I've been reading the 'Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ for the past few weeks. There's a paragraph in the book that not only refuses to fade away but has become something I think about often now. In it, Patanjali describes the three pillars of complete awakening and realization, which I see as three beautiful stages of true learning and becoming.
Stage 1: Shravana (meaning consumption)
Stage 2: Manana (meaning reflection)
Stage 3: Nididhyasana (meaning embodiment)
It's common for people to mistakenly believe that understanding or contemplating something is the ultimate goal. You might read a tweet, a page, hear a podcast, or watch a video, think about it for a few minutes or an hour (unless you're writing a thesis), and then move on to the next topic. But real learning comes from embodying that knowledge, integrating it into who you are. It's more than just knowing something; it's becoming it. Not everything consumed has to be embodied, of course. However, anything that should be embodied should never be paused at reflection as the final destination—it must be lived.
Deepak
