587. Is Vedanta hard to understand......No not at all!!!!!

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In this modern world everything has to be instant in a zippy, unfortunately knowledge gaining has fallen into this category. Due to this practice there is no patience, and the tolerance level is nil. Whatever information we are to access has to be spread out on the table, everything has to be at the tip of the fingers. Knowledge that is gained in this era is merely that which is spoon fed by others. Knowing what others have pass on without analyzing it will never be called knowledge. 

Knowledge that is necessary to earn our daily bread may not need analyzing. All one has to do is follow the seniors and do what is told and sometime accept that which has followed since long without asking any questions. But if one has to gain the knowledge of Vedanta, he has to take the right approach to learning and understanding it. To understand Vedanta mere listening or studying will not help one has to follow the three main steps of learning process. Sravanam (Listening), Mananam (Contemplation), and Nidhidhyasanam (Practice).

Sravanam is the intake of knowledge and the first step in the learning process. To gain knowledge from Vedanta, it is vital that we expose ourselves regularly to the information either by reading books or listening to discourse on Vedanta. This is a vital step and is like feeding our mind with thoughts. But mere listening to discourse or reading books is of no use if one does not digest the information and at times excessive reading or too many discourses may create confusion. Therefore the next stage is important to gain intellectual insight by reflecting upon the subject and this is Mananam. An individual exhaustive analysis has to be done on all that is listened and studied and thus a philosophical perceptive has to be arrived at with the truths that have been imparted in the way of knowledge by the masters. Nothing has to be taken without personal valuation. Even in Bhagavad-Gita Lord Krishna advices Arjuna at the end of the sermon to consider it only after having an intellectual insight on what has been said.

Next after reflecting those which are read or heard it become mandatory to get absorbed into oneself and become one with what has been taken as knowledge. The knowledge has to sink from the conscious level to deeper levels of self. In the deeper level the unconscious is activated and helps in putting the gained knowledge into practice. This is self absorption and this process is called Nidhidhyasanam. Useful knowledge is that which we are able to utilize in our daily lives. Having an immense knowledge without proper usage will be like a load of scared books on the back of a donkey. In that sense it is better to have a little knowledge that is used.

The enthusiasm to gain knowledge has to be from inside it is the higher desire that sprouts from constant willingness to improve and excel as a human being. Our potential is underestimated it is vast all we have to do is to tap it at the right time. Seeking knowledge is not hard or a waste of time, it is like having an inner friend with whom you can have a constant talk.

Knowledge is our best and eternal friend.