A person must first become a Muni, on their journey towards becoming a Rishi.
| Rishi | Muni |
|---|---|
| A Rishi is someone who is generally considered to be on a higher plane of learning and understanding due to their hundreds of years of tapas or meditation. | A Muni is a person who does introspection or who is thoughtful. A Muni is somewhat like a philosopher who thinks about how and why things are the way they are. |
| Rishi means a sage, one who practices a life of simplicity and renunciation (A Monk or Saint). | Muni is someone who does introspection or who is thoughtful (A Philosopher). |
| Example Rajarishi, Devrishi, Maharishi, Brahmarshi. | Example somewhat a type of rishi. |