Guidance

Navigating …Your journey!

The information & websites available on the darshan are vast, and this can be daunting! So here is a quick guide that maps the journey to help you along!

Attend an Introductory Workshop/Parichay Shivir First
On completing the first shivir, go through the introductory resources available here
Next, attend an Advanced Introduction or adhyayan bindu parichay shivir. Also see useful resources on the same page.
Next, complete the Overview Module or अवलोकन Module and also attend the 12/15 day Shivir.
Join a Residential Study Program or see Online Self Study Resources.
- See useful information on Study & Practice (adhyayan aur abhyas)
Join one or more of our various groups on WhatsApp, Telegram etc, via the Connect Center

Darshan Roadmap view

Darshan Shivir Stages Roadmap

Things to keep in mind

Living –जीना

‘Adhyayan’ is not just about ‘reading at a desk’. Reading & Analysis is the first step in the Study Process.
Study & Practice also involves ‘Self-Evaluation’ and ‘Living accordingly‘:
- as Behavior (Vyavaharabhyas) & fulfillment of relationships with other Humans (in Family, friends, etc) and
- ‘Work‘ with the rest of nature. (Karmabhyas)
Practice of ‘Living’ according to ‘intellectual-law’(बौद्धिक नियम), social-law(सामाजिक नियम) and natural-law(प्राकृतिक नियम) is an integral part of Practice. Read the method of study

Meet & Sharing with people – सामाजिकता

‘Adhyayan’ or Study is not an ‘isolated’ exercise. While reading and other media are important, guidance is ultimately only from a Human Being (Teacher) who has understood, hence it is important to be in touch with a competent person you feel can guide you.
You may want to ‘share’ what you have ‘learned/ understood’ with others – via small discussions or even conducting full-introductory shivirs yourself. Keep in mind that we are doing this for ‘our practice’, and to ‘test & deepen’ our own understanding. Not to ‘change the world’. The world will be properly benefited, only when we are ourselves complete, have had ‘Understanding’ ourselves. Sharing what we have learned benefits the world anyways. Hence, this is not primarily a ‘social change’ program. Rather, it is a process of having knowledge and living with humane-conduct ourselves, and change percolating to others via our own understanding & living.

Not ‘Mixing’ – बिना मिलावट का अधययन

The study of reality according to Madhyasth Darshan does not include any ‘ prevalent meditative-practices’, ‘need to close ones eyes’, ‘chanting’ or ‘mystical-experiences’.
‘Madhyasth Darshan’ does not derive from, nor related to Vedanta, the YogaSutras by Sage Patanjali, Buddhism or any other Darshan in any way, albeit one will find many similar sounding words and overlapping concepts.
- This is being mentioned here in order to avoid confusing this with existing theories, where the words like ‘Shravan, Manan, Nididhyasan’, etc used are similar, but with a totally different intended meaning.
- See definitions that connect these words to reality.
‘Study’ also does not mean ‘comparative studies’ with other philosophies/darsanas
Hence, Madhyasth Darshan needs to be studied and practiced in its own right, and not on the basis of any current / past practice, or some ‘hybrid-method’ we may come up with.
The method to achieve anything is provided by one who has crossed that path, not the student that is on the path himself.

After Adhyayan Shivir

After Formal Study Study or Adhyayan of the books, join a goshti:

Shastradhyayan Goshti –

1. Do many rounds of self-reading. <this is where your theoretical-logical understanding will mature and you will find you can explain this darshan to others>
2. Use the available audio and video by Shri Nagraj for better clarity.
3. Make changes in priority of living, place, location, etc to find a favourable environment/location for your study and practice based on these 6 factors:
  1. Suitability of physical location for living (locale, schools, etc) (भौतिक-प्राकृतिक वातावरण)
  2. Company of good people/ fraternity (सहभागी लोग, सांस्कृतिक वातावरण)
  3. Intellectual or scholarly atmosphere/ study guidance. (बौद्धिक वातावरण)
  4. Opportunity for meaningful physical activity (work, seva, etc) – (कर्माभ्यास)
  5. Availability of socially meaningful participation /program (समाज व्यवस्था में भागीदारी, सार्थक योजना)
  6. Stability/ Availability of monetary resources to support your journey (अर्थ व्यवस्था)
4. Get involved in one or more of the yojanas to make good use of your time and for inspiration – but remember, this is a part of your practice
5. You can also take help from, and contribute to the student library at this stage
6. Adhyayan & Abhyas for ‘manveeyata‘ & ‘Jeevan Jagruti‘ are now the prime priority in your living.

Manan Goshti

One has now become an ‘expert’ in the written darshan.
Manan is when the theoretical/intellectual/logical understanding you have gained shall be translated into inferences, insights and changes in internal & external conduct
You will need the entire library of originals as material for your manan, especially the section on adhyayan -sankalan and shod-patra by student-practitioners.
Maturity in manan is followed by sakshatkar – this is when/where ‘chetna vikas’ really begins, or happens.
Maturity in sakshatkar results in avdharna. We have minimal dependency on the books/written words after this stage.
Avdharna is followed by Bodh and Anubhav

** Remember, stick to the ‘Original Guidance‘ by Shri Nagraj in matters related to adhyayan vidhi and jeevan jagriti!