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Taking this thought further, we have re-created a very ancient version of the सर्प - सोपानं game that existed in ancient India. This was a 72 cell game board with some interesting words inscribed within each cell<ref>[[commons:File:Snakes_and_Ladders_(Game_of_Heaven_&_Hell)_Wellcome_L0035004.jpg|https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snakes_and_Ladders_(Game_of_Heaven_%26_Hell)_Wellcome_L0035004.jpg]]</ref>.  Some seemed to be moral and karmic, while others were more difficult to understand.  However, since there were multiple games designs under the name Jnana Chaupar, we decided to call this particular version ''Buddhi Yoga''.  This version is very similar to other versions like Leela, however, the contents of some of the cells are different and the way the snakes have been configured is also different.

Taking this thought further, we have re-created a very ancient version of the सर्प - सोपानं game that existed in ancient India. This was a 72 cell game board with some interesting words inscribed within each cell<ref>[[commons:File:Snakes_and_Ladders_(Game_of_Heaven_&_Hell)_Wellcome_L0035004.jpg|https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snakes_and_Ladders_(Game_of_Heaven_%26_Hell)_Wellcome_L0035004.jpg]]</ref>.  Some seemed to be moral and karmic, while others were more difficult to understand.  However, since there were multiple games designs under the name Jnana Chaupar, we decided to call this particular version ''Buddhi Yoga''.  This version is very similar to other versions like Leela, however, the contents of some of the cells are different and the way the snakes have been configured is also different.

Buddhi Yoga (Samskrit : बुद्धियोगम्) refers to the Yoga of Understanding, as explained by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. <blockquote>तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् | ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते || (Bhag. Gita. 10.10)<ref>Bhagavad Gita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 10])</ref> </blockquote>Meaning : To those who are thus in a constant union with Me, and adore Me with an intense delight of love, I give the Yoga of understanding by which they come to Me. Sri Aurobindo (Bhag. Gita. 10.10)<ref>Bhagavad Gita ([http://bhagavadgita.org.in/Chapters/10/10 Adhyaya 10])</ref>

Buddhi Yoga (Samskrit : बुद्धियोगम्) refers to the Yoga of Understanding, as explained by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. <blockquote>तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् | ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते || (Bhag. Gita. 10.10)<ref>Bhagavad Gita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 10])</ref> </blockquote>Meaning : To these who are thus in a constant union with Me, and adore Me with an intense delight of love, I give the Yoga of understanding by which they come to Me. Sri Aurobindo (Bhag. Gita. 10.10)<ref>Bhagavad Gita ([http://bhagavadgita.org.in/Chapters/10/10 Adhyaya 10])</ref>

Thus does Sri Krishna suggest the "Yoga of understanding", Buddhi Yoga to his disciples.  This design encodes our knowledge of the three main paths to moksha (मोक्षः); tantra (तन्त्रम्) or jnana (ज्ञानम्), karma (कर्म) and bhakti (भक्तिः).  The snake in last cell suggests that the game was played differently than the "race to win" game that we know today.  The rules of play as mentioned by Harish Johari in Leela and first hand encounters with some learned people in Varanasi helped in formulating the rules of play for Buddhi Yoga.     

Thus does Sri Krishna suggest the "Yoga of understanding", Buddhi Yoga to his disciples.  This design encodes our knowledge of the three main paths to moksha (मोक्षः); tantra (तन्त्रम्) or jnana (ज्ञानम्), karma (कर्म) and bhakti (भक्तिः).  The snake in last cell suggests that the game was played differently than the "race to win" game that we know today.  The rules of play as mentioned by Harish Johari in Leela and first hand encounters with some learned people in Varanasi helped in formulating the rules of play for Buddhi Yoga.     

The fundamental concepts of this "system" are beautifully encoded within the game board.  The game board itself is like a "weave" of rows and columns (warp and weft).  As the player moves her marker over the game board she almost simulates the actual shuttle that moves between the threads, landing on some and skipping others she weaves her own unique pattern, her signature maybe, on the game board.

The fundamental concepts of this "system" are beautifully encoded within the game board.  The game board itself is like a "weave" of rows and columns (warp and weft).  As the player moves her marker over the game board she almost simulates the actual shuttle that moves between the threads, landing on some and skipping others she weaves her own unique pattern, her signature maybe, on the game board.

Etymologically tantra refers to expanding beyond the material realm. Practitioners of Tantra aim to finally attain Moksha through practicing the highest vidya (विद्या)<ref>Tantrics seek liberation in the world, not from the world, ([https://yogainternational.com/article/view/understanding-tantric-philosophy Pt. Rajmani Tigunait])</ref>.   

Etymologically tantra refers to expanding beyond the material realm. Practitioners of Tantra aim to finally attain moksha through practicing the highest vidya (विद्या)<ref>Tantrics seek liberation in the world, not from the world, ([https://yogainternational.com/article/view/understanding-tantric-philosophy Pt. Rajmani Tigunait])</ref>.   

== Game Board ==

=== Game Board ===

The words on the game board are also beautifully arranged to embed within them the foundations of the path of knowledge, and inspire the player to inquire and "insplore" (search within).  

The words on the game board are also beautifully arranged to embed within them the foundations of the path of knowledge, and inspire the player to inquire and "insplore" (search within).  

For example, the cells of jnana and suvidya are on opposite ends of the first row of vaanaprastha.  While suvidya takes the player directly to rudraloka the abode of Shiva, jnana takes the player to anandaloka revealing to him the sat-chit-ananda nature of the brahman.  Just above suvidya is viveka.  This arrangement reminds the player of the belief in the kaula tradition that there are two paths to knowledge, that of ''gyaana'' which is gained through ''shabda'' and that of ''viveka'' which is gained through insight from within<ref>Shaktism, ([[wikipedia:Jnana_yoga|Jnana Yoga]])</ref>.  There are many such interesting patterns on the board game which the curious player can explore.

For example, the cells of ''jnana'' and ''suvidya'' are on opposite ends of the first row of ''vanaprastha''.  While suvidya takes the player directly to rudraloka the abode of Shiva, jnana takes the player to anandaloka revealing to him the sat-chit-ananda nature of the brahman.  Just above ''suvidya'' is viveka.  This arrangement reminds the player of the belief in the kaula tradition that there are two paths to knowledge, that of ''jnana'' which is gained through ''shabda'' and that of ''viveka'' which is gained through insight from within<ref>Shaktism, ([[wikipedia:Jnana_yoga|Jnana Yoga]])</ref>.  There are many such interesting patterns on the board game which the curious player can explore.

 

== References ==

== References ==