All Topics  
Sadhana

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Sadhana
 
 
  Topics Sadhana Topic Home

For Sadhana the actress see: Sadhana (actress)
Sadhana (actress)

Sadhana is a popular Indian Bollywood actress. Her cousin was actor Hari Shivdasani ....
Sadhana (Sanskrit , ) is a Hindi term for "a means of accomplishing something" or more specifically "spiritual practice". It includes a variety of disciplines from Hindu
Hinduism

'Hinduism' is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as , a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal dharma", by its practitioners....
 and Buddhist
Buddhism

Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal....
 traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual
Spirituality

Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit, a concept closely tied to religion and faith, transcendence , or one or more Deity....
 or ritual
Ritual

A ritual is a set of repeated actions, often thought to have symbolic value, the performance of which is usually prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community by religious or political laws because of the perceived efficacy of those actions....
 objectives. The word is also used in the same connection within Sikhism
Sikhism

Sikhism , founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak and ten successive Sikh Gurus in fifteenth century Punjab region, is the Major religious groups organized religion in the world....
.

The historian N.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Sadhana'
Start a new discussion about 'Sadhana'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


For Sadhana the actress see: Sadhana (actress)
Sadhana (actress)

Sadhana is a popular Indian Bollywood actress. Her cousin was actor Hari Shivdasani ....
Sadhana (Sanskrit , ) is a Hindi term for "a means of accomplishing something" or more specifically "spiritual practice". It includes a variety of disciplines from Hindu
Hinduism

'Hinduism' is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as , a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal dharma", by its practitioners....
 and Buddhist
Buddhism

Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal....
 traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual
Spirituality

Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit, a concept closely tied to religion and faith, transcendence , or one or more Deity....
 or ritual
Ritual

A ritual is a set of repeated actions, often thought to have symbolic value, the performance of which is usually prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community by religious or political laws because of the perceived efficacy of those actions....
 objectives. The word is also used in the same connection within Sikhism
Sikhism

Sikhism , founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak and ten successive Sikh Gurus in fifteenth century Punjab region, is the Major religious groups organized religion in the world....
.

The historian N. Bhattacharyya provides a working definition of the benefits of sadhana as follows:
"... religious sadhana, which both prevents an excess of worldliness and moulds the mind and disposition (bhava) into a form which develops the knowledge of dispassion and non-attachment. Sadhana is a means whereby bondage becomes liberation."


Iyengar (1993: p.22) in his English translation and commentary of Patañjali
Patañjali

Pata?jali is the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice, and also the author of the Mahabha?ya, a major commentary on Panini Ashtadhyayi....
's Yoga Sutras defines 'sadhana' in relation to 'abhyasa
Abhyasa

Abhyasa, in Hinduism, is spiritual practice which is regular and constant practice over a long period of time. It has been prescribed by the great sage Pata?jali in his Yoga Sutras, and by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita as an essential means to control the mind together with Vairagya....
' and 'kriya
Kriya

Kriya most commonly refers to a technique or practice within a yoga discipline, also the outward physical manifestations of awakened kundalini....
':
Sadhana is a discipline undertaken in the pursuit of a goal. Abhyasa is repeated practice performed with observation and reflection. Kriya, or action, also implies perfect execution with study and investigation. Therefore, sadhana, abhyasa, and kriya all mean one and the same thing. A sadhaka, or practitioner, is one who skillfully applies...mind and intelligence in practice towards a spiritual goal.


The paths

The term sadhana means spiritual exertion towards an intended goal
Goal

Goal may refer to:* An objective or desired outcome** Goal , a desired state of affairs of a person or of a system** Goal in systemics and cognition engineering, a state of the domain of activity of an intelligent entity which she/he/it try to achieve;...
. A person undertaking such a practice is known as a sadhu
Sadhu

In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or practitioner of yoga who has achieved the first three Hindu Puru?artha: Kama , artha , and even dharma ....
 or a sadhaka
Sadhaka

A sadhaka is a practitioner of a particular sadhana. The term is often synonymous with yogi. Sadhakas typically have a relationship with a master teacher....
. The goal of sadhana is to attain some level of spiritual realization, which can be either enlightenment
Enlightenment (concept)

Enlightenment broadly means wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception. However, the English language word covers two concepts which can be quite distinct: religion or spiritual enlightenment and secular or intellectual enlightenment....
, pure love of God
God

God is a deity in theism and deism religions and other belief systems, representing either the sole deity in monotheism, or a principal deity in polytheism....
 (prema), liberation (moksha
Moksha

In Indian religions, Moksha or Mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth or reincarnation and all of the suffering and limitation of worldly existence....
) from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara
Samsara

'Samsara' or refers to the cycle of reincarnation or rebirth in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and other related religions.According to these religions, one's karma "account balance" at the time of death is inherited via the state at which a person is reborn....
), or a particular goal such as the blessings of a deity as in the Bhakti
Bhakti

Bhakti is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion. Within Vaishnavism bhakti is only used in conjunction with Vishnu, Krishna or of the associated avatar, who are the source of attractiveness....
 traditions.

Sadhana can involve meditation
Meditation

Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness....
, chanting of mantra
Mantra

A mantra can be defined as a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of creating transformation. Their use and type varies according to the school and philosophy associated with the mantra....
 (sometimes with the help of a japa mala
Japa mala

A Japa mala or mala is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists, usually made from 108 beads, though other numbers, usually divisible by 9, are also used....
), puja
Puja

Puja is the religion ritual that Hindus perform on a variety of occasions to pray or show respect to God, Gods, and guru. The purpose of puja is to communicate with God and the Gods or the satguru, to keep a thread to continuity, of relationship, between this physical world and the subtle inner worlds....
 to a deity, yajna
Yajna

In Hinduism, Yaj?a is a ritual of sacrifice derived from the practice of Historical Vedic religion times. It is performed to please the Deva or to attain certain wishes....
, and in very rare cases mortification of the flesh
Mortification of the flesh

Mortification of the flesh literally means "putting the flesh to death". The term is primarily used in religious and spiritual contexts. The institutional and traditional terminology of this practice in Catholicism is corporal mortification....
 or tantric
Tantra

Tantra , or tantram is a religious philosophy according to which Shakti is usually the main deity worshipped, and the universe is regarded as the divine play of shakti and shiva....
 practices such as performing one's particular sadhana within a cremation ground.

Jeannine Parvati Baker
Jeannine Parvati Baker

Jeannine Parvati Baker was a Yogini, midwife, herbalist, published author, and poet. She was also an international activist on the matters of homebirth, unassisted childbirth and newborn rights issues....
, Yogini
Yogini

Yogini is the feminine form corresponding to the masculine yogi. A yogini has a steadfast mind cultivated by the disciplined pursuit of transcendence through Yoga....
, described women's potential to practice conscious childbirth and mothering as the "ultimate sadhana."

Anthony de Mello
Anthony de Mello (priest)

Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit Catholic priesthood and psychotherapist who became widely known for his books on spirituality. He hosted many spiritual conferences and was considered a gifted public speaker....
, an Indian orphan who became a Jesuit priest and founder of the Sadhana Institute in Pune, India, wrote a book of Christian meditation
Christian meditation

Christian meditation is meditation in a Christian context. The word meditation has come to have two different meanings: continued, intent, focused thought; and a state of quiet, intentionally unfocused, "contentless" awareness....
s 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
Guru

A guru is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses these abilities to guide others....
 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
Enlightenment

Enlightenment may refer to:...
 or moksha
Moksha

In Indian religions, Moksha or Mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth or reincarnation and all of the suffering and limitation of worldly existence....
. 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 = ????, Sa = yes / with, Kaam
Kama

Kama is pleasure, sensual gratification, sexual fulfillment, pleasure of the senses, desire, eros, the aesthetic enjoyment of life in Sanskrit....
 = 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 will not last beyond death. In Ramayana it was mentioned that though Ravana
Ravana

Ravana, also transliterated as Raavana, Ravan or Raavan, was a mythical king of rakshasas , with great supernatural power, who is said to have ruled Lanka about 6000 years ago....
 and Kumbhakarna
Kumbhakarna

Kumbhakarna , in the Hinduism epic Ramayana, was a Rakshasa and brother of Ravana. Despite of his monstrous size and great hunger, he was somewhat described of having a good character, though he killed and ate many Hindu monks to show his power only....
 were great devotees of Shiva
Shiva

Shiva: is a major Hinduism god, and one aspect of Trimurti. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the supreme God. In the Smarta tradition, he is one of panchadeva....
 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 is not possible to reach enlightenment
Enlightenment

Enlightenment may refer to:...
, moksha
Moksha

In Indian religions, Moksha or Mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth or reincarnation and all of the suffering and limitation of worldly existence....
 or even heaven
Heaven

Heaven may refer to the physical heavens, the atmosphere or the seemingly endless expanse of the universe beyond. This is the traditional literal meaning of the term in English, however since at least AD 1000, it is typically also used to refer to an afterlife plane of existence in various religions and spirituality philosophy, often descri...
 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 = ???????, Ni = no / without, Kaam
Kama

Kama is pleasure, sensual gratification, sexual fulfillment, pleasure of the senses, desire, eros, the aesthetic enjoyment of life in Sanskrit....
 = desire) sadhana is spiritual practice done for higher aims. It is done to achieve the aim of enlightenment
Enlightenment

Enlightenment may refer to:...
 or moksha
Moksha

In Indian religions, Moksha or Mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth or reincarnation and all of the suffering and limitation of worldly existence....
. It is done for the spiritual upliftment of the individual so that he is taken out of the cycle of life and death (samsara
Samsara

'Samsara' or refers to the cycle of reincarnation or rebirth in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and other related religions.According to these religions, one's karma "account balance" at the time of death is inherited via the state at which a person is reborn....
).

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
  1. Chanting God's name (Naamjap)
  2. Meditation
    Meditation

    Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness....
  3. Karmayoga
  4. Hathayoga
    Hatha yoga

    Hatha Yoga , also called Hatha Vidya , is a system of Yoga that introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
  5. Reading books on Spirituality


Benefits of Vyashti Sadhana
  1. Spiritual Progress
  2. Increase in Saatvikta
    Sattva

    In Hindu philosophy, sattva is the highest of the three gunas in Samkhya, sattvika "pure", rajas "dim", and tamas_ "dark"....
  3. Increases Bhaava(faith)
  4. Increases the talmal (Desire for God)
  5. Lower level Anubhuti (Spiritual Experiences)


Pitfalls of Vyashti Sadhana
Note :- These pitfalls exist if the sadhana is done without a guru
Guru

A guru is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses these abilities to guide others....
 and if not accompanied by samashti sadhana
  1. Ego can increase
  2. Needs a lot of time for little spiritual progress
  3. One can lose motivation as fast progress is not 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 do not know the significance of sadhana. This kind of sadhana is more difficult and increases the saatvikta
Sattva

In Hindu philosophy, sattva is the highest of the three gunas in Samkhya, sattvika "pure", rajas "dim", and tamas_ "dark"....
 of the entire area. Samashti sadhana is not possible without a guru
Guru

A guru is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses these abilities to guide others....
.

Examples of Samashti Sadhana
  1. Taking satsangs
  2. Helping in organising satsangs, meditation
    Meditation

    Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness....
     camps etc.
  3. Telling others about spirituality
    Spirituality

    Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit, a concept closely tied to religion and faith, transcendence , or one or more Deity....
    .
  4. 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
  1. We become closer to God
  2. Faster Spiritual progress
  3. Priti (Love for all living beings) increases
  4. Superior level anubhutis( spiritual experiences)
  5. After death we go to higher planes of existence ( swarga or heaven
    Heaven

    Heaven may refer to the physical heavens, the atmosphere or the seemingly endless expanse of the universe beyond. This is the traditional literal meaning of the term in English, however since at least AD 1000, it is typically also used to refer to an afterlife plane of existence in various religions and spirituality philosophy, often descri...
     and beyond )
  6. Ego and Personality Defects can be easily removed
  7. Movement from saguna to nirguna


Pitfalls of Samashti Sadhana
  1. More energy is required (physical, mental and spiritual)
  2. Attitude is important
  3. More chances of ego increasing
  4. Very important to do samashti sadhana under correct guru
    Guru

    A guru is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses these abilities to guide others....
    .
  5. One mistake in samashti sadhana has a cascading effect and many are affected. This increases the sin of the person who made the mistake.


Buddhism

In the sadhana of Buddhism and Vajrayana
Vajrayana

Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayana, Mantranaya, Mantrayana, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle ....
 in particular, the upaya
Upaya

Upaya is a term in Mahayana Buddhism which comes from the word upavi and refers to something which goes or brings you up to something . The term is often used with kaushalya ; upaya-kaushalya means roughly "skill in means"....
 of the 'dedication of merit' (Sanskrit: parinamana
Parinamana

Pari?amana is a Sanskrit term which may be rendered in English as "merit transference" though in common parlance it is rendered as "dedication"....
) is a component.

Sadhaka

The term sadhaka refers to a practitioner of a particular sadhana. The term is often synonymous with Yogini
Yogini

Yogini is the feminine form corresponding to the masculine yogi. A yogini has a steadfast mind cultivated by the disciplined pursuit of transcendence through Yoga....
 or Yogi
Yogi

A yogi is a term for a male practitioner of various forms of spiritual practice. In contemporary english language yogin is an alternative rendering for the word yogi....
.

See also

  • Guru-shishya tradition
    Guru-shishya tradition

    The guru-shishya tradition, lineage, or parampara, is a spiritual relationship in traditional Hinduism where teachings are transmitted from a guru to a or chela....
  • Vedic chant
    Vedic chant

    The oral tradition of the Vedas consists of several pathas, "recitations" or ways of chanting the Vedic mantras. Such traditions of Vedic chant are often considered the oldest unbroken oral tradition in existence, the fixation of the samhita texts as preserved dating to roughly the time of Homer ....
  • Mahayana Buddhism
  • Parinamana
    Parinamana

    Pari?amana is a Sanskrit term which may be rendered in English as "merit transference" though in common parlance it is rendered as "dedication"....
  • Lojong
    Lojong

    Lojong is a practice in the Tibet Buddhism tradition based on a set of proverbs formulated in Tibet in the 12th century by Chekawa. The practice involves redefining, reconceptualizing and reprogramming one's intent and way of thinking....