The three main yogic paths specified in IB World Religions are Jnana yoga, the path of knowledge; Bhakti yoga, the path of devotion; and Karma yoga, the path of selfless action. Each offers a way toward moksha, liberation from samsara, the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation.
How the paths lead to moksha
In Hindu traditions, yoga means a disciplined spiritual path, not simply physical exercise. These paths address attachment and ignorance, which bind individuals to samsara through karma, the law of cause and effect through which actions influence reincarnation.
| Yogic path | Main method and connection to moksha |
|---|---|
| Jnana yoga | Study, meditation and insight overcome maya, the misperception associated with worldly forms. Believers seek knowledge of atman, the self or soul, and its relationship with Brahman, ultimate reality. |
| Bhakti yoga | Loving devotion toward a personal deity, such as Vishnu, Krishna or Shiva, is expressed through prayer, puja (worship), chanting and surrender. These weaken ego and attachment, with divine grace central to liberation. |
| Karma yoga | Believers fulfil dharma, religious and moral duty, without attachment to personal reward. Selfless action promotes spiritual purification rather than further bondage to samsara. |
The paths can be combined, although different sampradayas, or religious traditions, emphasize particular paths. Understandings of moksha also vary: Advaita Vedanta emphasizes realization of the unity of atman and Brahman; devotional traditions may emphasize eternal closeness to a personal deity.
A common misconception is that Karma yoga simply means accumulating “good karma.” It specifically requires selfless action and renouncing attachment to its results.
IB exam technique
For Paper 1, explain each path’s connection to liberation, relating it to the stimulus. For Paper 2, develop belief-to-practice links through study, puja or service, contextualizing examples by Hindu school or tradition.