Can a person do both bhakti yoga and jnana yoga?

Yes, a person can practice both Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga simultaneously or at different times in their spiritual journey. In fact, many spiritual seekers combine elements of both paths to create a holistic approach to their practice.

The practice of Bhakti Yoga can help develop a deep love and connection with the divine, which can enhance one's understanding and practice of Jnana Yoga. Similarly, the practice of Jnana Yoga can provide a deeper understanding of the nature of the Self, which can enhance one's devotion and surrender in Bhakti Yoga.

Jnana and Bhakti

1. Jnana Yoga is like crossing a river by swimming. Bhakti Yoga is like crossing a river by a boat. (2) The Jnani gets knowledge by self-reliance and assertion. The Bhakta gets Darshan of God by self-surrender. (3) The Jnani asserts and expands. The Bhakta dedicates and consecrates himself to the Lord and contracts himself. Suppose there is one rupee in the body of a small circle. This rupee contracts and merges itself into the circumference. This is Bhakti. Imagine there is a two-anna piece in the centre of a circle. This coin so expands that it occupies the whole body of the circle and the circumference also. This is Jnana. (4) A Bhakta wants to eat sugar-candy. A Jnani wants to become sugar-candy itself. (5) A Bhakta is like a kitten that cries for help. A Jnani is like a baby-monkey that clings itself boldly to the mother. (6) A Bhakta gets Krama Mukti. A Jnani gets Sadyo-Mukti. (7) A Jnana Yogi exhibits Siddhis through will or Sat-Sankalpa. A Bhakta gets all the divine Aisvaryas through self-surrender and the consequent descent of Divine Grace.