The Words of Scripture and Spiritual Training in the Śaṅkaran Religious Tradition

Abstract

In a Śaṅkaran religious tradition, the method of ascetic training called “hearing, reflection, and meditation” (śravaṇa-manana-nididhyāsana) has been traditionally transmitted for the purpose of attaining emancipation (mokṣa). This method of training is believed to be necessary for the intuitive experience of the truth that brahman is identical with ātman. At first, “hearing” (śravaṇa) is to listen to the Upaniṣadic scriptures from a teacher who is believed to have obtained the truth. Through the words of scriptures, a disciple may obtain a conviction that the scriptural words could lead one to the knowledge of brahman. After learning the Upaniṣadic teachings, one may move to “reflection” (manana), which means reflecting upon the meaning of these scriptures logically. Moreover, at the third step of “meditation” (nididhyāsana), one may deepen the understanding of the “identity of brahman with ātman.” Through the deep contemplation of the Upaniṣadic teachings, one could attain the intuitive experience of the truth. In regard to the traditional method of ascetic training in the Śaṅkaran religious tradition, this paper attempts to clarify how this spiritual training is related to the understanding of the meanings of the Upaniṣadic scriptures.