Shravan, Manan, Nididhyasan, and Sakshatkaar

Questioner: In the Vedant [Hindu scriptures], there are three words which are used: shravan, manan, and nididhyasan. Then, today, a fourth word which you mentioned, sakshatkaar, has been added. Now, what is shravan, manan, nididhyasan, and fourthly, sakshatkaar?

Dadashri: Shravan means to listen to that which pertains to spirituality. To listen to that which pertains to spirituality is called shravan.

Everything that you listen to that is spoken by ‘us’ is shravan. And what one listens to that is spoken by the Gnanis on the Kramik path (traditional step-by-step path of spiritual progress) is also called shravan.

Manan means to contemplate on something. However much manan one does, that much nididhyasan will happen and nididhyasan means to continue becoming that form. One will indeed turn into that which has been spoken, of what one has listened to and however much nididhyasan happens, that much

sakshatkaar (manifestation; realization) will take place. Thus, the purpose behind attaining knowledge through reading is that it leads to its realization. That is when we attain Its original form.

All of this is shravan that is done. Shravan means you have either read or listened, through whichever means, [for example,] you attended a lecture and listened to it. However, if manan is not happening as a result of doing all of this, if it is not starting up, then the shravan that has been done will go to waste. And if nididhyasan is not happening as a result of doing manan, then it will also go to waste. The result of nididhyasan should be that sakshatkaar takes place.