Everything about Sadhana totally explained
» For Sadhana the actress see: Sadhana (actress)Sadhana (Sanskrit ) is a term for "a means of accomplishing something" or more specifically "spiritual practice". It includes a variety of disciplines from
Hindu and
Buddhist traditions that are followed in order to achieve various
spiritual or
ritual objectives. The word is also used in the same connection within
Sikhism.
The historian N. Bhattacharyya provides a working definition of the benefits of sadhana as follows:
"... religious sādhanā, which both prevents an excess of worldliness and moulds the mind and disposition (bhāva) into a form which develops the knowledge of dispassion and non-attachment. Sādhanā is a means whereby bondage become liberation."
The paths
The term
sadhana means spiritual exertion towards an intended
goal. A person undertaking such a practice is known as a
sadhu or a sadhaka. The goal of sadhana is to attain some level of spiritual realization, which can be either
enlightenment, pure love of
God (prema), liberation (
moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (
Samsara), or a particular goal such as the blessings of a deity as in the
Bhakti traditions.
Sadhana can involve
meditation, chanting of
mantra (sometimes with the help of a
japa mala),
puja to a deity,
yajna, and in very rare cases
mortification of the flesh or
tantric practices such as performing one's particular sadhana within a cremation ground.
Anthony de Mello, a
Jesuit, wrote a book of
Christian meditations with the title
Sadhana: A way to God.
Traditionally in some
Hindu and
Buddhist traditions in order to embark on a specific path of sadhana, firstly a
guru may be required to give the necessary instructions. This approach is typified by some Tantric traditions, in which initiation by a guru is sometimes identified as a specific stage of sadhana. On the other hand, individual renunciates may develop their own spiritual practice without participating in organized groups.
Kinds of Sadhana
Sadhana or Spiritual practice need not be directed towards a higher cause like
Enlightenment or
moksha. Sadhana can be done by individuals for lower aims like obtaining worldly pleasures. Sadhana is also done by a group for the society at large.
Sakaam Sadhana
Sakaam Sadhana (
Devnagari = सकाम,
Sa = yes / with,
Kaam = desire) is spiritual practice done for worldly pleasures. This is the lowest form of sadhana. There is no spiritual progress with
sakaam sadhana. Examples of sakaam sadhana is praying for any worldly goals like getting money, job, marriage or any other aim which is temporary and won't last beyond death. In
Ramayana it was mentioned that though
Ravana and
Kumbhakarna were great devotees of
Shiva and performed various
tapas , they were performing sakaam sadhana as their main aim was to become powerful and rule the world.
The fruits of this kind of spiritual practice are used to fulfill the worldy desires of the individual and no spiritual progress takes place. Thus it isn't possible to reach
enlightenment,
moksha or even
heaven as the merits needed to achieve this are used up. So sakaam sadhana provides only temperory happiness and no spiritual progress.
Nishkaam Sadhana
Nishkaam (
Devnagari = निश्काम,
Ni = no / without,
Kaam = desire) sadhana is spiritual practice done for higher aims. It is done to achieve the aim of
enlightenment or
moksha. It is done for the spiritual upliftment of the individual so that he's taken out of the cycle of life and death (
samsara).
Vyashti Sadhana
This is
nishkaam sadhana done for one's own spiritual upliftment. No one else is benefitted except the person doing vyashti sadhana. Thus this form of spiritual practice is an individualistic practice.This form of sadhana is very important if one wants to do
samashti sadhana.
Examples of Vyashti Sadhana
- Chanting God's name (Naamjap)
- Meditation
- Karmayoga
- Hathayoga
- Reading books on Spirituality
Benefits of Vyashti Sadhana
Spiritual Progress
Increase in Saatvikta
Increases Bhaava(faith)
Increases the talmal (Desire for God)
Lower level Anubhuti (Spiritual Experiences)
Pitfalls of Vyashti Sadhana
Note :- These pitfalls exist if the sadhana is done without a guru and if not accompanied by samashti sadhana
Ego can increase
Needs a lot of time for little spiritual progress
One can lose motivation as fast progress isn't achieved
Samashti Sadhana
This is the kind of nishkaam sadhana which is done collectively for the spiritual progress of entire humanity. It is the highest level of sadhana. For samashti sadhana to be maintained, vyashti sadhana is a must. The same logic that a teacher must read the book first before teaching the students can be applied to this.
In Kaliyuga, samashti sadhana is important as the people don't know the significance of sadhana. This kind of sadhana is more difficult and increases the saatvikta of the entire area. Samashti sadhana isn't possible without a guru.
Examples of Samashti Sadhana
Taking satsangs
Helping in organising satsangs, meditation camps etc.
Telling others about spirituality.
Helping others overcome ego by telling them their mistakes from the point of view of spirituality.
Benefits of Samashti Sadhana
Samashti level sadhana is more difficult compared to vyashti but it has added benefits
We become closer to God
Faster Spiritual progress
Priti (Love for all living beings) increases
Superior level anubhutis(spiritual experiences)
After death we go to higher planes of existence (swarga or heaven and beyond )
Ego and Personality Defects can be easily removed
Movement from saguna to nirguna
Pitfalls of Samashti Sadhana
More energy is required (physical, mental and spiritual)
Attitude is important
More chances of ego increasing
Very important to do samashti sadhana under correct guru.
One mistake in samashti sadhana has a cascading effect and many are affected. This increases the sin of the person who made the mistake.Further Information
Get more info on 'Sadhana'.
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