Guest guest Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Understanding Sadhana Panchakam The Sadhana Panchakam is five stanzas written by Adi Sankaracharaya describing Sadhana – the quest for the truth from its beginningto its culmination. Stanza One In the first stanza he starts by saying sadhana starts by us leading a dharmic life and the way to a dharmic life is by reading and following the Vedas which prescribes how to go about leading one. Line 1 says - study the Vedas. Line 2 says - follow its practices for life. Line 3 says - give thanks to the creator. Line 4 says - live within your means. Line 5 says - live a law abiding life. Line 6 says - live a life questioning or inquiring about the nature of things around you. Line 7 says - try to love and improve on yourself everyway possible. Line 8 says - when you understand that there is more to life than what you are presently experiencing finish your duties and leave quickly seeking true knowledge. Synopsis of stanza one - Lead a law abiding live with an open and inquiring mind doing your duties. When your inquiries lead you to the understanding there is more to life, then seek it in haste. Stanza Two The second stanza he writes about us or the sadhak seeking inspiration or a path to something more to life. Line 1 says - seek out people with a similar quest Line 2 says - develop faith that a higher force is there to help you and other seekers Line 3 says - Open up to life and the universe around you for inspiration Line 4 says - when you are seeking stop expecting preconceived results Line 5 says - approach a man of Wisdom. Line 6 says - wait on him or show you are worthy of his knowledge Line 7 says - ask of him the highest knowledge Line 8 says - listen attentively to his explanations of Sruti or highest knowledge Synopsis of stanza two - Having left your past on your quest make sure that you are open to knowledge from all sides without preconceived notions. Approach men of wisdom and showing that you are worthy for their knowledge learn as much you can from them about the Ultimate truth. Stanza Three The third stanza he writes that when we have got the inspiration for and the outline of the truth we seek we set out to analyze it and contemplate on it, to make it our own understanding. Line 1 says - explore or study the Upanishad or the part of the Vedas which talks about the Ultimate truth. Line 2 says - take refuge in these teaching. Line 3 says - keep away from useless discussions Line 4 says - search for the real inner meanings of these texts. Line 5 says - having understood try keep the attitude I am one with God. Line 6 says - renounce useless thoughts Line 7 says - leave the egotism of your body. Line 8 says - do not argue with men of wisdom. Synopsis of stanza three - Having got the inspiration from men of wisdom we have to take their understanding and through analysis and contemplation of their explanation of the Sruti make it our own and follow the instruction given to help us towards attaining our goal. Stanza Four The fourth stanza he writes that when we have digested what we acquired through inspiration and study now it is time to put it into practice. That is once you have understood don't sit around trying to understanding more but go and do it. The stanza is about the beginnings of trying to apply the mental concepts into physical actions or realities. Its about bringing our body and mind into control so as to prepare us for one pointed concentration. Line 1 says - control your desire for food – fasting is good. Line 2 says - take biksha or alms – it is a good medicine(for the ego). Line 3 says - avoid tasty food Line 4 says - live contentedly with whatever destiny brings you. Line 5 says - remain the same while undergoing all pairs ofopposites like hot and cold Line 6 says - do not indulge in useless speech Line 7 says - be indifferent Line 8 says - overlook kindness as well as cruelty meted out to you by others. Synopsis of stanza four - When we finally have understood our goal and the ways to them clearly them we set out to put them to practice and the following instructions are some of the ways to go beyond our body and mind so as to focus them in one pointed attention. Stanza Five The Fifth stanza he writes that we then finally come to a place in our practice where body and mind listens to us and now we can begin to start to meditate which will lead us to the Ultimate Wisdom. Line 1 says - seek solitude or a quiet place. Line 2 says - contemplate the Supreme Divinity. Line 3 says - perceive your Self everywhere Line 4 says - see this universe as its projection or play. Line 5 says - don't allow your thoughts to be bound by karma. Line 6 says - with the strength of wisdom free your mind from bondage. Line 7 says - experience the fruits of your prarabdha karma,the actions performed in the past, the fruits of which are being experienced inthe present. Line 8 says - after the past karma is complete, with an attitude of one mind, go to the realms of Union with the Highest Divinity and remain there! Synopsis of stanza five – Once we are able to control our body and mind we can now seek out a quite place where we can meditate in solitude. We with our capacity to concentrate in an one pointed manner arising out our diligent practices now focus it on or meditate on the Supreme Truth and perceive that our Self is everywhere and that the universe is but just a projection of it. This understanding frees us from the bonds of karma and for one last time we experience all the fruits of all our unfinished karma – when this is complete duality ceases and there is just ONE! Jai Sri Ramakrishna! 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Guest guest Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Many thanks N.Mallanji for your lucid picture of 'Sadhana Panchakam'. You have made things so very clear. Great! Thanks again. chetan merani > Understanding Sadhana Panchakam > > The Sadhana Panchakam is five stanzas written by Adi Sankaracharaya > describing Sadhana – the quest for the truth from its beginningto > its culmination. > > Stanza One > > In the first stanza he starts by saying sadhana starts by us leading a > dharmic life and the way to a dharmic life is by reading and following > the Vedas which prescribes how to go about leading one. > Line 1 says - study the Vedas. > Line 2 says - follow its practices for life. > Line 3 says - give thanks to the creator. > Line 4 says - live within your means. > Line 5 says - live a law abiding life. > Line 6 says - live a life questioning or inquiring about the nature of > things around you. > Line 7 says - try to love and improve on yourself everyway possible. > Line 8 says - when you understand that there is more to life than what > you are presently experiencing finish your duties and leave quickly > seeking true knowledge. > Synopsis of stanza one - Lead a law abiding live with an open and > inquiring mind doing your duties. When your inquiries lead you to the > understanding there is more to life, then seek it in haste. > > > > > Stanza Two > > The second stanza he writes about us or the sadhak seeking inspiration > or a path to something more to life. > Line 1 says - seek out people with a similar quest > Line 2 says - develop faith that a higher force is there to help you and > other seekers > Line 3 says - Open up to life and the universe around you for > inspiration > Line 4 says - when you are seeking stop expecting preconceived results > Line 5 says - approach a man of Wisdom. > Line 6 says - wait on him or show you are worthy of his knowledge > Line 7 says - ask of him the highest knowledge > Line 8 says - listen attentively to his explanations of Sruti or highest > knowledge > Synopsis of stanza two - Having left your past on your quest make sure > that you are open to knowledge from all sides without preconceived > notions. Approach men of wisdom and showing that you are worthy for > their knowledge learn as much you can from them about the Ultimate > truth. > > > > > Stanza Three > > The third stanza he writes that when we have got the inspiration for and > the outline of the truth we seek we set out to analyze it and > contemplate on it, to make it our own understanding. > Line 1 says - explore or study the Upanishad or the part of the Vedas > which talks about the Ultimate truth. > Line 2 says - take refuge in these teaching. > Line 3 says - keep away from useless discussions > Line 4 says - search for the real inner meanings of these texts. > Line 5 says - having understood try keep the attitude I am one with God. > Line 6 says - renounce useless thoughts > Line 7 says - leave the egotism of your body. > Line 8 says - do not argue with men of wisdom. > Synopsis of stanza three - Having got the inspiration from men of wisdom > we have to take their understanding and through analysis and > contemplation of their explanation of the Sruti make it our own and > follow the instruction given to help us towards attaining our goal. > > > > > Stanza Four > > The fourth stanza he writes that when we have digested what we acquired > through inspiration and study now it is time to put it into practice. > That is once you have understood don't sit around trying to > understanding more but go and do it. The stanza is about the beginnings > of trying to apply the mental concepts into physical actions or > realities. Its about bringing our body and mind into control so as to > prepare us for one pointed concentration. > Line 1 says - control your desire for food – fasting is good. > Line 2 says - take biksha or alms – it is a good medicine(for the > ego). > Line 3 says - avoid tasty food > Line 4 says - live contentedly with whatever destiny brings you. > Line 5 says - remain the same while undergoing all pairs ofopposites > like > hot and cold > Line 6 says - do not indulge in useless speech > Line 7 says - be indifferent > Line 8 says - overlook kindness as well as cruelty meted out to you by > others. > Synopsis of stanza four - When we finally have understood our goal and > the ways to them clearly them we set out to put them to practice and the > following instructions are some of the ways to go beyond our body and > mind so as to focus them in one pointed attention. > > > > > Stanza Five > > The Fifth stanza he writes that we then finally come to a place in our > practice where body and mind listens to us and now we can begin to start > to meditate which will lead us to the Ultimate Wisdom. > Line 1 says - seek solitude or a quiet place. > Line 2 says - contemplate the Supreme Divinity. > Line 3 says - perceive your Self everywhere > Line 4 says - see this universe as its projection or play. > Line 5 says - don't allow your thoughts to be bound by karma. > Line 6 says - with the strength of wisdom free your mind from bondage. > Line 7 says - experience the fruits of your prarabdha karma,the actions > performed in the past, the fruits of which are being experienced inthe > present. > Line 8 says - after the past karma is complete, with an attitude of one > mind, go to the realms of Union with the Highest Divinity and remain > there! > Synopsis of stanza five – Once we are able to control our body and > mind we can now seek out a quite place where we can meditate in > solitude. We with our capacity to concentrate in an one pointed manner > arising out our diligent practices now focus it on or meditate on the > Supreme Truth and perceive that our Self is everywhere and that the > universe is but just a projection of it. This understanding frees us > from the bonds of karma and for one last time we experience all the > fruits of all our unfinished karma – when this is complete duality > ceases and there is just ONE! > > > > > Jai Sri Ramakrishna! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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