Seven Ways In Which Hearing Sacred Texts Purifies the Mind

Hearing (sravanam) is the conduit of knowledge. It is thus the first principle in the
practice of spiritual life. Without gaining faith in a spiritual goal by first hearing about it
from an authoritative source, why would anyone be inspired to take up an arduous path of
spiritual practice? And even if one did, without sravanam how would one understand the
intricacies of that practice?

Inspiration and instruction are just two of the ways in which sravanam purifies the mind.
The following is an analysis of seven ways (including inspiration and instruction) in
which hearing sacred bhakti texts purifies the mind of an aspiring bhakta:
» 1. As yoga: “Yoga” means to restrain the mind. When one attentively hears bhakti-
sastra (sacred bhakti texts) the mind becomes concentrated with single pointed attention
and neglects all other mental impulses. Sravanam is thus (bhakti) yoga.
» 2. As very effective yoga: The efficacy of a particular yoga process is gauged in its
ability to facilitate absorption in the object of one’s meditation. When hearing, sastra
(sacred texts), which is replete with appealing stories and philosophy about the all-
attractive Divine, one’s mind spontaneously flows to the object of meditation. Hearing
sacred texts is thus a far more riveting meditation than controlling the mind by one’s will
power alone.
» 3. As an object of meditation with potency: Absorption in an object serves as a conduit
to imbibe the qualities of that object, just as an iron rod absorbed in fire becomes fire-
like. Sastra is sabda-brahman, divinity in its sound form. Meditation on sastra thus makes
one divine-like.
» 4. As a source of knowledge: We have unlimited mental imprints (samskaras), many of
them bad, which degrade our consciousness. Sacred texts elucidate dharma, the science
of responding to the world to elevate the general tenor of the mind.
» 5. As effective teaching: Sastra exposes illusion and promotes detachment. In bhakti-
sastra this challenge is often placed carefully within charming stories and illustrated by
memorable examples, helping the reader to more effectively imbibe spiritual wisdom.
» 6. As a source of role models: The most powerful way to invoke positive self-
transformation is the emulation of appropriate role models. Even adolescents who imitate
the bravado of their favorite athletes, or follow the sensuous appeal of their favorite
popular musician or movie star, gradually become like them. Similarly by sincerely
hearing about the exemplars of devotion from bhakti-sastra, one naturally emulates their
life and absorbs their devotion.
» 7. As a process where one’s spiritual attainment is not limited to the fruits of one’s
endeavor: The Divine is naturally responsive to devotion. Thus by attentively hearing
with devotion about the Divine (which is the subject of bhakti-sastra), the obstacles to
one’s focus and meditation are naturally removed by Divine grace. This phenomenon—
how the process of sravanam bears fruit beyond the limits of one’s effort by grace—is
described in the bhakti-sastras themselves: “Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who
is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful
devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has
developed the urge to hear His messages, which are themselves virtuous when properly
heard and chanted. (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.17)