Study Method

* If you haven’t already, ready this basic introduction to Study and Practice

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*For Original in Hindi by Shri A Nagraj: श्री नागराजजी द्वारा हिंदी के लिए यहाँ देखें 

The method consists of Practice (अभ्यास) & Study (अध्ययन) as follows:

Practice:

Intellectual, Spoken & bodily activities for obtaining the answer to Why? and What?

Study:

“Becoming in the form of the truth or tadakaar: Our imagination  becoming in the form of the meanings indicated by words*,  in the form of realities, itself is becoming tadakaar  [* word given in madhyasth darshan] [तदाकार होना – शब्द के अर्थ में स्वरुप में अस्तित्व में वस्तु के साथ तदाकार होना]

We deploy our faculty of imagination (Visioning & thoughts) to understand Reality. Study and Practice go together. Study itself is Practice. We progress through the following stages in our Study & Practice:

 

• Stage1: Listening (श्रवण)  -> (Acceptance & Understanding)

  • Literature Study-Practice (शास्त्राभ्यास)
    • Glimpse of Reality (भास्): “Acceptance of the meaning of the written and spoken word – the ultimate truth of Coexistence coming in imagination”-  Apprehending via external inputs from the books/ spoken / media
    • Semblance of Reality (आभास) “With the word & meaning in imagination, usage of logic for consistency of meaning, as a result of which, the entity/reality becomes clear”
  • Verification whether the proposal is a) Universal b) Live-able c) Teachable
  • Distinguish between acceptable (universal, right) and un-acceptable (criminal, wrong) behavior: Acceptance of living in ‘social law’ – righteous-wealth, fidelity in marital relationship & kindness in  behavior (स्वधन, स्वनारी/स्वपुरुष, दयापूर्ण व्यवहार)
  • Convinced about the validity of the proposal, the path, & ability to have the understanding oneself.
  • Completion of systematic study & logical understanding

 

• Stage2: Reflection (मनन)  -> (Establishment & Concentration)

  • Semblance of Reality complete (आभास पूरा ) – becomes apparent
  • Contemplative Practice (साक्षात्काराभ्यास) or Discriminating Study (विवेकात्मक अध्ययन)
    
    • Weighing/evaluation on the basis of Justice-Religion-Truth (न्याय धर्म सत्य तुलन)
    • Scrutiny & Observation (निरीक्षण परीक्षण) of (a)Existence, (b)Activities in the Self or jeevan & (c) Living. Witnessing and evaluating the activities in the Mun, vritti, chitta (मन, वृत्ति, चित्त)
    • Distinguish between changing and changeless dimensions of reality & laws of living
  • Behavioral Practice (व्यवहाराभ्यास)
    • Living according to Intellectual law, Social law, Natural law: Fulfillment of responsibilities and duties
  • Establishment of ones imagination (chitta-vritti) in the essence  of reality and living (स्थापित होना). Priority established of Justice-Religion-Truth over Preference-Health-Profit (न्याय-धर्म-सत्य का प्राथमिकता)
    
  • Concentrating the mental faculties (chitta-vritti) on the desired region / realities to be known (केंद्रीकृत  करना )

 

• Stage3: Immediate Knowledge  (साक्षात्कार)   -> (Intuitive knowledge)

  • Having credibility (प्रतीति). Definitive acceptance (निश्चयात्मक स्वीकृति): Comprehending, understanding the meaning, the Reality.
  • Concentration established in the realities to be known – Contemplation, Meditation, ध्यान
  • Direct identification/understanding of the realities of Justice-Religion-Truth devoid of logic, form, words
  • Knowledge of  absolute truth, state-full truth & relative truth as-it-is (स्थिति सत्य, वस्तुगत सत्य, वस्तु स्थिति सत्य).
    
  • Stability in knowing, in conception. (अवधारणा)

 

•  Stage4: Realization   (अनुभव)   -> (Realization)

  • Complete Acceptance (पूर्ण स्वीकृति)
    
  • Experience of nature of Reality: of Coexistence, of Self & human nature: Complete knowledge of Coexistence,  evolution, development, awakening progression, awakening.
  • Immersion of the chitta, vritti & sankalpa in but the meaning, the value of the Aim.
  • The satisfaction point of knowing and believing. Nothing left to be “known”.
  • Living with evidence of Realization, Thought & Behavior (अनुभव, विचार, व्यव्हार प्रमाण,)

 

Notes:

*The study of reality according to Madhyasth Darshan does not include any  ‘ prevalent meditative-practices’, ‘need to close ones eyes’,  or ‘mystical-experiences’. This is being mentioned here in order to avoid confusing this with existing theories, where the words like ‘Shravan, Manan, Nididhyasan’, etc used are similar, but with a totally different intended meaning. See definitions.

# Stages 1, 2 &   3 above are both sequential and cyclical. Study needs guidance from a living human being, that has this understanding.

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Original Hindi by Shri A Nagraj:

a) Method of Study Summary from the book Abhyas Darshan (अध्ययन प्रक्रिया सारांश )  [in Hindi] –

b) Selected transcripts of dialogues on method of study (अध्ययन प्रक्रिया पर संवादों से चुने हुए भाग ) [in Hindi]

(c) Selected portions from the Literature related to Method of Study (अभ्यास-अध्ययन प्रक्रिया पर पुस्तकों से चुने हुए सूत्र) [in Hindi]

(d) Definitions of terms related to Study (अभ्यास-अध्ययन प्रक्रिया संबंधी मुख्य परिभाषाएं) [in Hindi]

(e) ‘Adhyayan roopee upasana‘ – selected sections from the book ‘Karmdarshan (अध्ययन रूपी उपासना)’  ][in Hindi]

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-shriram n | student | june 2013 | updated – January 2017