Hearing, Reflection, Meditation (Śravaṇa–Manana–Nididhyāsana)
Hear it, reason it out, then meditate it home — knowledge ripening into sight.
Vedānta lays out a three-step method for turning teaching into realization: first śravaṇa, attentively hearing the teaching of the texts from a qualified teacher; then manana, thinking it through and reasoning away one's doubts; and finally nididhyāsana, deep sustained contemplation until the truth is no longer merely understood but directly seen. It is the disciplined backbone of the path of knowledge.
Key passages(11)
Vivekacūḍāmaṇi · Śaṅkara (traditionally ascribed; authorship doubted)
And he said: 'Verily, a husband is not dear, that you may love the husband; but that you may love the Self, therefore a husband is dear. 'Verily, a wife is not dear, that you may love the wife; but th
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Know that, by prostrating thyself, by questions, and by service; the wise, those who have realised the Truth, will instruct thee in that knowledge.
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That doctrine is not to be obtained by argument, but when it is declared by another, then, O dearest, it is easy to understand. Thou hast obtained it now; thou art truly a man of true resolve. May we
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And he who repeats this greatest mystery in an assembly of Brâhmans, or full of devotion at the time of the Srâddha sacrifice, obtains thereby infinite rewards." SECOND ADHYÂYA.
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'For I have heard from men like you, Sir, that only knowledge which is learnt from a teacher (Âkârya), leads to real good.' Then he taught him the same knowledge. Nothing was left out, yea, nothing wa
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'Then wilt thou understand me.' Then Svetaketu ate, and afterwards approached his father. And whatever his father asked him, he knew it all by heart. Then his father said to him:
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