional connection with the divine.
Bhakti practitioners channel their emotions and love towards their chosen deity (such as Krishna, Vishnu, or Shiva in Hinduism), seeing all aspects of life as an expression of divine will. This path is accessible to all, regardless of intellectual or spiritual aptitude, because it focuses on the purity of heart and the longing for a deep relationship with the divine.
Its key traits are devotion, surrender, love, and faith.
- The Way of Meditation (Raja Yoga or Dhyana Yoga)
This path emphasizes mental discipline and the control of consciousness through meditation and other mental practices. It is often associated with controlling the mind and senses to reach higher states of consciousness and ultimately achieve spiritual liberation (moksha).
Raja Yoga often involves systematic practices such as breath control (pranayama), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and the eventual state of union or absorption (samadhi). This path requires intense discipline and focus, gradually leading the practitioner to inner peace and self-realization.
Its key traits are concentration, meditation, self-control, and inner stillness.
To sum up, we can say that in Hinduism …
- The Way of Knowledge (Jnana Yoga) focuses on intellectual understanding and self-realization through wisdom.
- The Way of Action (Karma Yoga) emphasizes selfless service and fulfilling one’s duties without attachment to outcomes.
- The Way of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga) is about surrendering oneself to the divine through love and devotion.
- The Way of Meditation (Raja Yoga or Dhyana Yoga) involves mental discipline and meditation to achieve spiritual growth and peace.
However, these four paths—knowledge, action, devotion, and meditation—can also be found in the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), though they may be expressed in different ways or emphasized differently depending on the tradition.
- The Way of Knowledge
- In Judaism, the way of knowledge could be likened to Torah study and the pursuit of wisdom. Engaging with the Torah, Talmud, and other sacred texts is considered a path to understanding God’s will, the nature of existence, and the moral order of the universe.
- In Christianity, the pursuit of knowledge may be seen through theological study, contemplation of scripture, and understanding the nature of Christ and God. For example, contemplative traditions in Christianity, such as those found in monastic life, emphasize knowing God through reflection on scripture and doctrine.
- In Islam, 'Ilm (knowledge) is highly valued, and studying the Qur’an, Hadith, and Islamic law is seen as a way to gain both intellectual and spiritual wisdom. Islamic scholars (ulema) dedicate themselves to the pursuit of this knowledge to better understand and practice the faith.
In all three, knowledge is connected to understanding the divine will, and the more one knows, the better they can live a righteous life in accordance with God’s laws.
- The Way of Action
- The way of action is central to Judaism through the practice of mitzvot (commandments). Living according to the laws in the Torah—rituals, ethics, and social justice—is a path to holiness. Actions are not just practical but are spiritual practices in themselves.
- Christianity also has a strong emphasis on action through good works, charity, and service. In many Christian traditions, living out one’s faith through acts of compassion, love for others, and fulfilling one’s responsibilities is a form of devotion to God.
- In Islam, action is key through the practice of the Five Pillars (Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj). Fulfilling one’s duties—like prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage—are seen as acts of obedience to God’s commands.
In Abrahamic religions, action is often tied to fulfilling God’s commandments or the moral obligations that are part of being in a covenant relationship with God.
- The Way of Devotion
- In Judaism, devotion manifests in both prayer and ritual observance. The Shema (“Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One”) is an expression of deep devotion to God, and various prayers and blessings said throughout the day are expressions of love and devotion.
- Christianity places a major emphasis on personal devotion to Christ and God. This is seen in prayers, worship, and the sacramental life (e.g., communion, baptism). In traditions such as Evangelical Christianity, personal devotion and a direct relationship with Jesus is central.
- In Islam, the way of devotion is found in the remembrance of God (dhikr), regular prayer (Salah), and acts of worship that express love for and submission to Allah. Sufi traditions within Islam emphasize a deep, personal connection with God, often through practices of devotion and love for the divine.
Devotion in these religions is about developing a personal relationship with God, surrendering to divine will, and expressing love and reverence through prayer and worship.
- The Way of Meditation
- While not as emphasized as in Eastern traditions, Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) includes meditative practices aimed at experiencing God’s presence directly. Hitbodedut, a practice in Hasidic Judaism, is a form of personal prayer and meditation in which one reflects on God.
- The way of meditation is present in Christian mysticism and contemplative traditions such as those found in monasticism (e.g., Lectio Divina, centering prayer). Mystics like St. John of the Cross or St. Teresa of Ávila practiced deep meditation and contemplation to seek union with God.
- In Islam, particularly within Sufism, meditation (muraqaba) is a core practice. It involves focusing the mind and heart on God, often through repetitive prayer, breath control, or reflection on the divine names. Sufi orders practice various forms of meditation to attain closeness to God.
While more prominent in the mystical branches of these religions, meditation is used as a means to connect more deeply with God, silence the mind, and enter into direct communion with the divine.
In summary, the Abrahamic religions, the four paths manifest with different emphases:
- The way of knowledge appears in the intellectual pursuit of understanding divine law and theology.
- The way of action focuses on fulfilling God’s commandments and performing righteous deeds.
- The way of devotion emphasizes loving, worshipping, and submitting to God through prayer and ritual.
- The way of meditation is present in mystical and contemplative practices aimed at achieving direct communion with God.
While the Abrahamic faiths tend to emphasize action and devotion more prominently, particularly in their mainstream forms, the contemplative and intellectual aspects are also present, especially in mystical and scholarly traditions.
But not only that. The four paths—knowledge, action, devotion, and meditation—can also be identified in Greek and Roman culture, even if they were expressed differently within the context of philosophy, religion, and civic life. No wonder that Christianity and Judaism were highly influenced by these cultures into which they were mixed.
- The Way of Knowledge (Epistemé or Sophia)
- In Greek philosophy, the pursuit of knowledge, or sophia (wisdom), was central, especially in the Socratic and Platonic traditions. Philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle emphasized the importance of understanding reality, the nature of the self, and the cosmos. Plato’s theory of the Forms, for instance, was an intellectual quest to grasp eternal truths beyond the material world. Stoicism and Epicureanism also valued knowledge as a way to understand the world and achieve a good life.
- Roman philosophers such as Cicero and Seneca, influenced by the Greeks, similarly valued the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Stoicism, which was popular in Roman culture, taught that wisdom (and rationality) is the key to living in accordance with nature and achieving inner peace (ataraxia).
The pursuit of philosophical wisdom was seen as the highest good in both Greek and Roman culture, especially for those who sought to understand the deeper truths of existence and human nature.
- The Way of Action (Ethos or Virtus)
- In ancient Greece, ethos (character or virtue) and the concept of arete (excellence) were deeply connected to action. For the Greeks, especially in Aristotelian ethics, living a virtuous life required taking action according to reason and fulfilling one’s duties as a citizen. The Homeric epics also emphasized action, as heroes like Achilles and Odysseus were defined by their deeds, bravery, and adherence to their duties, even in the face of challenges.
- In Roman society, virtus (virtue or excellence) was a key aspect of action, particularly as it applied to civic duty and military service. Civic responsibility and pietas (a sense of duty toward the gods, family, and state) were central values. Romans revered those who demonstrated leadership, bravery, and devotion to the republic through public service and military achievements.
Both cultures emphasized duty and action as vital for personal virtue and the health of the polis (Greek) or the res publica (Roman). Action was seen as necessary for contributing to society and living a morally upright life.
- The Way of Devotion (Eusebia or Pietas)
- The Greeks practiced devotion to the gods through rituals, sacrifices, and festivals. Eusebia (piety or reverence) was a virtue that involved fulfilling one’s duties to the gods, ancestors, and community. The religious practices of the Greeks—like those during the Eleusinian Mysteries or the worship of gods such as Zeus, Athena, or Dionysus—were expressions of devotion and submission to divine will.
- In Roman culture, pietas (piety) was one of the highest virtues, denoting a person’s devotion not only to the gods but also to the state, family, and one’s obligations. Romans believed that maintaining proper religious rituals and honoring the gods (especially through official state cults) was essential for both personal and civic well-being. For example, the worship of the genius of the emperor became an act of both civic and religious devotion.
In both Greek and Roman traditions, devotion to the gods was central to religious and civic life, but it was more ritualistic and tied to maintaining social and cosmic order than the more personal forms of devotion seen in later religious traditions.
- The Way of Meditation (Contemplation or Theoria)
- Theoria (contemplation) was an important aspect of Greek philosophy, especially in Platonism and Aristotelianism. Plato emphasized the role of contemplation in understanding the higher, non-material realities of the Forms. Aristotle considered the contemplative life (bios theōrētikos) the highest form of human existence, as it involved engaging the intellect in the search for truth and wisdom. The Stoics also practiced forms of meditation, reflecting on nature, the self, and the universe to live in harmony with the cosmos.
- Roman Stoics like Marcus Aurelius practiced a form of philosophical meditation by reflecting on ethical principles and the nature of life and death. His Meditations is an example of self-examination, reminding himself of his duties and contemplating the fleeting nature of life. Roman philosophers, like their Greek predecessors, valued contemplation as a means to achieve wisdom and personal serenity.
Admittedly, meditation and contemplation in the Greek and Roman traditions were often intellectual and philosophical, focusing on understanding truth, ethical self-reflection, but they were also concerned with aligning oneself with natural or divine order.
Therefore, we can see that even in Greek and Roman cultures, these four paths were visible in different forms, despite the accusation of “paganism” with all of the imagined horrors that were warned against but have been present in every culture, wherever we look. In fact, a modern secular society in which religion may cause contention, if we could return to these four paths, we might find ourselves aligned with the best of what humanity has produced.
If we had more people pursuing knowledge through philosophy and intellectual inquiry (Sophia in Greek thought, Sapientia in Roman thought), the pure utilisation and exploitation of natural and human resources might reduce in favour of a recognition of unity.
Every society in in need of activity such as civic duty, personal virtue (arete and virtus), and fulfilling one’s responsibilities. The loss of religious orientation was not replaced with a secular version of the four paths and rampant individualism dismisses a responsibility to the whole.
Despite the ridiculing of devotion as expressed through religious rituals, piety, and reverence for the gods, maintaining the divine and social order (Eusebia and Pietas), we find a pseudo form of devotion in secular society, often unhealthy forms that focus on human beings, who are venerated in the way that Caesar was in ancient Rome. Devotion to the principle of unity could be a healthier form.
We see meditation or contemplation returning in secular society as therapeutic for people who are suffering “the full catastrophe,” as Jon Kabat-Zinn formulated it, aimed at alleviating the suffering brought on by the stresses of modern life. It was practiced in philosophical reflection, particularly in Platonism, Stoicism, and other schools of thought, focusing on understanding the self and the cosmos (Theoria and Contemplatio). It could also help reconnect us with the deeper philosophical goal of understanding the self in relation to the cosmos.
While these paths had different names and emphases, they played similar roles in helping individuals and society strive for a balanced and virtuous life.