Shravana (hearing)
In Hindu philosophy and rituals, the hearing of the secrets of the Upanishads from the Guru is called "Shravana" which secrets are meant to be reflected upon to gain intellectual conviction. One learns by hearing, it is the first stage of learning, the initiation when the traditional " Vedic doctrines " are passed on by the teachers. " Shravana" is the mental activity by which the texts are understood in order to know the Truth about Brahman. The Sruti is the seed of Vedantic knowledge sown by the Guru (teacher) in the mind of sisya ('disciple') who then tends that seed  by his "shravana", " manana " and "nididhyasana". the finding out or discovery of the true significance of the identity of the individual self and the supreme Universal Self with the great sayings is what is known as "shravana"; and to arrive at the possibility of its validity through logical reasoning is what is called "manana". Hearing and discrimination are beneficial to knowledge, both are inter-connected and the internal means for the acquisition of Self-knowledge, the former involves analysis and argument, and the latter is the unceasing reflection on the non-duality of the individual self. Sadananda explains that hearing  is determination that the Vedanta teaches non-duality of Brahman on the basis of six characteristic signs – a) presentation of the subject matter at the beginning and the conclusion, b) repetition or repeated presentation of the subject matter, c) originality i.e. the subject matter is not known through any other source, d) result or utility of the subject matter, e) eulogy or praise of the subject matter and f) demonstration or reasoning in support of the subject matter. "Shravana" results in the genuine ascertaining of the true import of the Vedic texts and statements.