PuruSottamachAryA [lists three stages of jNAna](https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.939/page/101/mode/2up). These are SravaNa (hearing the texts), manana (reflection and discussion) and nidhidhyAsana (vision of the lord). When kRRiShna gave jNAna to arjuna (gIta 18.64), he said > **shRRiNu me** paramaM vachaH... tato vakShyAmi te hitam > >**Hear this** supreme instruction **from me**, for it is for your benefit GIta also says (13.26): > shrutvAnyebhya upAsate te ’pi chAtitaranty eva mRRityuM shruti-parAyaNAH > > By hearing from others, they begin to worship: because they are inclined to the process of hearing, they also certainly overcome death. GIta 10.18 also gives a good example of how we should desire to listen for attaining jNAna. On manana, muNDaka upaniSad (3.2.6) says about liberated souls: >vedAntavij~nAnasunishchitArthAH > >Having without doubt well ascertained the significance of the knowledge of Vedanta NidhydhyAsana, also called brahmavidya, has [32 types according to upaniSads](https://archive.org/details/adhikaranasaravalivedantadesikathephilosophyofvisistadvaitasrinivasachari2008ocr/page/n401/mode/2up) As well as these three stages of jNAna itself, there are certain qualifications or conditions for attaining it. You can read about the nimbArka description of them [here](https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.939/page/47/mode/2up). Not all of them are absolutely necessary: one can begin jNAna by just one of them. Following our obligatory actions (according to our state in life and dharmasUtra) is an auxiliary, so brahmasUtra 3.4.26 says >sarvApekShA cha yaj~nAdishruter ashvavat > > (rough meaning) all religious activities such as sacrifices as well are necessary for knowledge In describing the personal qualities needed to begin jNAna, shvetAshvatarupaniShad (6.22-23) says > nAprashAntAya dAtavyaM nAputrAyAshiShyAya vA punaH. yasya deve parA bhaktir yathA deve tathA gurau, tasyaite kathitA hy, > > [Vedanta] should not be given to one not tranquil, nor again to one who is not a son or a pupil. To him who has bhakti for God, and for his guru as for God, have these matters been declared. So, Vedanta and jNAna can only be given by a spiritual father (guru), or bodily father. Bhakti is a requirement for it. BrahmasUtra 3.4.27 summarises how bRRihadAraNyakaupaniShad (4.4.23) gives some more conditions for beginning jNAna marga: >tasmAdevaMvichChAnto dAnta uparatastitikshuH samAhito bhUtvAtmanyevAtmAnaM pashyati > > he who... having become calm, self-restrained, indifferent, patient and collected, should see the self in the self alone [Devotional service is also an auxiliary to jNAna, especially for those without varna](https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/brahma-sutras-nimbarka/d/doc420658.html). In conclusion, there are **three auxiliaries** to jNAna marga: [three or six obligations](https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.939/page/101/mode/2up) (depending on varna), eight personal qualities (tranquil, bhakti, son or pupil, calm, self-restrained, indifferent, patient and collected), and six general requirements (devotional service in its many forms, deep learning, childlike simplicity, unostentatiousness, profound thoughtfulness and silence). In total this leaves **17 or 20 part auxiliaries** to jNAna marga. The **three stages** are hearing, reflection and vision of the lord.