1. Raja - (Meditative) - this is the path of meditation & direct inner experience.

2. Jnana (Knowledge) - the path of knowledge & understanding.

3. Karma (Service) - the path of good works and deeds (for example Mother Theresa more of Karma type).

4. Bhakti (Devotion) - the path of devotion, love & continual thought of the Absolute.

DIFFERENT PATHS FOR DIFFERENT TEMPERAMENTS

Everyone has a different nature, and therefore each person will find it easier initially to progress on the spiritual path in accord with their inherent nature.

A practical person will gravitate more towards Karma, a cerebral type towards Jnana, an emotionally natured person would lean more towards Bhakti, whereas the introspective contemplative type would fare better with Raja. Progress on one naturally affects development of the other three within the aspirant, since the end of one is the same end of the other three - the One Absolute.

No one path is ideal for everyone since everyone has a different temperament, inherent tendencies, etc. All of the top 4 paths will lead one to realization of the Absolute within, each has it's benefit's and difficulties.

Ultimately the goal is to embody all 4 in harmony, however - it is always easiest to start with the one closest to one's natural inherent nature, it will not be good for an emotional person to walk the path of knowledge initially just as initially it will be equally futile for the cerebral rational man to initially walk down the path of devotion.

Development on one path naturally effects development in the form of a flowering within the heart for the other 3 paths, since the end of each path is the same end of the others.

Worship, service, knowledge or meditation, each leads to the end of the other three since they all have their origin in the One Creator, just as many spokes in a wheel all lead and ultimately merge in the One Hub in the center of the wheel of existence.

Again - although at the beginning it's easier to focus on the path closer to one's inherent nature, the ideal at the end is to embody a balance of all four.

(by Pardeep Singh)