What is Sadhana?

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OmPrem recently posted an intriguing note (Msg #2176) on the nature of

Sadhana that's worth paying close attention to, and discussing in

greater detail. It ends with this true and well-stated phrase: "Yoga

and meditation are subversive activities: their lives will change

substantially the more they practice these sadhanas."

 

I often receive private correspondence from people asking me to define

some of the basic terms and concepts discussed here in the Group. And

usually, I can refer them to an old post in our archives, or one of

Nora's wonderful reposts from the late, great Shakti Sadhana Club.

However, we've never really discussed the definition of "Sadhana" in

any detail. And we probably should.

 

A while back I received a letter from a member who spoke of "saying my

sadhana," in the sense of "saying my prayers" -- which I don't think

is a correct usage of the term. Then one recent day when I got

frustrated about moderating the Group in the wake of the recent

hacking monkey-business and some particularly tiresome inter-member

politics, a kindly member reminded me that "this too is sadhana." And,

as OmPrem's note indicated, yoga and meditation are sadhana as well.

 

All right, then. So: What is Sadhana?

 

We define it on the Group's front page as "spiritual practice" -

which, although not very detailed, is pretty much correct. Shakti is

the Goddess, and Shakti Sadhana is a spiritual practice that focuses

on the Goddess. There is also in the term a *connotation* of

specifically Hindu spiritual practice, and more especially (though not

necessarily) Tantric Hindu practice. But the etymology of the word

does not require those limitations.

 

Here's why: The Sanskrit term Sadhana is derived from the root,

"Sadh-," to exert or strive for. Thus, Sadhana, in its broadest sense,

simply means "efforts toward a goal." So if you want to become

proficient in a foreign language, your lessons and practice sessions

are your Sadhana. If you wish to complete a marathon, your daily

training runs, dietary adjustments and sessions at the gym are your

Sadhana.

 

Having said that, the usual context of the term is, in fact,

religious. Here, Sadhana means effort and striving in the form of

self-training, discipline, and worship to gain a SPIRITUAL goal,

rather than a merely physical or mental result (although the goal of

spiritual Sadhana necessarily involves a transformation of both body

and mind, as OmPrem suggested). The GOAL of spiritual Sadhana is some

form of Unity with God - or with Goddess, as we Shaktas say.

 

Your Sadhana is whatever you do to make this goal a reality. It can be

meditation, hatha yoga, japa (chanting of your mantra), prayer, pooja

(ritual ceremony of worship), studying (or reciting) the scriptures of

your faith, listening to (or singing) the slokas (hymns) of your

faith, discussing your faith with like-minded others (as we do in this

Group), etc., etc. Ideally, with time, it becomes your entire life.

Every breath you inhale or exhale is a mantra; every movement of your

body is a gesture of obeisance to your God/dess. Every act of work,

play, love, or assistance to another is an act of worship - planting a

garden, eating lunch, washing the bathroom, everything.

 

The specific form Sadhana takes depends upon the person practicing it.

(If you are a woman engaged in Sadhana, then you are a Sadhika. If you

are a man, the term is Sadhaka.)

 

In Shaktism, Sadhana is designed to focus the body, mind and spirit

upon the Divine Mother, in whatever form you conceive Her. The exact

nature of the ritual must be suited to the spiritual attainments and

general disposition of the worshiper. The Hindu concept is Adhikara,

roughly, "Fitness." It means, in the broadest sense, "To each, her or

his own." No doctrine or practice is said to be "wrong" - instead, the

worst thing one can really say about another's Sadhana is: "It's not

right for me."

 

Let's stick with an example from Shakti Sadhana, since that is the

focus of this forum. Most commonly, worshipers wish to set up an altar

to Devi, conceived in human female form - usually, an idol or

painting. This is Sthula, or Gross, Ritual. There is no elitism or

moral censure implicit in this name; it simply denotes a more

tangible, material level of spiritual imagination. All souls must pass

through this stage, and it is a lovely one indeed.

 

Bhakti Yoga, or Devotional Worship, is generally a form of Sthula

Ritual. Here, the devotee chooses a "bhava," or attitude of love,

toward her/his chosen Deity - that of the Deity's parent, child,

friend, master, lover, etc. (Incidentally, only the first two of these

listed bhavas are considered appropriate for the Shakta. That subject

has been discussed at length here, pro and con, and can be found in

the archives or raised again in active discussion, as you please.)

That sort of love is then systematically cultivated and raised to the

highest possible pitch and intensity for longer and longer periods.

 

The opposite of Gross Worship is Subtle, or Sukshma, Worship. One

well-known form of Sukshma Shaktism is Srividya - in which the Devi is

conceived not in human form, but as a geometric diagram, or Yantra. In

an even more subtle form of worship, no visible representation is used

at all. She is worshiped without any form at all, as Brahman,

encompassing and transcending all gender and other attributes. Jnana

Yoga, Worship Through the Intellect, is usually a Subtle Worship.

 

Whatever the path chosen by the individual soul, it may lead her or

him to a certain level of Unity with Supreme Divinity. Hinduism does

not attempt to thrust itself upon any devotee as "the True Path." It

simply offers a series of paths that have worked for many others and

invites you to try it too. There is no philosophical argument involved

as to whether Hinduism is "better" than Islam, Christianity, Buddhism

or whatever. Its proof is in the Experience of Unity. If you follow

one of its various ritual systems, proven by generations of rishis and

sages, it says you will experience Unity too, Hinduism says. If you do

not, please feel free to find your salvation elsewhere. Find the path

that's right for you. It's that practical.

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe