Mananam

  Dhyānam in Vedānta is enabled by training the mind to steadily abide in the Self (Ātman, as Śruti calls it) , one’s true nature, svasvarūpam . To be able to successfully accomplish this, many things must fall into place in one’s life. This is where sādhana-chatu ś tayam (viveka, vairāgya, śama-damādi-ṣa ṭ ka-sampatti, mumukṣutvam) and/or yoga-prakriyā (yama, niyama, etc.) all play a role. A certain level of preparedness is needed to gradually let the mind absorb the teachings of one’s āchārya or sampradāya (through śrava ṇ am and mananam), and learn to recognize one’s essential nature as śuddha-caitanyam, the light of awareness in which dance all thoughts, including the thought “I,” also known as aha m kāra-v ṛ tti. It is true that the ability to succeed in the process of Vedānta śrava ṇ a, manana, etc. , and the capacity to turn inward, does not arise by effort alone. It blossoms through guru-k ṛ pā, the grace of the teacher. As the bhajan says: “guru-k ṛ pāñjana payo nm...