Study Method

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

*श्री नागराजजी द्वारा हिंदी के लिए यहाँ देखें

The objective of study & practice is to have answers to every why, what and how = having resolution or samadhan. ‘Resolution’ is possible via transformation to human consciousness & awakening, that results in happiness, peace, satisfaction & bliss.

The method consists of Study (अध्ययन) & Practice (अभ्यास) that takes one through the four following stages or grounds:

**1. Listening (shravan):**

Systematic study of texts & listening to the meaning of the word, usage of analysis, logical-reasoning & understanding. Be convinced about the validity of the proposal, the path & ability to have the understanding oneself.

**2. Reflection & Meditation (manan):**

Ceaseless reflection on the truths – on the meaning in memory, scrutiny & discrimination, becoming involved with the meaning, practice in living.

**3. Immediate Knowledge & Concentration (sakshatkar, avdharna)**

Direct identification of the realities in existence, confirmation & establishment

**4. Realization (anubhav)**

Complete acceptance and understanding of realities and living accordingly thereafter.

These steps are further elaborated below:

Practice: (अभ्यास)

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

Study: (अध्ययन)

“Becoming in the form of the truth or tadakaar: Our imagination becoming in the form of, attuned to the meanings indicated by words*, in the form of realities, itself is becoming tadakaar [तदाकार होना – शब्द के अर्थ में स्वरुप में अस्तित्व में वस्तु के साथ तदाकार होना]
- [* word given in madhyasth darshan]
The combined procedure of listening, meditation & immediate-knowledge is adhyayan. (श्रवण मनन निदिध्यासन प्रक्रिया ही अध्ययन है)

Study and Practice go together. Study itself is Practice

We deploy our faculty of imagination (visioning & thoughts) to understand Reality. We use our ability of knowledge-perspective, or knowledge-cognition (gyan drishti, gochar) instead of the sensory-perspective or sensory-cogniton (chakshu drishti, gochar) for our study. This is essential to understand the ‘formless’ dimensions of reality.

We progress through the following four 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)
Outcome –
- Completion of systematic study & logical understanding, comes in memory (विधिवत अध्ययन एवं तर्क संतुष्ट होना, स्मरण में होना )
- Desire for knowing and living according to the truth (वास्तविकता को जानने एवं जीने के लिए इच्छा )

Stage2: Reflection & Meditation (मनन) -> (Preparation for Concentration)

Semblance of Reality complete (आभास पूरा ) – becomes apparent
Discriminating Study, Practice (विवेकात्मक अध्ययन, अभ्यास), Practice for Direct Perception (साक्षात्कार के लिए अभ्यास )
- 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: Fulfilment of human responsibilities and duties
Outcome
- Intense Desire – Priority established of Justice-Religion-Truth over Preference-Health-Profit (मानसिकता, अर्थात चित्त वृत्तियों में न्याय-धर्म-सत्य का प्राथमिकता , तीव्र इच्छा होना)
- Living with semblance of humanness (मानवीय जीवन आभास पूरा होना)
- Concentrating the mental faculties on the realities to be known (Existence, Conscious Self & Humane Conduct that exist in memory/as imaging) (स्मरण रूपी श्रवण के अर्थ में चित्त वृत्ति द्वारा ध्यान देना – अस्तित्व, चैतन्य जीवन एवं मानवीय आचरण)

Stage3: Immediate Knowledge (साक्षात्कार) & preformation (अवधारणा) -> Stability & Concentration

Direct identification/understanding of the realities of Justice-Religion-Truth devoid of logic, form, words & living accordingly (रूप गुण स्वभाव धर्म के संयुक्त रूप में साक्षात्कार)
Having credibility (प्रतीति). Definitive acceptance (निश्चयात्मक स्वीकृति): Comprehending, understanding the meaning, Reality. (वास्तविकता का साक्षात्कार एवं स्वीकृति)
Alternative terms – प्रतीति, साक्षात्कार, निदिध्यासन
Contemplative Practice (चिन्तनाभ्यास) and Behavioral Practice (व्यवहाराभ्यास)
- Contemplation on the Truths known, the purpose of Entities & Living accordingly with humane conduct (सत्यता एवं वस्तुओं के प्रयोजन पर चिंतन, मानवीय दृष्टि विषय स्वभाव सहित जीना)
Knowledge of state-full truth & relative truth as-it-is ( वस्तुगत सत्य, वस्तु स्थिति सत्य).
Outcome
- Stability from Sakshatkar (स्थिरता) –
  - Establishment (धारणा) & Regulation of the mental faculties in human consciousness (मानवीयतापूर्ण जीवन के अनन्तर न्याय-धर्म-सत्य रूपी वांछित वस्तु देश एवं तत्व में चित्त वृत्तियों का संयंत होना)
  - Awakening of Activity-Force (क्रिया शक्ति जागरण)
- Avdharna (अवधारणा)
  - Concentration established in the realities to be known – Established in Meditation, (धारणा पर पूर्णाधिकार के अनन्तर उसके वांछित भाग अथवा सारभूत भाग में चित्त-वृत्तियों का केन्द्रीभूत होना – निष्ठा , ध्यान )
  - Awakening of the Desiring-Force (इच्छा शक्ति जागरण)
- Happiness, Peace & Contentment (सख, शांति, संतोष)

Stage4: Realization (अनुभव) -> (Understanding & Realization, Centralized Concentration) – बोध, अनुभव = केंद्रीकृत ध्यान

Complete Acceptance of absolute truth, state-full truth and relative truth (स्थिति सत्य, वस्तुगत सत्य, वस्तुस्थिति सत्य की पूर्ण स्वीकृति)
Direct Experience of ultimate nature of Reality: of Coexistence, of Self & human nature: Complete knowledge of Pervasive Space (Brahman), Coexistence, evolution, development, awakening progression, awakening = ‘Material and Conscious nature saturated in pervasive space (व्यापक सत्ता में भीगा, घिरा, डूबा प्रकृति का बोध एवं अनुभव)
The satisfaction point of knowing and believing. Nothing left to be “known”.
Outcome
- Immersion of the chitta, vritti & sankalpa (buddhi) in but the meaning, the value of the Aim. (ध्येय के मूल्य मात्र में, अथवा अर्थ मात्र में चित्त वृत्ति एवं संकल्प (बुद्धि) का निमग्न होना – सत्तामयता में अनुभूति)
- Awakening of the Knowledge-Force (ज्ञान शक्ति जागरण)
- Living with evidence of Realization, Thought & Behavior (अनुभव, विचार, व्यव्हार प्रमाण,)
- Happiness, Peace, Contentment & Bliss (सुख, शांति, संतोष, आनंद की निरंतरता)

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 other philosophies/darshan, where the words like ‘Shravan, Manan, Nididhyasan’, etc used are similar, but with a different intended meaning. See definitions.

The objectives, method & outcomes of study in madhyasth darshan does not derive from or based on Vedanta, the YogaSutras or Buddhism, etc. Terms may be similar or have some overlaps.

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

See resources, notes and pointers in Guidance for Study

Original Hindi by Shri A Nagraj:

डाउनलोड

a) Selected transcripts of dialogues on method of study (अध्ययन प्रक्रिया पर संवादों से चुने हुए भाग ) [in Hindi]
(b) Selected portions from the Literature related to Method of Study (अभ्यास-अध्ययन प्रक्रिया पर पुस्तकों से चुने हुए सूत्र) [in Hindi]
(c) Definitions of terms related to Study (अभ्यास-अध्ययन प्रक्रिया संबंधी मुख्य परिभाषाएं) [in Hindi]
(d) ‘Adhyayan roopee upasana‘ – selected sections from the book ‘Karmdarshan (अध्ययन रूपी उपासना)’ ][in Hindi]