Hearing is the way to spiritual learning

Hearing is more important than directly studying or perceiving. If one attentively hears from the right source, perfect knowledge is received. This process is called srauta-pantha, or the acquirement of knowledge by hearing from authorities. All Vedic knowledge is based on the principle of approaching a bona fide spiritual master and hearing from the authoritative statements of the Vedas. One need not be a highly polished literary man to receive knowledge from a perfect person; one must be expert in hearing. This is called the descending process of deductive knowledge, or avaroha-pantha.

(Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi 16.52 purport)