12.4. Śravaṇādi-Sopānas (Steps for Grasping Knowledge)

We examined that in satsaṅga, one has to listen to the spiritual discourses with keen interest. Since it is a critical factor to attain knowledge, why? Well, when a thing is learned or perceived with rapt attention and concentration, its apprehension becomes so vivid and complete that the idea (image/ picture) of the thing gets firmly imprinted on the mind, and it can be recalled unmistakably any moment in the future, and whenever recalled, it occurs as it is its Spatio-temporal order and details.^[1] Therefore, listening prudently with gripped attention is called śravaṇa. From whatever is listened, when one retains the relevant and deletes the irrelevant and thinks of it mentally, it is called manana. It involves the use of the sense of discrimination and activity of the mind to retain it. When, what is resolutely known by the mind, is reflected upon and remembered often and again through regular practice, it is called nididhyāsana. Furthermore, when it is recalled and remembered instantaneously as it is, unfailing with all details, it is called sākṣātkāra. It is an act of realization of truth in its entirety.^[2]

This process of śravaṇa, manana, nididhyāsana, and sākṣātkāra is used for realizing ātman (ātma-sākṣātkāra) and for realizing Paramātman (Parāmātma-sākṣātkāra).

The Upaniṣad states:

‘ātmā vā are draṣṭavyaḥ śrotavyo mantavyo nididhyāsitavyaḥ’ (Brhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 2/4/5)

“One must listen to his glory, then contemplate upon Him, imbibe the appropriate thoughts that one has heard and contemplated.”

Bhadreśadāsa comments on this verse that if one does śravaṇa, manana, and nididhyāsana in this way, one attains sākṣātkāra-realization.^[3]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vacanāmṛta Sārangpur 2

[2]:

Vacanāmṛta Sārangpur 3

[3]:

Brhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 2/4/5, p.125