Para-vidya (Spiritual Science) and the Bhagavad Gita
In the grand architecture of human knowledge, Swami Vivekananda distinguished between the science of the external world and the science of the inner self. While Western materialist sciences excel in Apara-vidya (lower or objective knowledge), the Bhagavad Gita serves as a definitive manual for Para-vidya (higher or spiritual science).
This "Science of the Soul" does not rely on telescopes or microscopes but on the disciplined mind and the philosophy of Yoga.
As explained by expert Pedro Nonell, the Gita is not merely a religious text but a Moksha Shastra—a scientific treatise on liberation—designed to guide the seeker from the illusion of the "field" to the realization of the "knower," leading to the ultimate goal of God-realization.
How to study the Bhagavad Gita
The Distinction between Objective and Subjective Reality.
For Swami Vivekananda, Western materialistic sciences are about objective reality, that is, what one sees, perceives, and experiences. The so-called Spiritual Science in the Upanishads, cultivated in India, deals with subjective reality.
The knowledge of the objective reality, the body (Shetra), is Apara-vidya, and Para-vidya is the realization of the Knower, the Self, the Atman (Self-knowledge).
There are three verses from the Bhagavad Gita that will help us better understand this concept:
“Sri Krishna: That which in this body is called the Witness, the Author, the Sustainer, the Experiencer, the Great Lord and also the Supreme Atman, is the Supreme Person” Bhagavad Gita 13 (Yoga of the Distinction between the Field and the Knower of the Field)-2 3
Gita 6 (Yoga of Meditation)-29
The East has cultivated the science of Para-vidya, while the West, the science of Apara-vidya.
The Bhagavad Gita as a Moksha Shastra (Science of Liberation).
The Bhagavad Gita is above all a Moksha Shastra, a book of liberation and Self-Knowledge, it is ultimately the study of the Science of the soul, of our immortal part; and also of the philosophy of Yoga (Yoga Sutras of Patanjali).
“Sri Krishna: A firm conviction about the nature of the Atman (self-knowledge), perception of the goal of knowledge of Truth. All this is Knowledge and the opposite is ignorance.” Bhagavad Gita 13-13
The online study of the Bhagavad Gita - Para-vidya (higher knowledge) - requires a different methodology than study of any other subject - Apara-vidya - (economics, design, engineering and even Asanas).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between Apara-vidya and Para-vidya?
Apara-vidya refers to "lower knowledge" or the study of the material, objective world (sciences, arts, economics). Para-vidya is "higher knowledge," focusing on the subjective reality of the soul and the realization of God.
Why is the Bhagavad Gita called a "Spiritual Science"?
Because it provides a systematic methodology for studying the internal world. Just as physics has laws for matter, the Gita provides laws for the mind and spirit to achieve liberation (Moksha).
Do I need to believe in a religion to study this science?
No. As a science of the soul, Para-vidya is about self-observation and realization. It is a universal philosophy of Yoga that explores the nature of human existence regardless of religious dogma.
Who is the "Knower of the Field"?
In the Gita, the "Field" (Kshetra) is the body and the material world. The "Knower" (Kshetrajna) is the Atman or the Witnessing Consciousness that resides within but is distinct from the material body.
Conclusion
The study of Para-vidya through the Bhagavad Gita offers a profound balance to our modern preoccupation with the external world. By recognizing the "Knower of the Field," we shift our focus from temporary material experiences to the eternal reality of the Atman.
This spiritual science, championed by Swami Vivekananda and masterfully taught by Pedro Nonell, provides the necessary tools for self-liberation and mental peace.
Ultimately, the Gita proves that the greatest discovery one can make is not in the stars or deep oceans, but within the silent depths of one's own soul, leading to a direct experience of God.
Para-Vidya (ciencia espiritual) y Gita 
Para-Vidya (Ciência spiritual) and Bhagavad-Gita.
Listen to the Bhagavad Gita Recitation in Spanish
Listen to the video of Pedro Nonell with English subtitles
Versions, Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, General overview, modalities, chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, reading, one to one, Exercises, Teachers
- Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita
- Chain of knowledge transmission of the Bhagavad Gita
- Spirituality, religion and the Bhagavad Gita
- Do you need to believe in anything to benefit from the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita
- Do we have to accept any dogma in the Bhagavad Gita
(c) Gita Institute & Pedro Nonell
