Traditional Manan (Sanskrit: मनन) is the deep state of thinking without joy or grief.
In Advaita Vedanta, Manan, the deep reflection on what is heard from the teacher, is a part of the three-fold process of shravana-Manan-nididhyasana, the three stages of religious life which combined acting as the path of knowledge, lead to the attainment of moksha.
[7] Manan means – 'thinking', 'reflection', 'meditation', 'cogitation';[8] Panchadasi (Sloka I.53) reads as follows:- In this context, Vidyaranya had previously stated that the Self is untouched by doubts about the presence or absence of associates etc; that are superimposed on it phenomenally.
Vedanta considers vikalpa as kalpana or 'contrary imagination' that invariably leads to anavastha ('infinite regress').
[9] It is through deep meditation that the knowledge of Brahman is gained, and Katha Upanishad (I.iii.15) declares that one becomes free from the jaws of death by knowing that which is ever constant; Badarayana states that what is mentioned in that Upanishad is meant for deep meditation on Purusha - आध्यानाय प्रयोजनाभावात् (Brahma Sutras III.iii.14), during which process the differing attributes are not to be combined but only non-different attributes which exist collectively in all the contexts.