Mahavir Jain

Hari Om! Jnanam means both Consciousness and the qualities of Amanitvam, Adambitvam etc.

Jnanam (Consciousness) can seem abstract and separate from me. To dispel that, Jneyam is said i.e. that which ought to be known as one’s own Self – Aham Brahmasmi, or Keshtrajna as in earlier verses.

That identity cannot be realized without the qualities, which are also called Jnanam because pursuing or possessing those qualities is what enables realization of this identity between Brahman and Self.

To state that this realization of identity is by knowledge, not action, nor intellectual understanding, it is said Jnana Gamyam i.e. this realization can only be gained by knowledge that Self and Brahman are one and the same.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Mahavir Jain.

Hari Om!

Generally speaking, whoever urges us to take up the spiritual path, and enables us to stay on it is a Guru. So Guru is a principle, not a person.

More specifically, the spiritual path was outlined by Swamiji in Chapter 3.

It involves the following steps:
Practice Karma Yoga to gain Chitta Shuddhi (purity of mind), Sadhana Chatushtay (four fold qualifications), Vividisha Sannyasa which includes Guru Upasadana (approaching Guru), Shravanam (listening), Mananam (contemplation), Nididhyasanam (Meditation), Tattva Jnana (Gaining supreme knowledge), Vidvat Sannyasa which includes (Samadhi Abhyasa, Vasana Kshaya), and, Jivan Mukti, Videha Mukti.

So, meeting Guru happens in the step of Vividisha Sannyasa. But that happens only after the seeker has purified the mind and has gained the necessary qualities of Sadhana Chatushtaya.

Once seeker becomes eligible, this meeting with Guru is arranged by the Lord. So it is necessary and sufficient for seekers to make themselves eligible for Guru. Then Guru comes in one’s life.