Why Engage In Sadhana?

[Guest guest]

OM Devi Bhakta

 

You correctly say that 'siddhi' 'is used to refer to "magical"

powers gained by practicing special, intensive rituals to gain

control over another, cause them harm, levitate, communicate

telepathically, etc. (Incidentally, none of this is considered

"supernatural" in Shaktism; but merely "supernormal." '

 

I would just like to add that most Self-Realized teachers caution

against either performing sadhana for the purpose of acquiring

siddhis or, using any siddhis are acquired during sadhana. The

reason is that the temptation to use these supernormal abilities

to impress either oneself or others immediately has the result of

causing the practitioner to lose spiritual direction and descend

into the dead end of self-amusement and self-aggrandizement.

 

The original desire for God, Goddess, or Brahman is suddenly

lost and corrupted. The karmic results of using the siddhis,

leaving the spiritual path, and possibly, as you suggest, gaining

control over others or harming them, leaves the siddha in worse

shape than if he or she had not explicitly set out on a spiritual

path and fallen victim of siddhis. The siddha has now has a

stronger ego to contend with, a larger backlog of serious karmic

consequences to work through, and, most importantly, has lost

the sincere and humble desire for God/dess Realization.

 

The usual advice for spiritual aspirants is to ignore any siddhis

that occur from sadhana just as one ignores other more

mundane distractions to the spiritual quest.

 

OM Namah Sivaya

 

Omprem

[Guest guest]

Thanks OmPrem:

 

Your warning is entirely correct and utterly necessary. I should have

made it clearer in my post, and I appreciate the clarification.

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe