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of Atman must be followed by a meditation practice. This practice is an inner journey, called nididhyasana (meditating upon the essence of what has now been intellectually understood). Diligent spiritual discipline leads the aspirant to the
direct experience of his true nature—Atman.
The Sanskrit word for experience, anubhava, is a compound: Anu (latter) and bhava (arising). Thus, experience is understood as that which arises after practice. Having attained this knowledge, nothing remains to be known.
Sant Sundar Das Ji Maharaj has elaborated on the four-fold path of knowledge: listening, contemplating, meditating, and experiencing
He uses an illustration of the process of satisfying the appetite for food:
Talking about gourmet foods brings pleasure to the mind (Listening). However, until we have eaten this food there is no true delight. When all the ingredients are gathered for cooking and the food is being prepared, the mind begins to long for the taste (Thinking/Contemplating). Once the food has been prepared, one begins to put one bite in the mouth at a time, and then experiences each course of the meal. (nididhyasana; meditation)." Each bite brings a feeling of satisfaction. . As we progress through the meal, we experience the joy of a satiated appetite.
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