Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.56

c16.56

The structure of its reasoning may be briefly presented thus. A true knowledge of the Self is necessary to achieve the highest good or *mukti*, but this knowledge does not come at once. It has to be acquired by stages. First, it comes from the Scriptures, that is, what the Vedānta calls *Śravaṇa*. Next, it is confirmed by reasoning, what Vedānta calls reflection or *Manana*. Then follows direct cognition of Self, or self-realization through concentrated contemplation and meditation. When all these stages are gone through, then alone is Ignorance, the root of all defects, removed [*Nyāya Sūtra*, i, 1, 1-2; *Nyāya-Vārttika*, Translation, p. 93, note].