Benefits of Self-study

Ordinary meaning of svadhyaya is – study of scriptures inspired by the detached or the ones, who have conquered attachment. With this, those karma are destroyed which cover the knowledge. As much we go on studying, so much would the knowledge covering karma will be eradicated and slowly-slowly, we would attain total knowledge or omniscience.

Special meaning of svadhyaya is self-reflection. Study of ‘sva (self)’ only is svadhyaya.

What is the nature of self? What is its appearance? What is karma? What is karma nature? When was the self attached to karma? Why did it happen? Can it also be detached? If it can be detached, then how? What is the difference between momentary and eternal happiness? If we are asked to choose in between both, then which one would we choose. What is the source of eternal happiness? What is the objective of our life? Reflection on these questions only is svadhyaya that annihilate knowledge covering karma and one becomes omniscient.

- Uttaradhyayana Sutra 26/18