```json
{
    "title": "Seven Ways In Which Hearing Sacred Texts Purifies the Mind",
    "url": "https://wavesofdevotion.com/2009/01/30/seven-ways-in-which-hearing-sacred-texts-purifies-the-mind/",
    "datePublished": "2009-01-30",
    "dateModified": "2009-01-30",
    "language": "en-US",
    "description": "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…",
    "author": "Dhanurdhara Swami",
    "publisher": "Waves of Devotion"
}
```

# Seven Ways In Which Hearing Sacred Texts Purifies the Mind

**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* 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*, 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)