Advaita Vedanta

==== The threefold practice: ''sravana'' (hearing), ''manana'' (thinking) and ''nididhyasana'' (meditation)====
The Advaita tradition teaches that correct knowledge, which destroys ''avidya'', psychological and perceptual errors related to Atman and Brahman,{{sfn|Mayeda|2006|pp=78–79}} is obtained in ''jnanayoga'' through three stages of practice,<ref name=davis38/> ''sravana'' (hearing), ''manana'' (thinking) and ''nididhyasana'' (meditation).{{sfn|Mayeda|1992|p=xvii}} This three-step methodology is rooted in the teachings of chapter 4 of the ''[[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]]'':{{sfn|Rao|Paranjpe|2015|p=6–7, 177–178, 215}}<ref name="John A. Grimes 1996 98–99"/>
* ''Sravana'', which literally means hearing. The student listens and discusses the ideas, concepts, questions and answers.{{sfn|Mayeda|1992|p=xvii}}{{sfn|Rao|Paranjpe|2015|p=6–7, 177–178, 215}} of the sages on the [[Upanishads]] and Advaita Vedānta, studying the Vedantic texts, such as the [[Brahma Sutras]], aided by discussions with the [[guru]] (teacher, counsellor).{{sfn|Puligandla|1997|pp=251–254}}{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|pp=106–110}}{{sfn|Mayeda|1992|p=xvii}}
* ''Manana'' refers to thinking on these discussions and contemplating over the various ideas based on ''svadhyaya'' and ''sravana''.{{sfn|Rao|Paranjpe|2015|p=6–7, 177–178, 215}}{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|pp=106–110}}<ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert P. Waxler|author2=Maureen P. Hall|title=Transforming Literacy: Changing Lives Through Reading and Writing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dB7gXgmOhR4C&pg=PA105 |year=2011|publisher=Emerald |isbn=978-0-85724-628-8|pages=105–106}}</ref> It is the stage of [[Manana (reflection)|reflection on the teachings]];{{sfn|Rao|Paranjpe|2015|p=6–7, 177–178, 215}}{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|pp=106–110}}
* ''[[Nididhyāsana]]'', the stage of meditation and introspection.{{sfn|Deutsch|1980|p=105-108}}<ref group=web>{{Cite web |url=http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100234232 |title=Oxford Index, ''nididhyāsana'' |access-date=8 February 2017 |archive-date=5 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705051012/http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100234232 |url-status=live }}</ref> This stage of practice aims at realization and consequent conviction of the truths, non-duality and a state where there is a fusion of thought and action, knowing and being.{{sfn|Dalal|2009|p=16}}{{sfn|Rao|Paranjpe|2015|p=6–7, 177–178, 215}}

Although the threefold practice is broadly accepted in the Advaita tradition, Shankara's works show an ambivalence toward it: while accepting its authenticity and merits, as it is based in the scriptures, he also takes a [[Subitism|subitist]] position,{{sfn|Fiordalis|2021|p=6}} arguing that ''moksha'' is attained at once when the ''mahavakyas'', articulating the identity of ''Atman'' and ''Brahman'', are understood.{{sfn|Fiordalis|2021|p=9}}{{sfn|Mayeda|1992|p=182 (Up.I.18.103-104)}}<ref group=note>See also kelamuni (2006), ''The Philosophy of Adi Shankaracharya'', section "II. The Threefold Means," on Brahma Sutra Bhashya 4.1.2 and subitism.</ref> According to Rambachan, "it is not possible to reconcile Sankara's views with this seemingly well-ordered system."{{sfn|Rambachan|1991|p=97}}

[[Mandana Misra]], on the other hand, explicitly affirms the threefold practice as the means to acquire knowledge of Brahman, referring to meditation as ''dhyana''.{{sfn|Fiordalis|2021|p=18}} He states that these practices, though conceptual, 'can eliminate both ignorance and coneptuality at the same time, leaving only the "pure, transparent nature" of self-awareness'.{{sfn|Fiordalis|2021|p=19}}

Bilimoria states that these three stages of Advaita practice can be viewed as ''sadhana'' practice that unifies ''[[Yoga]]'' and ''[[Karma]]'' ("action," referring here to ritual) ideas, and was most likely derived from these older traditions.<ref>{{cite book|author=P.P. Bilimoria|title=Śabdapramāṇa: Word and Knowledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=arvrCAAAQBAJ |year=2012|publisher=Springer |isbn=978-94-009-2911-1|pages=299–301}}</ref>{{sfn|Deutsch|1973|pp=106–110}}