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TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTĪ
understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.” ( Bhāg.  7.5.23–24)
“Hearing” means hearing about someone’s activities, form, qualities, entourage, and so on. If I want to hear about someone, he must have some activities. We hear about history, and what is history? It is but the record of the activities of different persons in different ages. As soon as there is a question of hearing, we must ask what subject matter we should hear about.  Śravaṇam kīrtanam viṣṇoḥ : we should hear about the activities of Lord Viṣṇu, or Lord Kṛṣṇa, not about the news in the newspaper.  Brahma-jijñāsā : we should inquire and hear about Brahman, the Supreme. These are the statements of the  Vedas . In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we also hear and chant, but what is the subject matter? The subject matter is Kṛṣṇa. We are not hearing about market reports and the price of this share or that share. No. We are hearing about Kṛṣṇa.
And when there is hearing, there must also be speaking or chanting. So we speak and chant about Kṛṣṇa ( śravaṇam kīrtanam viṣṇoḥ ). And as soon as one becomes expert in hearing and chanting, the next stage is  smaraṇam , thinking or meditation. Whatever we speak or hear we shall later contemplate or meditate upon. First one must begin with  śravaṇam , hearing, otherwise how can there be meditation? If one does not know the subject matter of meditation, where is the question of meditation? Therefore there must be hearing and chanting about Lord Viṣṇu ( śravaṇam kīrtanam viṣṇoḥ ).
Actual meditation in  yoga  aims at seeing the four-armed Viṣṇu  mūrti , which is the form of the Lord within the heart. That is real meditation. Now rascals have manufactured other methods they call meditation, but these are not actually meditation. The senses are very restless, going this way and that way with the mind, but by the  aṣṭānga-yoga  system, which regulates one’s sitting posture, one’s breath, and so on, one can control the senses and concentrate the mind on the form of Viṣṇu. This concentration is called  samādhi , and it is the real goal of  yoga . Thus the  aṣṭānga-yoga  system aims at coming to the point of  smaraṇam , or remembering the Supreme Lord.
The next process of devotional service is  arcanam , worship of the Deity, the form of Kṛṣṇa in the temple.
śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā- śṃāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau (Śrī-gurv-aṣṭaka 3)